What Others Say

I enjoyed the course immensely and found at the conclusion I really missed the stimulation engendered in having to discipline myself to get the reading and thinking done in a time frame. And I have missed the opportunity to discuss thoughts and express ideas. So often we get into a rut of talking about mundane things in retirement - this was a new lease on life.

The course covered what I imagine are the main themes and theorists. Clearly written. Concise explanations of some complicated issues. Helped me clarify my own personal philosophy.

The course covered what I imagine are the main themes and theorists. Clearly written. Concise explanations of some complicated issues. Helped me clarify my own personal philosophy.

Thanks for providing an excellent course in such a "digestable" manner. It’s prompted me to do another U3A Online course.

Thanks for providing an excellent course in such a "digestable" manner. It’s prompted me to do another U3A Online course.

I was looking for a course that would reacquaint with a topic I studied some 40 years ago, a structured course with suggested reading guide. I have found the course excellent, very flexible, have been able to do it in my own time, as it suited me.

I was looking for a course that would reacquaint with a topic I studied some 40 years ago, a structured course with suggested reading guide. I have found the course excellent, very flexible, have been able to do it in my own time, as it suited me.

Overall a good course. Topic information excellent and tutor support first class. I achieved my objective to obtain some understanding and direction for future study.

Overall a good course. Topic information excellent and tutor support first class. I achieved my objective to obtain some understanding and direction for future study.

I am glad that I have partaken in this course. It has opened several doors to me; made me acquainted with the development of the Western culture; helped me to clarify the way I think and react, and has given me an incentive to explore more about different philosophers and their theories.

I am glad that I have partaken in this course. It has opened several doors to me; made me acquainted with the development of the Western culture; helped me to clarify the way I think and react, and has given me an incentive to explore more about different philosophers and their theories.

Yes, it did exactly what it said - it gave me a good overview of the main thinkers who influenced Western philosophy as well as stimulating me to think deeply, compare and clarify my own philosophy. For me this was a very positive experience.

Yes, it did exactly what it said - it gave me a good overview of the main thinkers who influenced Western philosophy as well as stimulating me to think deeply, compare and clarify my own philosophy. For me this was a very positive experience.

It lived up to it’s promise of being introduction... so much so, that I look forward to studying further in this field.

It lived up to it’s promise of being introduction... so much so, that I look forward to studying further in this field.

My thanks to Alistair who led with gentleness and wisdom. He managed to prod us gently whenever we became bogged down in dogma or too enamoured of our own opinions. I am more introspective as a result.

My thanks to Alistair who led with gentleness and wisdom. He managed to prod us gently whenever we became bogged down in dogma or too enamoured of our own opinions. I am more introspective as a result.

I enjoyed Alistair’s notes before each unit and also his summing up at the end of each unit, it certainly helped me with my directions.

I enjoyed Alistair’s notes before each unit and also his summing up at the end of each unit, it certainly helped me with my directions.

Yes, I found out what Philosophy was all about. I sometimes found it difficult to keep up as I did not realise how much time and effort the wet season takes up in order to deal with all of its problems. I gained a great deal from the course. I have found my self thinking and applying some of the ideas to my TV watching and reading. I found myself watching Survivors a UK program about a group of people who survived a pandemic and I kept thinking about whether the actions of some of the characters were ethical in the circumstances in which they found themselves.

Yes, I found out what Philosophy was all about. I sometimes found it difficult to keep up as I did not realise how much time and effort the wet season takes up in order to deal with all of its problems. I gained a great deal from the course. I have found my self thinking and applying some of the ideas to my TV watching and reading. I found myself watching Survivors a UK program about a group of people who survived a pandemic and I kept thinking about whether the actions of some of the characters were ethical in the circumstances in which they found themselves.

