Description (podcaster-provided):
Philosophy has been studied for thousands of years. It involves the use of reason and argument to search for the truth about reality - about the nature of things, ethics, aesthetics, language, the mind, God and everything else. This series of five introductory lectures, aimed at students new to philosophy, presented by Marianne Talbot, Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford, will test you on some famous thought experiments and introduce you to some central philosophical issues and to the thoughts of some key philosophers.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Introduction to philosophy • Thought experiments • Key philosophers • Logic and argument • Metaphysics • Epistemology • Ethics • Politics • History of philosophy • Philosophy of language • Philosophy of mindThis podcast series, titled "Philosophy for Beginners" and presented by Marianne Talbot from the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education, provides an educational introduction to a range of fundamental topics in philosophy. The series encompasses five introductory lectures geared towards students new to the subject.
The content of the podcast explores various branches of philosophy, starting with the nature and purpose of philosophical inquiry itself. It delves into the philosophical method, focusing on the importance of logic and argumentation, which are essential tools for analyzing and constructing reasoned arguments.
Listeners are introduced to the philosophy of language and mind, tackling profound questions about rationality, consciousness, and the ways in which we use language to articulate our thoughts and experiences. The series also covers key areas of metaphysics and epistemology, where it addresses questions about the existence and nature of reality and explores how we can obtain knowledge about the world around us.
Ethical and political philosophy are also major themes within the podcast. These episodes investigate moral questions, such as how we ought to live, and political questions concerning the nature of a just state. This provides listeners with insights into both personal and societal dimensions of philosophical inquiry.
The historical scope of the podcast is considerable, offering a narrative that sweeps through the history of philosophy, from the writings of early Pre-Socratic thinkers to contemporary philosophical debates.
Supplementary to these thematic explorations, the podcast includes recommendations for further reading and other resources, aiding listeners in continuing their philosophical studies independently.
Overall, this podcast serves as an accessible entry point for those venturing into the expansive and intricate world of philosophy, covering crucial topics and concepts that form the foundation of the discipline.
Episodes: |
Further reading and more... (Slides) 2012-Apr-16 |
Reading List (Slides) 2012-Apr-16 |
Philosophy of language and mind 2009-Jan-09 87 minutes |
Metaphysics and Epistemology 2009-Jan-09 90 minutes |
Ethics and politics 2009-Jan-09 92 minutes |
The philosophical method - logic and argument 2009-Jan-09 94 minutes |
A romp through the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the present day. 2008-Nov-13 92 minutes |