Language Culture and Philosophy and Politics
Looking to broaden your horizons and learn a language or explore different cultures? Interested in delving into the world of philosophy? Our courses are designed to help you on your of discovery. Join us today and start your adventure!
Philosophy Taster Session
Philosophers have always thought about what we can know and what is true. More recently it has been said that we now live in a ‘post truth’ age - but it is far from clear what this may mean. Join Bettina for this 2 hour session which will introduce you to some important philosophical ideas and issues in relation to knowledge and truth including whether we can tell if what we believe we know is true; different theories of truth; and the meaning(s) of ‘post truth’ and related terms such as ‘bullshit’ (yes that is a philosophical term, introduced by Harry Frankfurt).
Knowledge of Philosophy is not expected.
The session will be followed by three 8 week courses on Knowledge and belief (from 5th October); philosophical theories of truth and ‘post truth’ (after Christmas); and wisdom (after Easter 2027).
Philosophy : What we can Know
Philosophers have always thought about what we can know and whether what think we know is true. This course offers an overview of influential philosophical ideas regarding knowledge. We will cover how reliable our intuitions are; the key philosophical definition of knowledge as ‘justified true belief’, whether there are reliable tests of knowledge such as Popper’s falsifiability test; different types of knowledge; scientific from experience; abstract; knowledge as pattern or habit; practical knowledge (‘knowledge how’); tacit knowledge; moral knowledge; knowledge as wisdom. At the end of the course we will consider two influential philosophical theories of knowledge, scepticism and realism.
Knowledge of philosophy is not expected.
The course will be followed after Christmas by a course on philosophical theories of truth and post-truth.