As the title of the course indicates, it is only an ‘introduction’ to Western philosophy - a very light brushstroke across a vary large subject. However, the course is well-written and provides enough links and ideas to allow students to investigate as much or as little as they choose. Having a course leader adds an extra dimension to the course and Alistair Pringle provided excellent explanations and insight into the issues raised throughout the course. I thoroughly recommend the course.

As the title of the course indicates, it is only an ‘introduction’ to Western philosophy - a very light brushstroke across a vary large subject. However, the course is well-written and provides enough links and ideas to allow students to investigate as much or as little as they choose. Having a course leader adds an extra dimension to the course and Alistair Pringle provided excellent explanations and insight into the issues raised throughout the course. I thoroughly recommend the course.

I found this an excellent course, thanks to the well-written, informative and appealing content, and Alistair’s engaging and motivating comments. But I thought that 8 weeks is a bit short; there’s so much more history to cover and many more more dilemmas to discuss. I would very much like to follow a similar course on ‘Eastern Philosophy’. And what about starting a "Philosopher’s Forum" on the U3A Online Members Discussion Board? Now, that would be great!

I found this an excellent course, thanks to the well-written, informative and appealing content, and Alistair’s engaging and motivating comments. But I thought that 8 weeks is a bit short; there’s so much more history to cover and many more more dilemmas to discuss. I would very much like to follow a similar course on ‘Eastern Philosophy’. And what about starting a "Philosopher’s Forum" on the U3A Online Members Discussion Board? Now, that would be great!

I found the course very interesting and I now look at issues differently. Living 70 kilometres from the closest largest town and being able to do this course on line has been great for me. I will be doing other courses this way.

I found the course very interesting and I now look at issues differently. Living 70 kilometres from the closest largest town and being able to do this course on line has been great for me. I will be doing other courses this way.

I did the untutored version of the course because I didn\\'t want to keep up with a prescribed schedule. At the rate of one per week that would have been too fast for me to enjoy. It actually took me 19 weeks to complete. The temptation with an untutored course is just to read it, rather than doing the exercises, so I\\'m glad I resisted temptation on this occasion. I wrote full answers to all the Activities, followed up the links, and enjoyed formalising my own philosophy. It has been good to realise I actually do have a philosophy, one which satisfies me! I fully intend to do more courses in the same way, i.e. untutored. If I feel the need, I could always repeat them on a tutored basis later. I liked the way the material was presented, particularly the even-handed tone where conflicting views were explained. Also liked the freedom to work at my own pace so there was no external pressure. (I\\'m in the process of enrolling for the Left, Right or Centre, Introduction to Politics course, and may well follow that with a couple of other courses. So, many thanks to your organisation for making them available. By the way, I\\'m a 63 year old woman, living in England. I belong to our local U3A and have become a keen table tennis player with them, plus doing German conversation classes and drama. Not really enough days in the week for everything I want to do!)

I did the untutored version of the course because I didn\\'t want to keep up with a prescribed schedule. At the rate of one per week that would have been too fast for me to enjoy. It actually took me 19 weeks to complete. The temptation with an untutored course is just to read it, rather than doing the exercises, so I\\'m glad I resisted temptation on this occasion. I wrote full answers to all the Activities, followed up the links, and enjoyed formalising my own philosophy. It has been good to realise I actually do have a philosophy, one which satisfies me! I fully intend to do more courses in the same way, i.e. untutored. If I feel the need, I could always repeat them on a tutored basis later. I liked the way the material was presented, particularly the even-handed tone where conflicting views were explained. Also liked the freedom to work at my own pace so there was no external pressure. (I\\'m in the process of enrolling for the Left, Right or Centre, Introduction to Politics course, and may well follow that with a couple of other courses. So, many thanks to your organisation for making them available. By the way, I\\'m a 63 year old woman, living in England. I belong to our local U3A and have become a keen table tennis player with them, plus doing German conversation classes and drama. Not really enough days in the week for everything I want to do!)

ONE WORD WILL DESCRIBE THIS COURSE AND THE WAY IT IS PRESENTED = EXCELLENT!