Introduction to Philosophy (Online)

Programme details

1. Why do Philosophy?

• What is philosophy?
• The unexamined life
• Ideas and values

2.  Knowledge

• First Meditation
• Stages of doubt
• Second Meditation
• Descartes and Hume

3. Free Will

• Intuitions on freedom
• Schopenhauer
• Changed your mind?
• Agents or victims

4. The World

• Locke and Berkeley
• Property distinction
• Blackburn
• Fatal blow to realism

5. Morality

• Dilemmas
• Nicholas the Merchant and the Oxford Riots
• Moral dilemmas and inescapable moral wrongdoing

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Level and demands

FHEQ level 4, 10 weeks, approx 10 hours per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

Course aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to central topics in philosophy. The objectives are to promote interest in philosophy, to develop an understanding of the nature of philosophical questions, and of ways in which these can be answered.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate you must to be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Programme details

1. Why do Philosophy?

• What is philosophy?
• The unexamined life
• Ideas and values

2.  Knowledge

• First Meditation
• Stages of doubt
• Second Meditation
• Descartes and Hume

3. Free Will

• Intuitions on freedom
• Schopenhauer
• Changed your mind?
• Agents or victims

4. The World

• Locke and Berkeley
• Property distinction
• Blackburn
• Fatal blow to realism

5. Morality

• Dilemmas
• Nicholas the Merchant and the Oxford Riots
• Moral dilemmas and inescapable moral wrongdoing

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Teaching methods

• Guided reading of texts
• Group discussions of particular issues
• Questions to be answered in personal folders
• Debating from positions given rather than from personal belief (to hone skills of debate)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:

• Understand the nature of philosophical problems.
• Understand the different ways of responding to these problems, be able to differentiate between them, and to evaluate them.
• Grasp philosophical concepts and terms and reason philosophically.
• Interpret and analyse a philosophical text.
• Participate in philosophical debates.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Mr Istvan Musza

Istvan has an MA in philosophy and political philosophy. He has spent some time in Oxford, Jesus College where he joined this thrilling online project. His favorite areas in philosophy are moral and political philosophy, metaphysics and epistemology and he is a big science fiction fan.

Dr Peter Wyss

Peter has been teaching weekly classes and online courses for the past ten years at the department, where he is involved in certificate and postgraduate programmes too. He also teaches philosophy for the Open University.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Level and demands

FHEQ level 4, 10 weeks, approx 10 hours per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

Fees

Module code: O24P327PHV

Please use the ‘Book’ or ‘Apply’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

View our terms and conditions

There are no time-tabled sessions on this course. Using a specially designed virtual learning environment this online course guides students through weekly pathways of directed readings and learning activities. Students interact with their tutor and the other course participants through tutor-guided, text-based forum discussions. There are no ‘live-time’ video meetings meaning you can study flexibly in your own time under the direct tuition of an expert. For further information please click here