Philosophy as a Guide to Living

Overview

Engage in a stimulating discussion of how some of the greatest minds of the past three centuries have pondered the mysteries of existence and meaning. This course poses foundational questions about life: Is there any meaning? Can philosophy provide answers?

In 24 accessible lectures, you will explore the thoughts of significant philosophers from Kant to Nietzsche, and Sartre to Derrida. Professor Erickson guides you through diverse perspectives that illuminate how philosophy can assist in understanding our place in the world. No prior training in philosophy is needed, making this course approachable for everyone.

Video Lessons

01: The Axial Model

Examine how axial thinking has shaped philosophical and religious understandings of life as a journey.

Length: 33 min

02: Kant’s Hopeful Program

Explore Immanuel Kant’s influence and the challenges to traditional philosophical thinking during the Enlightenment.

Length: 30 min

03: The Kantian Legacy

Discuss Kant’s insights into human nature and moral life, emphasizing the limits of knowledge.

Length: 31 min

04: Kant and the Romantic Reaction

Understand the emergence of Romanticism as a reaction to Kant’s restrictive views and its emphasis on individuality.

Length: 31 min

05: Hegel on the Human Spirit

Investigate Hegel’s views on human history and how they challenge Enlightenment ideals.

Length: 32 min

06: Hegel on State and Society

Explore Hegel’s perspective on freedom and its evolution throughout human history.

Length: 31 min

07: Hegel on Selfhood and Human Identity

Analyze Hegel’s conception of selfhood and the relational dimensions of identity.

Length: 31 min

08: Schopenhauer’s Pessimism

Delve into Schopenhauer’s bleak view of human nature and how it influences his philosophical outlook.

Length: 31 min

09: Schopenhauer’s Remedies

Examine Schopenhauer’s suggestions for overcoming suffering and finding meaning in life.

Length: 31 min

10: Alienation in Marx

Discover how Marx views socioeconomic forces as fundamental to our human experience.

Length: 31 min

11: Marx’s Utopian Hope

Explore Marx’s belief in history as a pathway to understanding our purpose through revolution.

Length: 30 min

12: Kierkegaard’s Crises

Understand Kierkegaard’s focus on individuality amidst broader existential concerns.

Length: 30 min

13: Kierkegaard’s Passion

Investigate Kierkegaard’s argument for a passionate commitment to ethical living.

Length: 30 min

14: Why God Died—Nietzsche’s Claim

Examine Nietzsche’s critique of religion and morality, focusing on the implications of “God is dead.”

Length: 30 min

15: Nietzsche’s Dream

Explore Nietzsche’s view that there are no objective truths, only interpretations shaped by experience.

Length: 31 min

16: Freud’s Nightmare

Delve into Freud’s perspective on the role of compromise in our personal and emotional lives.

Length: 30 min

17: Freud on Our Origins

Analyze Freud’s views on human nature and the implications of his materialistic interpretations.

Length: 30 min

18: Psychoanalytic Visions in and after Freud

Investigate different perspectives on human drives as influenced by psychoanalysis.

Length: 30 min

19: Heidegger on the Meaning of Meaning

Consider Heidegger’s argument that modernity has overshadowed questions of meaning and existence.

Length: 30 min

20: Heidegger on Technology’s Threat

Examine Heidegger’s critiques of technology and its implications for human experience.

Length: 31 min

21: Heidegger’s Politics and Legacy

Explore the complexities of Heidegger’s political affiliations and their impact on his philosophy.

Length: 30 min

22: The Human Situation—Sartre and Camus

Discuss the existential conditions of isolation and freedom as explored by Sartre and Camus.

Length: 31 min

23: Power and Reason—Foucault and Habermas

Investigate the theories of Foucault and Habermas as they relate to power and rationality in society.

Length: 31 min

24: Today’s Provocative Landscape—Thresholding

Conclude with reflections on existential questions and the ongoing relevance of philosophy in our lives.

Length: 31 min