Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Collection · 32 AI figures
Modern Philosophers
Humy team
32 AI figures for this unit, including Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Derrida. Share one link and students choose who to talk to.
Featuring Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida and 29 more
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card
- Figures
- 32
- Students join
- With a link
- Grading
- None, open exploration
Collection
Preview
Modern Philosophers
- Simone de BeauvoirChat with Simone de Beauvoir
- Jean-Paul SartreChat with Jean-Paul Sartre
- Jacques DerridaChat with Jacques Derrida
- Albert CamusChat with Albert Camus
- Arthur SchopenhauerChat with Arthur Schopenhauer
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelChat with Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
- +26 more figures
The 32 figures in this collection
Simone de Beauvoir
Influential feminist philosopher and author.
Jean-Paul Sartre
Existentialist philosopher and influential writer.
Jacques Derrida
Key figure in postmodern philosophy.
Albert Camus
French philosopher and author known for his existentialist and absurdist works.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Renowned German philosopher known for his pessimistic philosophy and influence on existentialist thought.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Influential German philosopher known for his development of the concept of dialectical idealism.
Hannah Arendt
Political theorist and philosopher known for her work on totalitarianism and the banality of evil.
John Rawls
Influential political philosopher known for his work on justice and fairness.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Austrian-British philosopher known for his work in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind.
Søren Kierkegaard
Danish philosopher and theologian, known for his contributions to existentialism.
Dale Carnegie
Self-help author and public speaker.
Joseph Campbel
Influential mythologist and writer.
Stephen Covey
Author and motivational speaker known for his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Thomas J. Leonard
Pioneer in the field of life coaching.
William James
American philosopher and psychologist, known for his contributions to pragmatism and the study of consciousness.
Ludwig Feuerbac
German philosopher and anthropologist known for his critique of religion.
John Stuart Mill
Philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. Known for his contributions to utilitarianism and liberalism.
Martin Heidegger
Influential existentialist philosopher.
Bertrand Russell
British philosopher, logician, and Nobel Prize winner in Literature.
Willard Van Orman Quine
Influential American philosopher and logician.
A.J. Ayer
British philosopher known for his logical positivist views and defense of empiricism.
Michel Foucault
Influential French philosopher and social theorist.
Jürgen Habermas
Influential German philosopher and sociologist.
Robert Nozick
American philosopher known for his work on political philosophy and libertarianism.
Daniel Dennett
Philosopher and cognitive scientist known for his work on consciousness and evolution.
Patricia Churchland
Renowned philosopher of mind and neurophilosopher.
Peter Singer
Australian moral philosopher and ethicist known for his work on animal rights and effective altruism.
Elizabeth Anscombe
British philosopher known for her work in ethics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Renowned postcolonial theorist and feminist critic.
Martha Nussbaum
Renowned philosopher and ethicist.
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Ghanaian-British philosopher and cultural theorist.
Sam Harris
Neuroscientist and author known for his writings on religion, philosophy, and ethics.
Lesson ideas
Navigate the complex world of contemporary thought in this engaging assignment that centers on the influential minds of modern philosophy. Students will interact with a variety of thinkers who have dramatically influenced ethical, political, existential, and epistemological discussions in recent centuries.
Activities
AI Interactions: Engage in simulated conversations with modern philosophers, inquiring about their core tenets, arguments, and the larger impact of their work.
Reflective Essays: Analyze specific philosophical concepts proposed by these thinkers and discuss their relevance to contemporary issues.
Debates and Discussions: Foster engaging debates on complex philosophical questions and the practical application of these theories in modern times.
Learning Outcomes
Develop an understanding of key themes and trajectories in modern philosophical thought and how these have shaped our understanding of the world.
Enhance critical thinking skills by evaluating philosophical arguments and the influence of modern philosophies on social and ethical norms.
Acquire the ability to articulate and debate concepts such as justice, freedom, the human condition, and rationality as discussed by prominent modern philosophers.
In your classroom
From this page to your class in three steps.
Open it in Humy
Preview the collection, then choose Activate to add it to your collections. Add or remove figures any time.
Share one link
Students join with their first and last name. No email, no password.
Students pick a figure
Each student chooses who to question and starts a conversation.
Try this collection free
After sign-up, find it under Collections → Community library.
Trusted by educators worldwide
- Conversations
- 375,000+
- Real exchanges between students and historical figures
- Messages exchanged
- 4,142,000+
- Across every figure, classroom and language
- Historical figures
- 1,200+
- Each informed by a curated biography and selected sources
- Languages supported
- 50+
- From English and Spanish to Arabic and Korean
Paying customers
Used by 100+ schools, universities and organisations
What educators are saying
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is in this collection?
32 AI figures: Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Albert Camus, Arthur Schopenhauer, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Hannah Arendt, John Rawls and 24 more. Each one has its own page on Humy.
How do students use a collection?
You share one link. Students see the overview and the list of figures, pick one and start a chat.
How is a collection different from an assignment?
An assignment is one task with a rubric, and Humy grades the work. A collection is a set of figures for open exploration of a topic, with no grading.
Do my students need accounts?
No. Students open the link you share and type their first and last name. No email, no password.
Is Humy free to try?
Yes. A free teacher account includes 20 AI messages a month, shared with your students, plus all five assignment formats and auto-grading. No credit card.
Is Humy.ai safe and compliant for schools?
Yes. Humy.ai is used by more than 100 schools, universities and organisations. The platform is FERPA- and GDPR-aligned, supports SSO, and offers an IT-approval pack tailored for school procurement teams.
Ready when you are
Bring Modern Philosophers to your class.
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card.