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Topic outline

 

  • Time: 8 hours
    Level: Introductory

 
 

Introduction

  • Introduction Resource
  • This unit gives you an idea of what it is like to study philosophy, introducing you to the teaching methods employed by the Open University in teaching philosophy. If you are considering studying philosophy,...
 

1 Approaching philosophy

  • 1 Approaching philosophy Resource
  • The 1960s show Beyond the Fringe included a sketch satirizing philosophy. In it, Jonathan Miller and Alan Bennett play two Oxbridge philosophers discussing the role of philosophy in everyday life. It concludes...
 

2 Doing philosophy

  • 2 Doing philosophy Resource
  • This section will illustrate the points just made and give you a sense of what it will be like to do philosophy. We shall look at some extracts from the first A211 course book, Arguments for Freedom by...
 

3 Studying philosophy

  • 3 Studying philosophy Resource
  • In the final section of this taster unit I want to say something about the process of studying philosophy. We can divide the process up into three components: reading (and listening), discussing, and writing....
 

4 Conclusion

  • 4 Conclusion Resource
  • I hope this taster pack has given you a sense of what philosophy is like and whetted your appetite for A211. If you would like to do more preparation, I suggest you read Nigel Warburton's book Philosophy:...
 

References and Acknowledgements

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