Offering a fresh take on the purpose of social studies today, James A. Duplass positions philosophical counseling as a way for teachers to engage students in thinking deeply about what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society. The Idea of a Social Studies Education takes a uniquely humanistic approach to the idea of a social studies education to show how teachers can act as philosophical counselors in preparing students for active civic engagement. Duplass reminds the reader of the needs of students in modern society who seek to develop an identity worth living and the role social studies can play in students achieving that process. By focusing on the cultivation of students' autonomy, authenticity, efficacy, and agency, Duplass' approach avoids political biases and instead encourages critical thinking to decipher what a democratic ideology truly is.