An introductory philosophy course that develops your ability to analyse, interpret, and evaluate information.
In the dynamic world of business, the ability to think critically and tackle complex issues is indispensable. Enter the Introduction to Philosophy course, led by renowned scholars at the University of Edinburgh’s Eidyn research centre. This course provides a solid foundation for sharpening analytical thinking, a skill set essential for success in any professional field. The course explores the fundamental aims and methods of philosophy, setting it apart from other disciplines, and delves into various key philosophical areas – epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, political philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysics.
Module 1
What is Philosophy?
The course will begin by exploring Philosophy’s essence, its distinctions from other subjects, its unique objectives and methods, and the perceived fundamental importance of philosophical questions. It will also delve into the practice of philosophy and briefly touch upon two influential philosophers’ perspectives on determining the correct way of thinking in specific cases.
Module 2
Morality: Objective, Relative or Emotive?
Various perspectives on the status of moral beliefs, senses, or feelings will be surveyed, considering whether they should be regarded as reflecting objective facts, akin to what scientists could uncover and study, or if moral judgments should be seen as expressions of personal or cultural preferences. The module will explore different available options and the associated challenges and potentialities for each.
Module 3
What is Knowledge? And Do We Have Any?
In this module, a tour will be taken through the issues arising in the branch of philosophy known as Epistemology, which is concerned with the study of knowledge, its nature, and the means by which it can be acquired. Particular attention will be given to the implications of radical scepticism on claims to knowledge and the challenges associated with determining the veracity of something when possibilities incompatible with it cannot be ruled out.
Module 4
Do We Have an Obligation to Obey the Law?
In this module, the question of whether there is an obligation to obey state laws will be discussed, along with the main positions developed by philosophers in response. The meaning of obeying the law will be initially examined, followed by an exploration of three potential factors that could underpin an obligation to adhere to the law. The potential consequences of an unsolved problem in this context will also be addressed.
Module 5
Should You Believe What You Hear?
In this module, the validity of trusting others’ testimony will be investigated, as examined through the perspectives of influential Scottish Enlightenment philosophers David Hume (1711 – 1776) and Thomas Reid (1710 – 1796). This dispute encapsulates a clash between sceptical and secular viewpoints, represented by Hume’s propensity to question everything, and conservative and religious perspectives, as exemplified by Reid’s commitment to common sense.
Module 6
Minds, Brains and Computers
This module delves into the nature of the mind and the criteria for having one. Minds may be comprehended as sets of dispositions for specific behaviours, patterns of neural activation, or likened to programs executed on the computational hardware of our brains. The module explores why recent philosophy of mind and psychology has considered each of these options and evaluates the challenges and possibilities associated with them.
Module 7
Are Scientific Theories True?
This module delves into the ongoing debate in contemporary philosophy of science about whether scientific theories need to be true to be considered good. It explores the positions of scientific realists, who argue for the importance of truth, and scientific antirealists, who suggest that truth is not essential to understanding scientific theories and progress. Both perspectives and their primary arguments are presented for examination.
Module 8
Do We Have Free Will and Does It Matter?
In this module, the concept of determinism and its potential implications for the idea of free will will be examined. The focus will be on whether our actions, which we typically perceive as the outcome of our free choices, might instead result from a lengthy chain of cause-and-effect events.
Module 9
Time Travel and Philosophy
In this module, issues in metaphysics will be explored, focusing on the investigation of the intelligible ways in which reality could exist. The case study will be the feasibility of time travel, examining whether it can be ruled out by logical thinking and what conditions the universe must meet for it to be possible.
Course Overview:
Platform: Coursera
Duration: 3 weeks
Difficulty: Beginner
Quizzes: 9
Rating: 4.7/5
