Philosophy & Big Ideas: Question, Wonder, Debate, Discover

Prepare to be amazed as you watch your differently-wired kiddo make real friends, explore this unique content, grow under the guidance of this expert mentor, and be seen in all their glory!

Why Take This Course?

Philosophy & Big Ideas: Question, Wonder, Debate, Discover

Where Big Questions Meet Bold Thinkers

Does your student ask “why” more than most? Are they drawn to ideas that don’t have easy answers? Philosophy & Big Ideas is a deep-thinking, discussion-based course for curious minds who want to explore life’s most fascinating (and sometimes frustrating!) questions—big and small.

From “What is the self?” to “How many holes does a straw have?”, students will wrestle with ideas that have puzzled philosophers for centuries. Along the way, they’ll meet major thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, explore modern philosophers like Žižek, and learn to challenge assumptions with the Socratic Method.

Each weekly session blends:
🧠 Collaborative Inquiry Time – Share ideas, debate respectfully, and challenge each other to think deeper while building a supportive community
📚 Structured Learning – Study primary and secondary texts, explore foundational ideas in philosophy, and trace how these “big ideas” shaped the world

If your student enjoys deep conversations, abstract thinking, or simply wants a space to wonder out loud, Philosophy & Big Ideas is the place where thought experiments turn into meaningful exploration.

  • Where Big Questions Meet Bold Thinkers

    Does your student ask “why” more than most? Are they drawn to ideas that don’t have easy answers? Philosophy & Big Ideas is a deep-thinking, discussion-based course for curious minds who want to explore life’s most fascinating (and sometimes frustrating!) questions—big and small.

    From “What is the self?” to “How many holes does a straw have?”, students will wrestle with ideas that have puzzled philosophers for centuries. Along the way, they’ll meet major thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, explore modern philosophers like Žižek, and learn to challenge assumptions with the Socratic Method.

    Each weekly session blends:
    🧠 Collaborative Inquiry Time – Share ideas, debate respectfully, and challenge each other to think deeper while building a supportive community
    📚 Structured Learning – Study primary and secondary texts, explore foundational ideas in philosophy, and trace how these “big ideas” shaped the world

    This course welcomes both deep thinkers and new explorers. Students will learn to express ideas with clarity, develop critical thinking skills, and embrace the uncomfortable—but rewarding—process of exploring uncertainty.

    By the end of the semester, your learner will have:
    ✔️ A working understanding of philosophical traditions and core thinkers
    ✔️ Experience leading a thoughtful discussion or project on a chosen topic
    ✔️ Confidence in their ability to ask powerful questions—and sit with complex answers

    If your student enjoys deep conversations, abstract thinking, or simply wants a space to wonder out loud, Philosophy & Big Ideas is the place where thought experiments turn into meaningful exploration.

  • By the end of the semester, your learner will have:
    ✔️ A working understanding of philosophical traditions and core thinkers
    ✔️ Experience leading a thoughtful discussion or project on a chosen topic
    ✔️ Confidence in their ability to ask powerful questions—and sit with complex answers

  • A great internet connection and a willingness to learn.

 

Ages: 9-12 & 13-18

Class size: Maximum- 8 Students

Meets: 1x per week

Level: All

Price: $

Our Promise To You

Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses:

  • Payment Plan: Let us know in the first 24 hours and we’ll immediately stop all payments. After that, no worries! Tell us anytime, and we’ll stop future payments after a 30-day processing period.

  • Paid in Full: You can switch to another class of equal value or get a credit for the remaining balance for future classes.

We can offer you a 100% satisfaction guarantee because we know what we do works for hundreds of other families—and we know it will work for your family, too!

We’re taking all the risk because you’re getting over $2000 in bonuses when you sign up, and you could cancel the class and keep all the bonuses.

My promise to you.

-Mr. Sam

Mr Sam

How To Enroll

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What Our Parents Say…

Meet Your Mentor

Jake Noonan (Jake)

Jake Noonan is a deep thinking, dynamic teacher and writer who approaches education in a creative and multidimensional manner. Jake has over 10 years of teaching at traditional and alternative K-12 schools. In each grade, Jake specialized in working with neurodivergent students while offering authenticity and understanding. Jake is passionate about collaborating with each student to ensure that the individual goals are supported in all projects and discussions.

Jake graduated from American Public University Systems in 2023 with an MFA in Humanities and from Temple University in 2014 with a BA in Secondary Education with a focus on English and Philosophy. Jake is also an Academic Coach specializing in individuals with ADHD and/or giftedness. In this role, Jake also co-hosts and produces a podcast on neurodiversity.

Outside of academia, Jake spends time working on a multitude of creative projects at once such as music production, playing drums in several bands, writing fiction, and digital illustration.

Explore Other Courses Offered by Young Scholars Academy

Questions Asked By Fellow Parents

  • 4 KEY things:

    1- A focus on the positive! We don’t focus on what students aren’t doing, we support what they are and we know the rest will come. We develop strengths, interests, and relationships. We build students up so they can build a better world! And do it with the new friends they make in our program!

    2- Like-minded neurodivergent peers. Our asynchronous students need one another and YSA is a safe haven for these kiddos to connect around their asynchronies, quirks, and interests. We’re a place where they can be their authentic selves and make friends while doing so!

    3- Passionate, masterful neurodivergent mentors who have walked the walk and can authentically validate and support your child with personal experience and care AND expertise as we all have advanced masters + degrees

    4-Content your students care about taught in a way they love! We offer the courses they need to be taking, not the ones they’re required to take.

    Come by and see for yourself!

  • Please don’t confuse reactive “distance learning” and virtual enrichment programming. After all, a student who is completely fried from a boring zoom class is often quick to pick up a tablet or phone, right?

    Our courses are not at all the same animal =)

  • THIS IS A SATISFACTION GUARANTEE, so your child must attend the class in question to qualify.

    If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:

    1- 8-Week Courses Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options: 

    Payment plan or Paid in full- 3 options: transfer to another course of the same price, get a 100% refund credit toward a future class, or get a 75% money-back to the original payment method. 

    2-  16+ Week CoursesThe deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. Cancellation options are:

    Payment plan- Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments. Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.

    Paid in full- Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice. The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.

    Please read the description of each course before enrolling.

  • We do! We have 3 kinds:

    1- Word of mouth: 25% off- we know that the best way to reach new families is word of mouth. When you help another family enroll in a YSA class and they name you at checkout, you will get 25% off the cost of the course you’re currently enrolled in once they stay past the refund period. Note— this applies to all regular courses, BUT only applies to the first month of membership courses.

    2- Multi-sibling: 10% off- We believe in supporting whole families and we are willing to put our money where our mouth is! When you sign-up 2 or more kiddos you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

    3-Multi-course: 10% off- To fully serve your family, we hope to provide your child with all the courses they dream of taking! To make this more affordable, when you enroll in 3 or more classes, you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

  • Of course!

    As we like to say, if you’re on our site, you’re in the right place.

    Our programming is for students who are not being supported or challenged enough in school.

    If you have an asynchronous kiddo who you know has strengths and struggles, our courses are for your child.

  • 2e students experience such asynchronous development that it proves difficult to have hard age limits.

    We often evaluate students on a case by case basis =)

    Please email us and we’ll discuss: sam@youngscholarsacademy.org

  • All of our programs are 100% virtual. This allows us to bring together the twice-exceptional/neurodivergent students of the world, connect them, and nurture them!

    Your child may very well enter a 6-person class with 5 other students from 5 different states/countries!

    Cool, right?