Levi Durham
PhD Program
Department of Philosophy
Fall 2023 Winner
Levi Durham’s teaching philosophy is inspired by his own teachers who brought philosophy to life by embodying the ideals of a Christian philosopher. He aims to guide his students in their pursuit of truth by fostering a love of learning and intellectual rigor within a respectful, Christian community.
Levi begins his classes by connecting the material to what students already know, particularly drawing from their experiences in the medical field. This approach helps students see the real-world implications of their studies. He also uses weekly reflections on readings to tailor class discussions to students’ interests and works with his class to write their argumentative papers on topics they are passionate about. This process includes one-on-one meetings to help students articulate and refine their beliefs.
To promote intellectual rigor, Levi engages students in Socratic questioning and group discussions, challenging them to defend their views on controversial topics. He provides substantial feedback on drafts and allows multiple attempts at major assignments to help students improve their reasoning skills.
Levi creates a respectful, Christian community by fostering a friendly and inclusive classroom environment. He regularly changes seating arrangements to encourage interaction among students and sets a tone of respect by taking every student’s views seriously. He learns all students’ names quickly, which helps build a comfortable and engaging atmosphere.
Overall, Levi’s teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences, fostering intellectual rigor, and creating a respectful and inclusive community. His approach aims to equip students with the skills to rationally justify their beliefs and engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives.
What Students Say
Mr. Durham recognized my personal values and went above what was required of him in order to engage my personal values and interests! It made a huge impact on my involvement in class. Plainly, it was wonderful to know that Mr. Durham listened to me as a person and was able to involve that in the classroom setting.