Philosophy for Beginners

Matt Kyoto

In this course, I will teach you the story of human philosophy encompassing an incredible 2500 years of philosophical history. By the end of this video, you will know all the basic philosophical ideas, schools and approaches, as well as some of the most influential philosophers from around the world. The video has 4 major parts and each with 2 or 3 sections, just like chapters in books.

In this course, I will teach you the story of human philosophy encompassing an incredible 2500 years of philosophical history. By the end of this video, you will know all the basic philosophical ideas, schools and approaches, as well as some of the most influential philosophers from around the world. The video has 4 major parts and each with 2 or 3 sections, just like chapters in books.

In part 1, I will answer the most fundamental question. Why are humans the only species that have invented philosophy? Or where does philosophy really come from? Also how has philosophy evolved in the past 2500 years? And why philosophy has so many branches such as ontology, epistemology, rationalism, empiricism, humanism, utilitarianism, existentialism, postmodernism and more?

In part 2, I will look at the origin and differences between eastern philosophy and western philosophy. Why one emphasises spirituality, and changing yourself, while the other emphasises rationality, and changing the world . I will look at the Greek giants of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, as well as the three giants of eastern philosophy, the Buddha, Lao Tzu and Confucius.

In part 3, I will look at the philosophy of life and human civilisation. Is the purpose of human civilisation to promote equality or competition? Is the purpose of human life to seek knowledge or happiness? I will discuss philosophers such as Sun Tsu, Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacque Rousseau, Voltaire, Erasmus, Michel de Montaigne, Francis Bacon, Martin Heidegger, Michel Foucault, and Bertrand Russell.

In part 4, I will tackle the question of knowledge and human motivation. How do we know reality? I will discuss the school of European rationalism versus British empiricism and Kant’s reconciliation of the two. After Kant two distinct schools of philosophy emerged to explain human motivation. One sociological and one psychological. Hegel’s sociological philosophy argued we are motivated by historical forces, while Schopenhauer’s psychological philosophy argued we are motivated by a blind subconscious will.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

You will learn about the entire human philosophy of the past 2500 years.
You get to know some of the most influencial philosophers from around the world.

You will understand some of the most important philosophical ideas, schools and approaches.
You will be able to understand a philosophical discussion or a book.

You will learn about the entire human philosophy of the past 2500 years.
You get to know some of the most influencial philosophers from around the world.
You will understand some of the most important philosophical ideas, schools and approaches.
You will be able to understand a philosophical discussion or a book.

Syllabus

Introduction

Eastern philosophers - Lao Tzu, Buddha and Confucius

Why have humans invented philosophy?

Branches of Philosophy

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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 Philosophy for Beginners with these activities:

Review history of western and eastern philosophy

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Review the basics of philosophy to prepare for this course

Browse courses on History of Philosophy

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Read a general overview of the history of western philosophy
Review a general overview of the history of eastern philosophy
Identify similarities and differences in the main ideas and concepts between the two traditions

Read 'History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell

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Provide a better understanding of the development of western philosophy

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Obtain a copy of the book
Read through each chapter
Summarize the main themes and arguments in each chapter
Write a brief essay on how this book has broadened your understanding of the history of western philosophy

Create a philosophical timeline

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Develop a visual representation of the development of philosophical thought

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Gather information about key philosophers and their ideas
Place the philosophers on a timeline
Include the main ideas and concepts associated with each philosopher
Annotate the timeline to show the connections between philosophers and ideas

Four other activities

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Read 'Eastern Thought, Western Thought' by Mortimer Adler

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Enrich the understanding of the differences between eastern and western philosophy

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Obtain a copy of the book
Read through each chapter
Compare and contrast the main themes and arguments of the chapters on eastern and western philosophy
Prepare a presentation summarizing the key differences between eastern and western philosophy

Attend a philosophy discussion group

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Engage in discussions to foster your understanding of philosophical ideas

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