Course Summary
Unit 1 - About Philosophy
What philosophy is; why we should study it; the main areas of philosophical study; the relationship between philosophy and religion and philosophy and science.
Unit 2 - In The Beginning
The beginnings of Western philosophy; some problems and questions of the ancient Greeks; the life and death of Socrates; the Sophists.
Unit 3 - Two Theories Of Knowledge
Plato's 'Forms', the Cave and levels of reality, idealism; the philosophical naturalism of Aristotle.
Unit 4 - Epistemology - What Is Knowledge
The two major approaches to knowledge: rationalism and empiricism; the views of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume.
Unit 5 - The Question Of Identity - Who Am I ?
Major theories in the 'mind-body' debate - materialism, behaviourism, idealism, dualism, science.
Unit 6 - Philosophy Of Religion
Nature of 'God'; arguments for the existence of God; arguments against the existence of God; the argument from religious experience; miracles; faith; Pascal's Wager.
Unit 7 - Ethics: What Is It To Live A Moral Life
What it is to live a moral life; facts and values; the language we use; free will and determinism; absolutism and relativism; some ethical theories.
Unit 8 - The Meaning Of Life
Some answers to questions about meaning and purpose; religious and atheistic existentialism.
One had to undertake an awful lot of reading in a week, even at an introductory level, to undertake a unit activity and make posts to the General Forum. I thought I might do better if I had two weeks for each unit. I was most impressed with the tutor’s introduction to the units, his thoughtful attention to, and comments made on the posts; and the encouragement he gave. The course has been most worthwhile and I shall miss it.