周教授從2002年開始執教通識教育課程，科目包括UGD255R「價值與公共事務」、UGD266R「政治哲學問題」等，課程設計和教學方法皆獲好評。學生除有機會閱讀西方經典哲學作品外，還有題材廣泛的報章社論、國內外雜誌的書評、論文、電影分享，和他親自撰寫的文章。他希望通過不同媒介，深入淺出地介紹政治哲學，幫助學生把握重要的思想。
周教授教學以來，所面對的最大挑戰是如何激發學生對哲學、政治與人生問題的好奇和疑惑。他指出「學，必先有惑；有惑，遂有解惑之心；有此心，自能享受做學問的樂趣，自能看到學問與生命的關聯。」要達到這個目標，他認為最重要是對話和思想交流，而不是傳統單向度的知識傳授。因此，周教授熱心鼓勵學生參與課堂、導修和網上討論。為了與學生進行全天候討論，他特地建立了《政治、哲學與人生》的網上論壇，不斷提出各種各樣的政治和人生哲學問題，刺激學生思維，挑戰他們的價值觀，並共同在坦率的思想交流中尋找答案。許多學生修完他的課，甚至畢業後，仍然留在《政治、哲學與人生》網上論壇一起閱讀和思考，形成一個難得的思想園地。周教授也創辦了「犁典讀書組」，定期和學生在家中一起研讀經典，經年不輟。
透過認真思考，周教授希望學生慢慢發展出自己的問題意識，繼而學會閱讀原典和書寫高水平的學術論文。他最想學生修讀他的課，既痛苦又享受：「痛苦者，是開始意識到，人生中有許多極重要卻又極困難的價值問題，值得認真對待，並由此承擔我們應有的責任。享受者，是能進入哲學的迷人世界，感受到追求學問的無窮樂趣。」周教授於《自由的教育》一文中寄望「透過通識教育，拓闊學生的視野，令他們認識及欣賞生命中不同領域的內在價值，從而看到生活多一些的可能性…
…」要體驗這個既痛苦又享受的學習過程，正好從通識課開始。
Joining the General Education programme
in 2002, Prof. Chow teaches the courses UGD255R 'Values and Public Affairs'
and UGD266R 'Issues of Political Philosophy'. He has earned acclaim
for both their design and delivery. Students who take these two courses
are given the chance to explore classics of Western philosophy, as well
as a wide range of newspaper editorials, book reviews, articles from
local and overseas magazines, films, and also essays penned by him.
Through various media, he introduces profound theories of political
philosophy, and by using simple language, helps students to grasp key
ideas.
The greatest challenge Prof. Chow faces
as a teacher is to provoke curiosity and puzzles in his students' minds
about philosophy, politics, and life. "Learning comes after puzzles,"
he says. "Puzzles induce curiosity in a mind to search for solutions.
With such a mind, anyone can enjoy the pleasure of study, and anyone
can see the connection between knowledge and life." He regards
conversation and the exchange of thoughts as being of paramount importance
in reaching this goal, instead of conventional, unidirectional teaching.
Therefore, Prof. Chow motivates students to participate in discussions
held in lessons, tutorials, and online. He established "Politics,
Philosophy, and Life", an online forum designated for discussion
with students anytime, anywhere. A variety of political and philosophical
questions are raised to stimulate students into thinking, challenge
their values, and inspire them to search for answers together in a candid
interchange of ideas. After the end of the course or even after graduating,
many students have remained active in the forum, building a rare common
ground of thoughts with peers. The "Ploughing Classics Reading
Group", another brainchild of Prof. Chow, allows students
to study classic works at his home, regularly and year round.
Prof. Chow hopes that, by means of serious
contemplation, students will gradually develop a sense of inquiry, and
then learn to read the original classics and write good academic papers.
He wants students to feel both pain and joy in his course: "Pain,
because they start to realize that life is full of important yet difficult
questions about values, which are worth serious consideration, and which
thus mean that they need to learn to shoulder due responsibilities.
Joy, from being inside the mesmerizing world of philosophy, engrossed
in the immense pleasure of the pursuit of knowledge."
