J&B Orange Program (International Philosophy Olympiad)“How To Become a Philosopher in Six Months” Highlights: The client prepared for the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) through J&B’s unique, 6-month, philosophy “boot camp” The client worked on three essays and one capstone exam; throughout the project, J&B gradually gave the client more freedom and flexibility as their skills developed. At the end of the program, the client felt confident in their ability to use propositions, arguments, counter-arguments, and logic in philosophical essays. J&B engaged the client in a mock interview to prepare them for their session with the IPO reviewers. The Topic:With dreams of becoming a philosopher, the client worked with the J&B consulting team to prepare for the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO). Although the client had experience independently researching philosophical topics that interested them, they did not feel confident in their ability to write and develop a persuasive, philosophical argument. J&B crafted a unique, 6-month, philosophy “boot camp” tailored specifically to the IPO and the client’s needs. The Process:J&B worked in a team of two to give the client the guidance they needed to grow. J&B split the project into three essays and one capstone project. For Essays #1, #2, and #3, the team prepared detailed lectures for the client based on past IPO prompts, provided the client with relevant reading materials, then engaged in seminars to discuss and debate the readings in greater detail. For Essay #1, the J&B team prepared a detailed outline, which the client then used to prepare their essay. J&B heavily edited and revised the client’s draft to create a polished essay suitable for the IPO. For Essay #2, the consulting team offered a less detailed outline and set of edits to give the client the freedom they needed to practice their new skills. J&B gave the client even more flexibility for Essay #3, encouraging the client to prepare their own outline and write their essay in one sitting and in just 3 hours—which they would need to do for the IPO. Finally, to give the client the self-confidence they needed to succeed, J&B gave the client a timed, 3.5-hour capstone exam, and evaluated the client’s essay in great detail. At the end of the project, the client went into the IPO fully prepared and confident in their ability to introduce propositions, arguments, counter-arguments, and logic into their philosophical essays. After the client successfully passed the first round of IPO essay writing, J&B engaged the client in a mock interview to prepare them for their session with the IPO reviewers. Additionally, J&B shared relevant reading materials with the client before their interview, so that they were informed and fully prepared to logically defend their final argument. Writing Style:At the start of the project, the client voiced their desire to not only write a philosophical essay but understand the ideas and works of other philosophers. Throughout the project, the consulting team worked with the client to break down premises, conclusions, and theses, as well as key philosophical thinkers and their arguments. J&B’s Key Goals: Logic and rhetoric Scaffolding Crafting persuasive arguments Argumentative thinking Key Sentences from Final Drafts: “I can have an idea of a perfect creature: a unicorn. This does not necessarily mean that there is corresponding proof of its existence in the physical world. While this unicorn may exist in an incorporeal dimension governed by non-physical laws, this does not mean that every idea has substance.” “While Aristotle views happiness as valuable in and of itself; I argue that happiness is not intrinsic to functionality.” “Descartes establishes a hierarchy in which the ‘thinking substance’ is the sole component of the human soul; however, I disagree and instead propose that the body is also an invaluable part of the human soul as both mind and body can be deceived.”
