Course Summary
Explore the philosophy of skepticism with this Erasmus University course. Learn about the history of skepticism, its key concepts, and its relevance today.Key Learning Points
- Understand the history and evolution of skepticism as a philosophy
- Explore key concepts such as epistemology and the limits of knowledge
- Examine the relevance of skepticism in modern society
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- USA: $70,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $70,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $50,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 9,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €40,000
- USA: $70,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
- USA: $50,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 9,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €40,000
- USA: $30,000 - $70,000
- India: INR 2,00,000 - INR 6,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €30,000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the history and evolution of skepticism as a philosophy
- Develop critical thinking skills and learn to question assumptions
- Apply the principles of skepticism in everyday life
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- No prior knowledge of philosophy is required
- A willingness to engage in critical thinking and questioning assumptions
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online self-paced
- Video lectures
- Reading materials
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Moralities of Everyday Life
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Michael Shermer
- Daniel Dennett
Related Books
Description
This is a course about the history of Skepticism from the ancient Greeks to today, with special attention to the political ramifications of questioning man's ability to know the world and himself with any certainty. We will discuss the debates raging between Plato and the Sophists, the rise of Christianity in the Roman world, and the so-called 'Skeptical Crisis' of the Renaissance as well as Pierre Bayle's Skepticism and David Hume's. In addition the Natural Law tradition will be explored and the relationship between Skepticism and Conservatism.
Outline
- Political Origins
- Introduction
- Plato versus the Sophists
- Karl Popper versus Plato
- "Plato, Protagoras, 317e-328d"
- Suggested Reading: "Aristotle, Nicomachean ethics, III, 6-9"
- "Plato, Republic, VIII, 555b-569c"
- Skepticism and Religion
- Skepticism and fideism
- Montaigne to Bayle
- "Bayle, Philosophical Commentary, II, 9."
- Skepticism and Natural Law
- David Hume
- Skepticism and Natural Law
- "Hume, Dialogues Concering Natural Religion"
- "Grotius, The Law of War and Peace" (De Iure Belli ac Pacis)
- Skepticism and Conservatism
- Skepticism and Conservatism
- Liberating Skepticism
- "Hume, Part I, Essay III"
- “There’s a method to his madness”: Responses to Cartesian Skepticism
- Introduction: Responses to Cartesian Skepticism
- John Locke’s response to Cartesian Skepticism
- Abduction and Charles Peirce’s response to Cartesian Skepticism
- Austin's response to Cartesian Skepticism
- "Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, book II, chapter viii"
- "Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, book IV, chapter xi"
- "Austin, Other Minds, pp. 148-187"
- Fallibilism, prejudices and toleration: Lessons from Pyrrhonian Skepticism
- Introduction: Lessons from Pyrrhonian Skepticism
- The limits of truth relativism.
- The powers of positive Skepticism
- The fallibilist argument for toleration
- Suggested Reading: Locke's real essences
- The marketplace of ideas: An imaginative argument for freedom of expression
- An imaginative argument for freedom of expression
- John Stuart Mill's argument for freedom of expression
- Paul Feyerabend's principle of proliferation
- "Mill, On Liberty, chapter 3"
- "Mill, On Liberty, chapter 2"
- The benefit of the doubt: Critical creative problem solving in politics
- Critical creative problem solving in politics
- The entanglement of critical and creative reasoning
- The creation of contextual relevance and common ground in politics
- "Bloom, Against Empathy"
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the philosophy of skepticism with the Erasmus Philosophy Skepticism course on Coursera. Students have praised the course for its engaging lectures and well-structured content.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
engaging lecturesPros from User Reviews
- Well-structured course content
- Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
- Great supplemental materials and readings
- Flexible schedule allows for self-paced learning
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course challenging and difficult to follow
- Limited interaction with instructors and fellow students
- Not suitable for beginners or those with no prior knowledge of philosophy
- Requires a significant time commitment to fully benefit from the course
Wiep van Bunge
4.5 Raiting
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