Class Details
Introduction to Philosophy Course
Course summary
This introductory philosophy course provides an understanding of the history of philosophy and the major contribution it has made to areas of thought such as political theory, ethics, aesthetics and the sciences. It encourages the development of critical thinking and the use of informal logic techniques as you explore some of history’s great thinkers and philosophers including the Greek pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Nietzsche and Foucault.
Come along, extend your intellectual horizons and find out why this introductory course creates a loyal following for our philosophy program.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- discuss the main features of the idea of philosophy, its history and significance
- discuss the individual thinkers in the course, and their contribution to the development of philosophy, politics and psychology
- compare the implications of the history of philosophy with our contemporary world view
- use the insights of the course to deepen your knowledge of yourself and your life issues
- apply some of the ideas to personal decision-making mechanisms.
Content
Introduction to philosophy
We commence with an overview of the course content and then consider the question: What is philosophy?
Greek philosophy
How did Greek philosophy begin? We consider this question through an analysis of the Pre-Socratic philosophers: Thales, Heraclitus, Parmenides and Democritus. We also introduce the topic of formal logic, the issues of truth and validity, and methods of good argumentation.
Plato on justice
Plato's political utopian text the Republic had a profound influence on most later political philosophy. We discuss Plato's concept of 'justice' and how he builds his utopian society based on that founding concept.
Aristotle
Aristotle's philosophy in the Nicomachean Ethics is studied as an introduction to the topic of ethics. Particular attention is given to the problem of human 'free will'. We also consider the system of informal logic, and discuss some examples of good and bad arguments.
Seventeenth Century England
We now move from the Ancient Greek world to seventeenth century England and further develop the study of political philosophy through Thomas Hobbes' work: Leviathan (1651). Problems such as the justification of political power and the problem of individual rights will be discussed. We also continue our work on the problem of how to assess a sound argument.
Human rights
John Locke introduces the idea of 'human rights' as a basis for his political theory. This idea is the foundation of Liberalism and integral to all Western political thinking. We consider Locke's theory of private property including his concept of 'property in the body'.
Immanuel Kant
The eighteenth century German philosopher Immanuel Kant is considered to be the founder of modern aesthetics. We consider Kant's theory of the importance of aesthetics to human life and his concepts of the 'beautiful' and the 'sublime'.
Romantic Movement
The next development in philosophy is the Romantic Movement. The Romantics shift the analysis of the human condition away from reason and social order to issues of emotion and the unconscious, irrational drives which subvert our rational intentions.
Friedrich Nietzsche
The late nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche will be studied for his aesthetic theories which represent a core nineteenth century romanticism, and for his critique of morality which introduces many of the themes which preoccupy continental philosophy during the twentieth century.
Michel Foucault
This week we introduce postmodern philosophy with the work of the French thinker Michel Foucault. We look at his theories of how power works in social and political life; how the concept of 'truth' functions; and the role of the body in the political machinery of history. We discuss his texts: The History of Sexuality Vol 1 (1976) and Discipline and Punish (1975).
Who this course is for
Anyone with a general interest in philosophy.
Prerequisites
None
Delivery style
Lecture/seminar
Materials
Course handouts and readings are distributed electronically using Dropbox.
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
