Program Overview

Introduction to Philosophy: God, Knowledge and Consciousness

This philosophy course has two primary goals. The first goal is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts that philosophers consider. The course will explore perennial philosophical problems, including:

• Is there a God?
• What is knowledge, and how do we acquire it?
• What is the place of our consciousness in the physical world?
• Do we have free will?
• How do we persist over time, as our bodily and psychological traits change?

The second goal is to encourage students to think philosophically themselves, developing their critical reasoning and argumentative skills. The course will draw from influential classical authors and contemporary figures.

About the Course

To enhance the learning experience, this course offers instructor grading. Students who pursue a verified certificate will have their work carefully read, graded, and commented upon by a professional philosopher. This innovative approach allows students to test their ideas against and receive individual advice from professional philosophers.

What You'll Learn

• How to construct and analyze philosophical arguments
• How to write clearly and communicate complicated ideas effectively
• Arguments for and against the existence of God
• The distinction between epistemic and practical rationality
• Theories of Knowledge
• Physicalist and Non-Physicalist theories of consciousness
• Free Will and Determinism
• Personal Identity

Meet Your Instructors

• Caspar Hare, Professor of Philosophy

Eligibility

Due to U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions and other U.S. federal regulations, learners residing in certain countries or regions will not be able to register for this course, including:

• Iran
• Cuba
• Syria
• North Korea
• The Crimea, Donetsk People's Republic, and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine

Course Details

• Start Date: May 1, 2023
• Course Format: Self-paced
• Estimated Duration: 12 weeks
• Time Commitment: 4-6 hours
• Price: Free to Learn

Instructor Profile

Caspar Hare has taught philosophy at MIT for ten years. He has written numerous articles on ethics, metaphysics, and practical rationality, and two books: "On Myself, and Other, Less Important Subjects" (Princeton University Press 2009) and "The Limits of Kindness" (Oxford University Press 2013). He loves philosophy and hopes that students will too.