From Ancient to Modern Philosophy
This series of lectures covers the main claims of western philosophers in chronological order, starting with the pre-Socratics and ending with twentieth century philosophers. More and more lessons will be added in the future; I am a passionate student of philosophy who enjoys discussing and sharing these ideas with others. There are no quizzes or assignments on this course, but there are 15 hours of lectures (so far).Even though only a few fragments have survived from the writings of the pre-Socratics, we can still trace a logical development in their thought, which began with the worlds of being and becoming, and ended with the 'atoms and void' of Democritus, which is arguably the basis of modern chemistry. The stoics, the cynics, and the Epicureans flourished in Greece and Rome in a later period, developing ethical systems and building on the ideas of earlier thinkers. Plato wrote his 'Republic' at around this time, which has had a bigger impact than any other philosophical work, so we go through the ideas of this book in great detail. Aristotle was the student of Plato, but he developed a different metaphysical system. His system was greatly admired by Thomas Aquinas, who modified his ideas to support his own Christian beliefs. Two philosophers, Machiavelli and Hobbes, are perhaps the founders of modern political philosophy, so we examine their work next. The father of modern philosophy, Rene Descartes, developed a form of rationalism and had a tremendous influence on both mathematics and the scientific revolution. The rationalism of Descartes, Spinoza, and Plato argued that the chief source of all knowledge was to be found in deductive reason; in contrast, the British empiricists (Bacon, Locke, Berkeley, Hume) claimed that the only source of knowledge was obtained via the senses. While Bacon and Locke asserted that there must be a real world that causes our perceptions (realism), Berkeley contended that our perceptions are all we have (idealism). Kant created a new system, which he called 'transcendental idealism', in an attempt to deal with the arguments of the realists and idealists. Schopenhauer was a great admirer of Kant's ideas on time and space, but he suggested that Kant's famous 'thing-in-itself' was knowable in some sense, and he identified 'the will' as being the 'thing-in-itself'. Nietzsche took Schopenhauer's 'will' and turned it into the 'will to power', while Freud considered it a 'will to pleasure'. In the twentieth century, Heidegger arrived, ushering in a new age of existentialism.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Gain an understanding of the development of thought in western society over the past 3000 years
- Develop a keen appreciation of the fundamental tenets of various philosophical systems
- Gain an understanding of the basic postulates of the most influential thinkers.
- Develop an awareness of those philosophical questions which still remain unanswered
- Cultivate your own approach to some of the most difficult philosophical problems.
- Gain an understanding of the development of thought in western society over the past 3000 years
- Develop a keen appreciation of the fundamental tenets of various philosophical systems
- Gain an understanding of the basic postulates of the most influential thinkers.
- Develop an awareness of those philosophical questions which still remain unanswered
- Cultivate your own approach to some of the most difficult philosophical problems.
Syllabus
Understand the foundations on which modern philosophy and science was built
Thales
Anaximander
Heraclitus
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Activities
Review the history and development of Western philosophy
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Understanding the origins and evolution of Western philosophy can help connect seemingly disparate ideas.
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Western Philosophy
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Identify historical periods and major thinkers of Western philosophy
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Read short biographies and overviews of their key ideas
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Map out the development of philosophical thought over time
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Compare and contrast different philosophical systems
Explore online resources on existentialism
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Seek out reputable online resources can provide additional insights and perspectives on existentialism.
Browse courses on
Existentialism
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Identify reputable websites, articles, or video lectures on existentialism
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Review the material to gain a broader understanding of the key concepts
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Engage with discussion forums to share and discuss ideas
Read 'The Republic' by Plato
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Engaging with Plato's seminal work provides a deeper understanding of political philosophy and ethics.
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Read the text carefully, highlighting key passages
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Summarize each book of the dialogue
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Analyze Plato's arguments on justice, virtue, and the ideal state
Four other activities
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Apply the Socratic method to contemporary arguments
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Mastering the Socratic method will greatly strengthen critical thinking skills.
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Socratic Method
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Choose a contemporary argument or topic of debate
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Formulate questions to challenge assumptions and perspectives
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Engage in dialogue, listening actively and responding thoughtfully
Attend a workshop on critical thinking and argumentation
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Workshops provide opportunities for hands-on practice and feedback, enhancing critical thinking abilities.
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Critical Thinking
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Identify and register for a relevant workshop
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Attend the workshop and actively participate in exercises and discussions
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Apply techniques learned in the workshop to personal studies and discussions
Lead a peer discussion group on a philosophical topic
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Leading a discussion fosters deep understanding of the material and improves communication skills.
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Select a philosophical topic for discussion
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Prepare questions and materials to facilitate the discussion
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Lead the discussion, encouraging participation and critical engagement
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Summarize key points and facilitate a reflection on the discussion
Develop a philosophical essay on a topic of interest
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Writing an essay forces students to synthesize their understanding and articulate their ideas clearly.
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Identify a specific philosophical topic of interest
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Research and gather relevant sources
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Formulate a thesis statement and outline your essay
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Write a draft, providing evidence and arguments to support your thesis
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Revise and edit your essay for clarity, coherence, and impact
Review the history and development of Western philosophy
Show steps
Understanding the origins and evolution of Western philosophy can help connect seemingly disparate ideas.
Browse courses on
Western Philosophy
Show steps
- Identify historical periods and major thinkers of Western philosophy
- Read short biographies and overviews of their key ideas
- Map out the development of philosophical thought over time
- Compare and contrast different philosophical systems
Explore online resources on existentialism
Show steps
Seek out reputable online resources can provide additional insights and perspectives on existentialism.
Browse courses on
Existentialism
Show steps
- Identify reputable websites, articles, or video lectures on existentialism
- Review the material to gain a broader understanding of the key concepts
- Engage with discussion forums to share and discuss ideas
Read 'The Republic' by Plato
Show steps
Engaging with Plato's seminal work provides a deeper understanding of political philosophy and ethics.
Show steps
- Read the text carefully, highlighting key passages
- Summarize each book of the dialogue
- Analyze Plato's arguments on justice, virtue, and the ideal state
Apply the Socratic method to contemporary arguments
Show steps
Mastering the Socratic method will greatly strengthen critical thinking skills.
Browse courses on
Socratic Method
Show steps
- Choose a contemporary argument or topic of debate
- Formulate questions to challenge assumptions and perspectives
- Engage in dialogue, listening actively and responding thoughtfully
Attend a workshop on critical thinking and argumentation
Show steps
Workshops provide opportunities for hands-on practice and feedback, enhancing critical thinking abilities.
Browse courses on
Critical Thinking
Show steps
- Identify and register for a relevant workshop
- Attend the workshop and actively participate in exercises and discussions
- Apply techniques learned in the workshop to personal studies and discussions
Lead a peer discussion group on a philosophical topic
Show steps
Leading a discussion fosters deep understanding of the material and improves communication skills.
Show steps
- Select a philosophical topic for discussion
- Prepare questions and materials to facilitate the discussion
- Lead the discussion, encouraging participation and critical engagement
- Summarize key points and facilitate a reflection on the discussion
Develop a philosophical essay on a topic of interest
Show steps
Writing an essay forces students to synthesize their understanding and articulate their ideas clearly.
Show steps
- Identify a specific philosophical topic of interest
- Research and gather relevant sources
- Formulate a thesis statement and outline your essay
- Write a draft, providing evidence and arguments to support your thesis
- Revise and edit your essay for clarity, coherence, and impact
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