Join in! And let anyone else know who might be interested: I’ll be teaching the basics of naturalism as a worldview, and how to build your own worldview, your own philosophy of life, from valid logic and sound facts, this May (2017). This fits right in with my talk the night before the Michigan Atheists Conference at the end of this month. Register here. And get the course text here (Sense and Goodness without God).
Just one month long. Study at your own pace. Participate as much or as little as you want. But this is your chance to ask a published philosopher and historian of philosophy all the questions you have about any philosophical topic there is! And to follow-up with more questions and get a fully engaged reply. It’s also a good chance to get some grounding in the basic principles of philosophy.
Here is a course description:
Learn how to develop and defend your own naturalistic worldview from studying and critiquing a model example, and how to employ a naturalist worldview in your daily lives and your understanding of the world. Learn the basics of how to develop and test a philosophy of epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics (theory of existence), ethics (theory of morality), aesthetics (theory of beauty), and politics (theory of government), using logical, evidence-based reasoning. Based on assigned readings, lectures, and weekly class discussion online with Dr. Carrier, who has a Ph.D. in the history of philosophy from Columbia University.
Specific topics addressed include “Naturalism, Supernaturalism, Philosophy, and Worldview Theory” in which we learn what naturalism is, and how it differs from supernaturalism; what a worldview is, and the basics of how to think about and construct a worldview; and what philosophy is, and how to think like a philosopher; “Naturalism and the Universe, Your Self, Your Mind, and Your Freedom” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the nature and origins of existence, of the universe and all its contents, but also in particular of you as a person, and thus of consciousness, thought, and freedom (your personal autonomy); “Naturalism on Morality, Society, and Politics” in which we learn what naturalism can say about whether there is any moral or political truth, what it’s nature is, and where it comes from, and what this means for how we should strive to organize society; and “Naturalism on Meaning, Purpose, and Beauty in Life” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the meaning of life and its purpose or value, and about the nature of beauty and ugliness, and what value they have, what they signify, and where they come from.
Register now!
And order the course text, Sense & Goodness without God, so you’ll have it in time.
