Inspiring critical thinking

In the field of philosophy, Stephen Bloch-Schulman is regarded as an innovative educator whose creative methods inspire critical thinking and introduce students to extraordinary ideas.

At Elon, he is known for teaching engaging and challenging courses, like his Reclaiming Democracy course, which he co-teaches with instructors from nearby institutions as well as community activists. The course draws on multiple disciplines to examine the meaning of democracy, drivers of public policy and citizen engagement, and focuses on democracy in the local community.

His courses and teaching methods frequently leave a lasting impact on students, who often express how they contribute to both their academic learning and personal growth. Among his peers, he’s often recognized for his scholarly work on philosophical teaching and learning. In 2017, he became the first recipient of the Excellence in Philosophy Teaching Award from the American Association of Philosophy Teachers, the American Philosophy Association and the Teaching Philosophy Association. Over the past decade, he’s received the AAPT’s Lennsen Prize three times for the best articles on teaching philosophy.

“Stephen was and continues to be one of the strongest voices in my professional career reminding me that to teach philosophy is to do philosophy.”

– Emily Lange ’21, a Lumen Scholar currently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Marquette University

“One of the most important things to do is to not have a ‘you’re either good at it or not’ attitude but to encourage students to have the view that philosophy, like other skills, is something that you can improve through deliberate practice,” Bloch-Schulman says.