Philosophy course starting February 2014

Philosophy course starting February 2014

Interested in examining the Big Questions?

“The unexamined life is not worth living”-Socrates

Have you ever wondered about the big questions? For example is there a God, do we have souls, is there any such thing as an absolute right and wrong. What do we mean by justice? How do we explain the presence of evil and suffering in the world? Am I free or is freedom an illusion? These issues are explored in a Philosophy course starting next February 2014 in Pipers Hill College, Naas. 

We will also look at some of the famous Philosophers from the Ancients Greeks to the present day. The course runs for 8 weeks on Wednesday evenings and is good value for money. 

 “Areas covered include Ethics, Political philosophy, the history of philosophy, philosophy of religion and contemporary philosophy, explains Ross Campbell the tutor on the course. “Under these headings we would look specifically at topics such as Justice, human rights, freedom, and issues such as Does God exist? How ought we to live our lives? What’s the best way to structure society and other issues.” 

One of the main areas on the course for example Ethics is probably the single biggest field within philosophy today because it has wide practical relevance to everyday common issues. Ethics can be applied to the fields of business, medicine, the media, the environment and so on and controversy still rages over the issues of Abortion, Euthanasia, human rights, stem cell research and other areas. 

Most people who study philosophy believe that it is important that each of us examines such questions. To carry on a routine existence without ever examining the principles on which it is based may be like driving a car which has never been serviced. You may be justified in trusting the brakes, the steering, the engine, since they have always worked well enough up until now; but you may be completely unjustified in this trust: the brake pads may be faulty and fail you when you most need them. Similarly the principles on which your life is based may be entirely sound, but until you’ve examined them, you can’t be Philosophy examines beliefs that most of us take for granted most of the time. It is concerned with questions about what could loosely be called ‘the meaning of life’: questions about religion, right and wrong, politics, the mind, science , art and numerous other topics. 

For instance many people live their lives without questioning their fundamental beliefs. Many of our beliefs when examined , turn out to have firm foundations, but some do not. The study of philosophy not only helps us to think clearly about our prejudices, but also helps to clarify precisely what we do believe. In the process it develops an ability to argue coherently on a wide range of issues - a useful transferable skill. 

For the Ancient Greeks Philosophy was the "Queen of the sciences” because it asked the ultimate questions about life and examined the fundamental issues about humanity and the world. “The philosopher is a lover of wisdom” according to Aristotle. Nowadays in our more consumer driven, capitalist society our outlook is different. In a world so pervaded by science and technology, philosophy is seen by some as of less importance and philosophers viewed as academics in ivory towers immersed in highly abstract ideas of little relevance to us ordinary mortals. - Nothing could be further from the truth. The media frequently deals with what we could call philosophical issues- social justice, freedom, and democracy. What is the best way to organise society? The search for happiness, wisdom and truth. To examine the assumptions and presuppositions on which your life is based and exercising your power of thought seems like a worthwhile reason for studying philosophy. 

The philosopher Socrates in 399BC who was condemned to death for challenging conventional beliefs and ideas, for him the task of the philosopher was not peripheral to life but central. To stop questioning and challenging accepted concepts was unthinkable. 

For further information and to book your place contact Pipers Hill College, the adult education Office Tel 045- 898 923 . Email info@phcol.ie or contact Ros on 085 1395 320

The tutor Ross Campbell has a BA (honours) in Philosophy from UCD and has been teaching the subject to Adult education classes in Community schools and other centres.

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