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In most classes, notes record what's true. In philosophy, notes record why someone thinks something is true, and why someone else thinks they're wrong. Your professor will rarely ask you to repeat a philosopher's conclusion. They'll ask you to lay out the argument for it, raise the strongest objection, and say whether it survives.
So philosophy notes are built around arguments, not facts. Here's how to capture them in lecture and in readings, map the back-and-forth of objections and replies, and turn it all into papers and exam answers.
Write every argument in standard form
Standard form means numbered premises, then a conclusion. Philosophy professors use it constantly, and it's the single most useful habit for this subject.
- Number the premises P1, P2, P3, and mark the conclusion C. If your professor writes the argument on the board, copy their numbering exactly. Later they'll say "the problem is P2," and you'll know which line they mean.
- One claim per line. If a premise contains "and" or "because," it may really be two premises.
- Mark hidden premises. Arguments in readings often skip a step the author thought was obvious. Write it in brackets, like [P2*], so you know it was supplied, not stated.
- Name the form in the margin if you can: modus ponens, reductio, argument from analogy, inference to the best explanation.
- Note whether it's valid, meaning the conclusion follows if the premises are true, and which premise is most open to attack. Valid and sound mean different things, and exams test the difference.
If you can't put an argument into standard form, that's useful information. It usually means you don't understand it yet, and it's the exact question to bring to office hours or section.
Map objections and replies
A philosophy course is a long conversation. A view is proposed, someone objects, the original side replies, and a new objection follows. Linear notes bury that structure. A map shows it.
Try this layout for each major argument:
- Write the conclusion in a box at the top of the page.
- List the premises under it, numbered.
- Draw each objection beside the premise it attacks, connected with an arrow. Write who raised it.
- Write replies beside the objection they answer, connected with a second arrow.
- Label each arrow with what the move does: "denies P2," "counterexample," "begs the question," "equivocates on 'free'."
Pick one color for objections and another for replies, and keep them the same all term. When you study, a glance at a page tells you which premises are under the most pressure. For more on drawing this kind of structure, see mind map notes on iPad.
Tip: the strongest papers attack the premise everyone else ignores. When you map a reading, put a question mark beside any premise nobody in lecture challenged. That's a paper topic.
Keep a glossary of terms of art
Philosophers use ordinary words in technical ways. "Valid," "sound," "necessary," "sufficient," "a priori," "intentional" and "realism" all have precise meanings that differ from everyday speech, and sometimes differ between philosophers.
Keep a running glossary page at the front of your notebook:
- The term as the course uses it.
- The definition your professor gives, as close to their wording as you can.
- Whose sense it is, if philosophers use it differently.
- A contrast term, like a priori and a posteriori, written on the same line.
Precise definitions earn points on exams. Vague ones lose them.
Read primary texts slowly
Philosophy readings are short and dense. Ten pages can take an evening. A few habits make them manageable:
- Find the thesis first. Skim the introduction and conclusion, then write in one sentence what the author is trying to show.
- Summarize each section in the margin in a few words.
- Reconstruct the main argument in standard form on a separate page after you finish.
- Use the standard citation numbers your class uses. Many classic texts have their own numbering that stays the same across translations and editions, so note it alongside the page.
- Write down thought experiments as cases. For each one, note the setup, the intuition it's meant to trigger, and which premise that intuition supports.
Annotating PDF readings on iPad covers the general reading routine. In philosophy, the step that matters most is the reconstruction afterward.
Philosophy notes in Scribba
Here's how these habits work on an iPad in Scribba.
Argument maps. Hold the Apple Pencil still at the end of a stroke and it snaps into a clean rectangle, circle or arrow, so boxes and arrows stay tidy. The Shape tool snaps every stroke if you're drawing a whole map. Keep three to six favorite colors so your objection color and reply color are always one tap away. If a map runs out of room, use the lasso to move a cluster of objections somewhere else. A landscape notebook (orientation is chosen when you create the notebook) gives wide maps more space, and Dot Grid paper helps you line up boxes.
Readings. Import a PDF reading into the class notebook and write on it directly. Its text is searchable. Open a notebook in its own window with Split View to keep the reading beside your reconstruction.
Cornell notes for review. Cornell Notes paper has a CUES & QUESTIONS column, a NOTES column and a SUMMARY box. Write the argument in the notes column, then put questions in the cue column, like "What is P2 of the argument from illusion?" or "What's the main reply to the regress objection?" Scribba reads your handwriting and turns each cue into a flashcard, which you can study with spaced repetition. Check the words it read first. This doesn't need Apple Intelligence. More in Cornell notes on iPad.
Study tape. Drag study tape over the premises of an argument, leaving the conclusion visible. Try to reconstruct each premise, then tap to peek.
Lectures. If your professor allows recording, tap the mic and take notes as usual. Every stroke is linked to that moment, so tapping "P3??" later plays the explanation you missed. Ask before recording: policies vary by school, professor and location. See is it OK to record lectures?
Turn your notes into papers and exam answers
Most philosophy assignments follow one pattern: explain a view, object to it, consider a reply, and judge. Your maps are already that outline.
- Pick one argument and copy its standard form onto a fresh page.
- Choose the one premise you'll attack.
- List the objection, the best reply to it, and your response to the reply.
- Write your verdict in one sentence.
For timed essay exams, practice this on every major argument in the course. See how to study for essay exams. If your class has oral exams or presentations, explaining your maps out loud is good practice too.
Frequently asked questions
How much of the reading should I write down?
Very little word for word. Write the thesis, a reconstruction of the main argument, and the exact wording of any line you might quote, with its page or section number.
What paper works best for argument maps?
Dot grid or blank paper, ideally in a landscape notebook. Use ruled or Cornell paper for regular lecture notes in the same class.
Can Scribba check whether an argument is valid?
No. Scribba records, organizes and helps you study your notes, but working out validity is up to you.