Philosophy 101: How to Think Big

Ask civilization’s most provocative questions. Meet its greatest minds. Learn from one of philosophy’s best professors. If you could travel back in time and take one college course now, this would be it. With a goal of expanding the minds of lifelong learners, celebrated philosophy professor Kevin Corcoran engages thinkers from Descartes to David Foster Wallace to help you discover truth and tackle the big questions of our existence. Through this compelling 15-lecture course, you’ll develop critical thinking skills that will bring clarity and focus to your daily life. Prof. Corcoran begins with Aristotle’s maxim that “philosophy begins in wonder.” After discussing the nature of wonder and delight as the fertile soil within which philosophy is born and grows, you’ll explore a broad range of perspectives on quandaries that have captivated philosophers for centuries. You’ll ask questions including “What does it mean to be moral?”; “Do we exist, or are we living in the matrix?”; and “If God exists, why is there suffering in the world?” Prof. Corcoran, named one America’s best professors by Princeton Review, will take you on a journey that is sure to stretch your intellectual muscles. A stellar teacher, he will inspire you to revisit life’s most profound questions. This course is part of the Learn25 collection.