Expand+Introduction to Western Philosophy
Since its inception in ancient Greece philosophy has pursued fundamental questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? How do we know what we know? What is the right way to live? This introductory course w...

Hide-Introduction to Western Philosophy
Since its inception in ancient Greece philosophy has pursued fundamental questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? How do we know what we know? What is the right way to live? This introductory course which explores the birth of ideas, takes participants on a quest through the centuries from ancient to modern times and across Europe from Greece to France, Germany, Britain and Ireland. Each great era of Western philosophy presented different views on these questions and their possible answers. These views will be investigated in turn through readings and discussions so that class participants can gain a sense of the history of philosophy. This short course provides a foundation upon which the participants can formulate and discuss their own conceptions of existence, knowledge and ethics. The first step in this adventure is to realise that, as Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living!” Come along and begin examining it, after all its all you have.