Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy from Coursera

Doing philosophy is like seeing a movie and wondering what will happen next, or what you would do in the same situation, or what’s real and what’s merely make-believe.

You’re probably not aware of it, but since you already know how to see movies and use your imagination, you’re well on your way to becoming a good philosopher. The only thing you still need and want to develop though, is the ability to use your imagination in the philosophical way, and that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this MOOC.

Firstly, you’ll learn how to use your imagination to put definitions, analyses or conceptions of philosophically relevant notions to the test by means of imaginary examples and counterexamples, addressing questions that have been part and parcel of Western philosophy since its very inception, such as

- ‘what is knowledge?’;

- ‘what is the mind?’;

- ’what is moral responsibility?’; and

- ‘what is justice?’.

Subsequently, you’ll learn how to use your imagination to develop your worldview. You’ll learn to speculate about what might explain your experiences, ranging from the commonsense explanation in terms of a mind-independent world, to sceptical alternatives, such as that you’re systematically misled by an evil demon or that only your mind exists and that it confabulates all the rest.

Finally, since philosophy is not only about interpreting the world, but also about changing it -and hopefully, for the better- you’ll also learn how to use your imagination to evaluate what the right thing to do is in a given situation, what the criteria are to evaluate actions, and whether such criteria are established evermore or remain an open question.

What's inside

Syllabus

The problems of philosophy

What does it take to bring the best philosopher out of you? It requires you to systematically use your imagination in the philosophical way. The first module introduces you to the four types of thought experiments that have been part and parcel of Western philosophy since its very inception, and focuses, more specifically, on the role that conceptual thought experiments play in attempts to put one's finger on the essence, core or nature of philosophically relevant concepts, like sameness and difference, good and evil, knowledge, truth, existence, causality and beauty.

The Gettier problem

Can you know something which isn’t true, or which is only accidentally, coincidentally or fortuitously true? What are the individually necessary and jointly sufficient conditions for an epistemic subject to really know something? The second module illustrates the role that thought experiments play in Socratic dialogues and conceptual analysis, by putting examples of and counterexamples to competing analyses of knowledge under close scrutiny. The focus is on the Gettier problem, i.e., the problem that justified true belief doesn’t seem sufficient of knowledge, and four attempts to tackle that problem.

The problems of scepticism

What is real? Although most of our abductive thought experiments end up interpreting our sensory experiences in terms of an external, material world, there is a persistent tendency among radical empiricists to refuse to make any speculations about what could lie beyond experience and is explanatory of it. In this module, we’ll distinguish between different sceptical worries, suggesting that a motive for such scepticism about the external world, may be to avoid skepticism about knowledge. Moreover, we’ll consider some more recent attempts to solve sceptical paradoxes by appealing to “contexts”.

The mind-body problem

According to Descartes, mind and body are not like love and marriage, because you can have one without the other, However, whoever distinguishes between mind and body, has to explain why they seem to interact. After putting some early modern dualist solutions to the interaction problem under scrutiny, this module discusses four contemporary materialist solutions to the mind-body problem. One of the recurring problems for materialism are the qualitative aspects of our experiences, or qualia for short. A radical solution to that problem, is to simply eliminate qualia altogether.

The problem of free will

We tend to explain events in terms of prior, external causes. However, if our actions are completely determined by prior, external causes as well, we face the problem that our actions do not seem up to us, so that we cannot be morally responsible for them. Firstly, this module analyzes the consequence argument for the view that causal determinism is incompatible with both free will and moral responsibility. Subsequently, some compatibilist alternatives are considered that aim to somehow reconcile causal determinism with either or both free will and moral responsibility.

The problem of personal identity

Persons cannot be morally responsible for actions of other persons. So diachronic personal identity is a prerequisite of moral responsibility: there should be a fact of the matter whether a person is identical to the person who has performed some praiseworthy or blameworthy action in the past. To solve the problem that invoking personal memories as a criterion of personal identity seems circular, some philosophers have developed and defended psychological continuity theories, which require the possibility of quasi-memories: memories that are either personal or real memories of another person.

The is-ought problem

What makes an action right? Is it one’s good intention prior to the action? Or rather the good consequence that follows from the action? Or still, the fact that one has simply fulfilled one’s duty? Firstly, this module considers several competing views in normative ethics and finds that they are all easily susceptible to imaginary counterexamples. Subsequently, the open question argument is interpreted as explaining or predicting this predicament: conceptually competent persons will always be able to conceive of imaginary cases that function as counterexamples to purported analyses of good.

The problem of justice

What is the ideal state? According to Popper, it’s impossible and dangerous to try to answer that question, because it results in closed societies and revolutions. However, in line with the tradition of social contract theories, this module rephrases the question of the ideal state in terms of the question of the ideal social contract. What kind of leadership or government is best suited to enforce the social contract? And should the state aim for distributive justice, or should the minimal state rather be restricted to protecting life and property?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores fundamental philosophical concepts, providing a solid foundation for philosophical inquiry

Taught by Tim De Mey, a recognized philosopher and author in the field

Examines philosophical problems from multiple perspectives, fostering critical thinking

Develops skills in using imagination and conceptual analysis to evaluate arguments and theories

Suitable for aspiring philosophers, curious minds seeking a solid introduction to philosophy

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy with these activities:

Review basic logic and reasoning

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As a refresher before starting the course, go over some essential concepts in logic and reasoning.

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Review the concepts of deductive and inductive arguments.
Practice identifying logical fallacies in arguments.

Read 'History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell

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Start with a foundational understanding of Western Philosophy before the course begins by reading the seminal work by Bertrand Russell.

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Read the first four chapters of the book to get a historical background of early Western thought up until Socrates.
Write a 5-page summary of the main ideas presented in the first four chapters, focusing on how philosophy evolved.

Explore Plato's Dialogues

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In preparation for the module on knowledge, familiarize yourself with Plato's approach to philosophical inquiry through his famous dialogues.

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Read 'Meno' and 'Theaetetus' to gain insights into Plato's theory of knowledge.
Watch a video lecture or documentary on Plato's method of questioning and his concept of the Forms.

Three other activities

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Summarize and organize notes

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To facilitate effective learning, take the time to condense and arrange your notes for each module.

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After each lecture, summarize the key points and concepts in your own words.
Review your lecture notes and textbooks, adding any additional information or insights you gained.

Practice thought experiments

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To sharpen your philosophical reasoning, set aside a small amount of time to practice thought experiments before each module.

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Brainstorm a list of thought experiments that could be used to test the definition of a concept such as knowledge, truth, or justice.
For each thought experiment, describe the scenario, the assumptions, and the implications for the definition of the concept.

Develop a philosophical worldview

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Towards the end of the course, cement your understanding by articulating and refining your own philosophical worldview.

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Identify the fundamental beliefs and assumptions that shape your perspective on the world.
Consider alternative viewpoints and perspectives, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
Articulate your philosophical worldview in an essay or presentation, explaining the reasons and evidence that support your beliefs.

Career center

Learners who complete Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Philosopher

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Psychologist

Psychologists study mental processes and behavior, and they help people with mental health problems. This course may be useful as it helps build a foundation in understanding human thought processes.

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Archivist

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College Registrar

College registrars oversee the academic records of students and other operations. This course may be useful as it provides insight into how people form their worldview. Understanding the philosophical underpinnings of a student's perspective can help a college registrar better assist students with their academic journeys.

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