Class Details
More Great Philosophical Essays Course
Course summary
Some of the most profound ideas in history are found in the short essay form. Essays can cut to the essence of an issue and make it more accessible to the reader. Philosophers may use the essay to summarise their ideas or comment on a contemporary social or political issue. They may be serious, as in "The Idea of Perfection" by Iris Murdoch (1964); or use scathing satire as in "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift (1729); or be wise and whimsical as in "What the Tortoise Said to Achilles" by Lewis Carroll (1895).
During this ten-week course, we will explore philosophical essays from the Enlightenment to the present.
Aims
The aim of the course is to introduce you to some excellent philosophical essays to ponder and enjoy. The class encourages lively discussions on important philosophical issues relevant to ethics, politics and the personal life. In these works, you will find humour, humanity, wit and arguments for the betterment of humanity. They are rewarding to read and nourish the mind and soul.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- identify key concepts in the development of the essay style of philosophy
- discuss extracts from the history of the essay to the present
- relate the essay ideas to your personal life and contemporary issues
- further your interest in the philosophical essay, which embrace the short form essay as their mode of presentation.
Content
The Eighteenth Century
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift (1729)
Perhaps the most famous work of satire in English literature, Swift uses extreme irony to suggest that impoverished Irish families should sell their children as food to the wealthy. It is a shocking critique of British policies that exploited the Irish people.
"What is Enlightenment?" by Immanuel Kant (1784)
In this essay, Kant defines enlightenment as humanity's release from its "self-incurred tutelage" (the inability to use one's own understanding without guidance). He gives the famous command: "Dare to know!".
The Nineteenth Century
"On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense" by Friedrich Nietzsche (1873)
In this essay, Nietzsche argues that human knowledge is essentially metaphorical, and that "truths" are merely illusions that we have forgotten are illusions, a "mobile army of metaphors” used to navigate the world.
“The Modern Hep! Hep! Hep!” by George Eliot (1879)
Before she became a famous novelist, George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) was a formidable critic and essayist for the Westminster Review. Her essays often laid the intellectual groundwork for her later novels, exploring themes of realism, morality, and social duty. Published in her final book, Impressions of Theophrastus Such (1879), this essay offers a profound exploration of antisemitism, national identity and the importance of preserving historical and cultural roots.
"What the Tortoise Said to Achilles" by Lewis Carroll (1895)
Wisdom need not be ponderous. This humorous yet profound dialogue illustrates a key concept in philosophy, often called "Carroll's Paradox". It shows that logic alone cannot force us to accept a conclusion unless we first accept the rules of inference.
The Twentieth Century
"Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell (1946)
Widely considered one of the most important essays of the twentieth century, Orwell argues that the deterioration of language (through vague, cliché-ridden, or pretentious words) encourages sloppy, dishonest political thinking. He advocates for clarity, precision and honesty in writing.
"The Idea of Perfection" by Iris Murdoch (1964)
This essay is one of the most important contributions to twentieth-century moral philosophy. Murdoch challenges the idea that moral choices are purely voluntary actions, arguing instead that they are rooted in how we perceive the world.
"Reflections on My Eightieth Birthday" (also published as "Postscript") by Bertrand Russell (1969)
Written at the end of his life, this short and moving essay summarises his philosophy of life. Russell outlines the three passions that shaped his life: "the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind".
The Twenty-First Century
“Games: Agency as Art” by C. Thi Nguyen (2020)
This widely discussed essay brings together the philosophy of technology and aesthetics. Nguyen explores how games function as an art form, designed to work with an aesthetic agency that creates desires, values and temporary frameworks of meaning.
In addition, the course will examine a selection of short contemporary essays, both about and by artificial intelligence.
Who this course is for
Anyone with a general interest in philosophy and the course themes.
Prerequisites
None
Delivery style
Lecture/discussion
Delivery mode
Online via the platform Zoom.
Materials
Course notes for each session are shared electronically. Notes will include various extracts from the essays.
Sessions
Location
Online via Zoom
Other information
Our online via Zoom courses are interactive and delivered in real-time. You will have the chance to ask questions and join in activities, just as you would in any in-person class.
Our facilitators are well versed in Zoom delivery and will skillfully guide you in your online learning journey.
Instructions regarding how to connect to online classes will be sent to participants about 4 days before the class commences.
Meet the facilitators
Kerry Sanders
Dr Kerry Sanders gained her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Sydney. She has taught topics including the philosophy of mind; ethics; critical thinking; political philosophy; contemporary philosophy of technology; phenomenology; and the philosophy of music. She also participates in the Gifted Students Program, which provides philosophy sessions to high school students who show interest in a broad scope of ideas and wish to develop their thinking abilities through the challenge which philosophy gives. Most recently, Kerry was awarded the title of Honorary Associate to pursue research and other academic activities in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sydney.
Kerry’s approach to philosophy
Philosophy is a living practice which calls us to critique our own pre suppositions, and it asks us to assess ideas in relation to our own lives and society. In engaging with the ideas of philosophy, we both study and practice it. Philosophy can be thought of as engaging in an ‘adventure sport for the mind’, as we develop critical thinking techniques and learn to use the mind in new ways. The skills developed in the practice of philosophy are also relevant to many other areas of academic study, as well as in the complex living of our ordinary lives. Much of Western philosophy is based on the priority of reason and logic in human thought, however to fully understand the human condition we must also consider the role of experience, emotions and the body.
Other academic functions
- Supervision of Postgraduate seminar groups
- University preparation courses, from 2000 to 2015
- Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney
- Australian Postgraduate Research Award (four years)
- Vera Edith Thorpe Scholarship
