Philosophy - The Great Philosophers

The great philosophers course in Sydney.

Philosophy means the love of wisdom. It is the search for the best knowledge that the human being can have concerning all the fundamental questions of our existence. Philosophy concerns itself with the nature of the universe as a whole, the nature of consciousness or mind and its relation to the human body, the nature of the material and biological universe, whether human beings have a soul, whether there is life after death, whether God exists and if so, what is the relationship between God and humanity. All the above are subjects in metaphysics, which is the foundation of philosophy.

However philosophy also deals with ethics, which concerns questions on the nature of good and evil, and how human beings should behave given the contrasting demands of desire, conscience and society.

In this Philosophy Class, we cover these topics by surveying the major theories of the great philosophers, primarily in the western tradition (beginning with Pythagoras and Plato) - however, we shall also discuss the philosophies of the east, including the Divine Feminine.The course aims to make philosophy understandable to students, in such a way that they can apply its insights to the meaning of their own lives. Discussion and debate will be encouraged in all classes.

Course content

Week 1: The Beginning

• Pythagoras – the universe in harmony
• Heraclitus – the world of becoming
• Parmenides – absolute being

Week 2: Plato

• On love, beauty and the good
• On the creation of the universe

Week 3: Taking off from Plato

• The early Christian philosophers
• The Gnostics: metaphysical knowledge

Week 4: Eastern Philosophy

• The Bhagavad Gita
• The philosophical foundations of Buddhism

Week 5: The Renaissance

• Descartes: I think therefore I am
• Spinoza: God and nature as one

Week 6 : The Master Immanuel Kant

• The human mind in relation to the universe
• The metaphysical foundations of morality

Week 7: Hegel and Conclusion

• Understanding the self and the absolute spirit
• On philosophy and the meaning of life

Outcomes

• Consider and evaluate the views of the greatest philosophers on the nature of the universe and of human beings, and on the transcendent issues of human existence and how they relate to the meaning of life
• Learn to use and apply key philosophical concepts, especially in metaphysics and ethics, to the examination of different theories
• Think about the importance of philosophy in determining the meaning of life and the relation of philosophy to science, art, religion, psychology and socio-political behaviour

Avoid disappointment. Enrol early.

Please ensure that you have given a valid email and mobile number as all course changes will be communicated via sms or email.