Introduction to Philosophy Course
Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence.
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.
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).
Intended audience
Anyone with a general interest in philosophy.
Prerequisites
None
Delivery style
Lecture/seminar
Materials
Course handouts and readings are distributed electronically using Dropbox.
Overview
Sessions:
Location:
Price:
Class schedule
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Philosophy"}</p>
<p>This introductory philosophy course provides an understanding of the history of philosophy and the major contribution it has made to areas of
...Mon 3 Feb 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 10 Feb 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 17 Feb 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 24 Feb 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 3 Mar 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 10 Mar 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 17 Mar 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 24 Mar 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 31 Mar 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+11:00)
Mon 7 Apr 2025
6:30pm - 8:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Philosophy"}</p>
<p>This introductory philosophy course provides an understanding of the history of philosophy and the major contribution it has made to areas of
...Mon 28 Apr 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 5 May 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 12 May 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 19 May 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 26 May 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 2 Jun 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 16 Jun 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 23 Jun 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 30 Jun 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
Mon 7 Jul 2025
10am - 12pm (UTC+10:00)
If there isn't a class to suit your preferred time or delivery format, please JOIN the waiting list.
Featured 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...
What others say
Our presenter provided entertaining and informative sessions, full of thought-provoking ideas and light-hearted insights into everyday life. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to put some time aside to ponder the big questions of life in an environment that encourages dialog and feedback amongst participants. We had so much fun debating each other in those sessions.
- Steven Ackling
The teacher was amazing, very knowledgeable. Very interesting topics. Would definitely recommend this course.
- Amalia Fuenzalida
This course was an engaging introduction to philosophy. With discussion being a core teaching device, I found the tutor to be very approachable and helpful while finding my bearings in basic philosophical history and ongoing discourse.
- Bailey Tinta
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