Course outline
- Introduction/Ancient World (1,6,7)
- Origins of Philosophy
- Why Study Philosophy
- Purpose
- The Religious Component (1,2,4,5,6,7)
- Ancient Perspectives
- Modern Perspectives
- Philosophy of Freedom (2,4,5,6,7)
- The World of Late Antiquity
- Determinism
- Existentialism
- Political and Social Philosophy (1,2,4,5,6,7)
- Classical Greek Views
- Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and the State of Nature
- John Stuart Mill on Liberty
- Ethics (1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
- Ancient Thought: justice and morality
- Utilitarianism
- Kantian Ethics
ebooks from the library
A Short History of Greek Philosophy by This excellent introduction to Greek Philosophy contains chapters including those on Plato, Socrates and schools such as The Atomists and The Sophists.
Plato by This guide will provide students and indeed general readers with the necessary background for an understanding of Plato's philosophy in both ancient and contemporary contexts.
Philosophy of Religion by Philosophy of Religion: The Basics offers a concise introduction to philosophy of religion, distilling key discussions and concepts of the subject to their succinct essence, providing a truly accessible entry into the subject. A truly accessible introduction to philosophy of religion for beginners Takes a topical approach, starting with the nature of religion and moving the reader through the major concepts, explaining how topics connect and point to one another Offers a thorough and full treatment of diverse conceptions of God, the ontological argument, and divine attributes and dilemmas A genuinely concise introduction, this text can be used alongside other resources without overtaxing students Represents 30 years of experience teaching to undergraduates Includes a free downloadable file with key excerpts and additions to help students study
Freedom and Determinism by ISBN: 9780262532570Publication Date: 2004-06-04This collection of contemporary essays by prominent contemporary thinkers on the topics of determinism and free agency concentrates primarily on two areas: the compatibility problem and the metaphysics of moral responsibility. There are also essays on the related fields of determinism and action theory. The book is unique in that it contains up-to-date summaries of the life-work of five influential philosophers: John Earman, Ted Honderich, Keith Lehrer, Robert Kane, and Peter van Inwagen. There are also contributions by other familiar and distinguished authors, including Richard Feldman, John Martin Fischer, Carl Ginet, and John Perry, as well as important rising philosophers. While most of the articles are written from a Western, analytic perspective, the volume includes a paper that addresses Buddhist perspectives on freedom of the will. With an opening essay written by the editors -- "Freedom and Determinism: A Framework" -- that sets the terms of the discussion, the book provides a remarkably comprehensive set of articles that are of value to a wide audience, from students of philosophy to scholars.
Open ebooks
Ott, Walter. Modern Philosophy. University of Virginia, 2013.
This textbook combines readings from primary sources with discussion questions. Topics covered include Background to Modern Philosophy, Rene Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, etc. The license for this text allows modification, and it is available in several different formats. Walter Ott is a professor at the University of Virginia.
Velleman, David J. Foundations for Moral Relativism. Open Book Publishers, 2015.
Based on the premise that there is "no universally valid morality," the author offers several essays to "offer some foundational ideas for a version of relativism that would account for the cross-cultural and historical phenomena." Section headings include Virtual Selves; Morality Here and there (Kant Among the Sherpas; Aristotle in Bali); Doables; Foundations for Moral Relativism; Sociality and Solitude; Life is Absurd? Don't be Ridiculous. David J. Velleman is a professor at NYU.
Open Courses
PHIL103: Moral and Political Philosophy
Covers the basic concepts of moral and political philosophy. Content is electronic, so you can link students to individual sections/readings of the course.
PHIL304: Existentialism
Explores major figures and the works of the existentialist movement from a historical perspective. Content is electronic, so you can link students to individuals sections/readings from the course.
