Online Class: Philosophy 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
13Lessons
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28Exams &
Assignments -
1,510Students
have taken this course -
10Hours
average time -
1.0CEUs
Course Description
There is a feeling in modern popular culture that philosophy is a discipline of purely historical value or, if it is still in practice today, it is only engaged in by those with multiple graduate degrees on university campuses or various academic think tanks around the world. While there may be some truth to both of these views, the fact is that philosophy is much more common and pervasive than that.
The fact is, most people deal with philosophical issues every day, whether or not they recognize them as such. For example, most have an idea of what makes actions right or wrong, what types of things (or people) they find attractive, the value of learning, whether or not there is a God or ultimate authority in the universe, and so forth. Granted, most will not deem their thoughts on these issues as "doing philosophy", but these issues (and many others) are more than tangential parts of most human beings' lives.
A great deal of popular culture is built on philosophical observations and famous quotations from the philosophers of the near and distant past. "The unexamined life is not worth living" (Socrates/Plato), "God is dead" (Nietzsche), "What goes around comes around" (an American summation of the Buddhist concept of karma), "finding my soul mate" (Plato), and many others.
While this type of popular usage is fine, it is not true philosophy, but an altered, shorthand version. Thus, this course will periodically use some of these references as a springboard to the more refined concepts that birthed them.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: What Is Philosophy?
Lesson 1 Video A
Lesson 1 Video B : Introduction Discussion
Review Article: What is Philosophy?
Take Poll: Philosophy Course
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 1: What Is Philosophy?
Lesson 2: Coming to Terms: A Philosophical Lexicon, Part I
Lesson 2 Video
Review 2 Articles: Philosophy Dictionary; Philosophical Terms
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 2: Coming to Terms: A Philosophical Lexicon, Part I
Lesson 3: A Manner of Speaking: A Philosophical Lexicon, Part II
Lesson 3 Video
Review 2 Articles: Philosophy of Mind; Natural Law
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 3: A Manner of Speaking: A Philosophical Lexicon, Part II
Lesson 4: Metaphysics
Lesson 4 Video
Review 2 Articles: Metaphysics; Metaphysics in Philosophy
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 4: Metaphysics
Lesson 5: Epistemology
Lesson 5 Video
Review 2 Articles: Epistemology; Epistemology in Philosophy
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 5: Epistemology
Lesson 6: Philosophy of Mind
Lesson 6 Video
Review Article: Leibniz's Philosophy of the Mind
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 6: Philosophy of Mind
Lesson 7: Philosophy of Religion
Lesson 7 Video
Review 2 Articles: Philosophy of Religion; Pascal's Wager
Take Poll: God
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 7: Philosophy of Religion
Lesson 8: Ethics, Part I
Lesson 8 Video
Review 2 Articles: Ethics; What is ethics?
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 8: Ethics, Part I
Lesson 9: Ethics, Part II
Lesson 9 Video
Review 2 Articles: Utilitarianism; Stoicism
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 9: Ethics, Part II
Lesson 10: Logic
Lesson 10 Video
Review 2 Articles: Aristotle; Fallacies
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 10: Logic
Lesson 11: Social & Political Philosophy
Lesson 11 Video
Review 2 Articles: Karl Marx; Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 11: Social & Political Philosophy
Lesson 12: Unsolved Problems & Paradoxes in Philosophy
Lesson 12 Video
Review 2 Articles: Molyneux's Problem; Sorites Paradox
Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 12: Unsolved Problems & Paradoxes in Philosophy
Lesson 13: An Overview of the Great Philosophers
Lesson 13 Video
Review 3 Articles: John Stuart Mill; David Hume; René Descartes
Take Poll: Favorite Philosopher
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment
Complete Exam: Lesson 13: An Overview of the Great Philosophers
Complete: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define what philosophy is.
- Describe the philosophical lexicon.
- Summarize metaphysics.
- Summarize epistemology.
- Describe philosophy of mind.
- Describe philosophy of religion.
- Summarize ethics in relation to philosophy.
- Describe logic and how it is used in philosophy.
- Summarize social and political philosophy.
- Identify unsolved problems and paradoxes in philosophy.
- Summarize the works of the great philosophers, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

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Student Testimonials
- "Good instructor. I enjoyed the course!" -- Carlos C.
- "Every part of the course added to my knowledge and understanding of philosophy." -- Adam B.
- "Instructor was great; responded quickly, very fair, enjoyable to work with. also enjoyed the way it was broken down by categories - logic, ethics, religion, social and political, etc.; I thought the terms and definitions were excellent." -- Mark D.
- "I will be taking Greek Mythology with this same Instructor next." -- Robert K.
- "This is my first philosophy course. No previous experience. Found the content excellent. Easy to follow and understand. Feedback always encouraging which was a great help. Really enjoyed it all. I am converted. I thought philosophy was intense and difficult but I found it interesting, easy to follow. I realize I have only made a small start but it was every encouraging. Will go further with this subject." -- Frankie S.
- "This is an excellent instructor." -- Karen R.
- "The lessons give an excellent structure to the course." -- Wayne P.
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