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History & society · Philosophy

Big Questions, Clear Thinking: An Introduction to Philosophy

Explore life’s biggest questions—what is real, how should we live, and what can we know—in a friendly, jargon-free course. Designed for adult learners, this course builds critical thinking skills through classic ideas and everyday examples.

150 min5 modulesBeginner friendly
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Free to take. This course does not use any Learning Credits.

What you’ll be able to do

By the end of this course, you will be able to identify and explain three major branches of philosophy, analyse a simple philosophical argument, and apply philosophical thinking to a real-life situation.

Course outline

A clear route from first principles to practical confidence

  1. 01

    What is Philosophy?

    • The Love of Wisdom: What Philosophers Actually Do
    • The Main Branches: Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics
    • How to Think Like a Philosopher: Arguments and Questions
  2. 02

    Reality and Knowledge

    • What is Real? Plato’s World of Forms vs. the Physical World
    • How Do We Know? Rationalism, Empiricism, and Your Own Experience
    • Scepticism: Can We Be Certain of Anything?
  3. 03

    How Should We Live?

    • Happiness and Virtue: Aristotle’s Guide to a Good Life
    • Duty and Consequences: Kant vs. Utilitarianism
    • Freedom and Responsibility: Existentialist Ideas from Sartre
  4. 04

    Mind, Self, and Society

    • Who Am I? The Mind-Body Problem and Personal Identity
    • Free Will: Do We Really Choose?
    • Justice and Society: What Do We Owe Each Other?
  5. 05

    Putting It All Together

    • Reviewing Key Ideas: A Map of Your Learning
    • Building Your Own Argument: A Step-by-Step Guide
    • Final Discussion: Applying Philosophy to Everyday Life