A taste of philosophy

Course Dates: 26/07/25
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Location: Online
Tutors: 
Have you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00
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A taste of philosophy
  • Course Code: HP065
  • Dates: 26/07/25 - 26/07/25
  • Time: 10:30 - 12:30
  • Taught: Sat, Daytime
  • Duration: 1 session
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Oliver Josiah

Course Code: HP065

Choose a start date  

Sat, day, 26 Jul - 26 Jul '25

Duration: 1 session

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

The course is designed for those who wish to learn about the philosophical manner of thinking, and how to use philosophical texts. We explore how philosophy is used to analyse concepts such as justice, freedom, and anything else that the would-be philosopher has in mind.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

What is it that philosophers do? A simple examination of the relation between thinking, concepts and reality. How to think about a concept such as 'justice' or 'freedom'. Consider what a philosophical argument is with some examples of philosophical arguments taken from diverse philosophical writings.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Analyse a concept in a philosophical fashion
- Construct a simple philosophical argument on a topic of your own interest.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is a general introductory course and no prior knowledge is required.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will run in a 'seminar' format with short tutor presentations followed by Q&A and open discussion. No outside work is required.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

None. Handouts of relevant texts will be provided. Bring pen/pencil and notebook.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

This taster course is a good preparation for our term-long Introduction to Philosophy course beginnning in September (HP004). Please check the website (www.citylit.ac.uk) for further details.

Oliver Josiah

Oliver holds a postgraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Oxford. Since graduating, he has taught a wide variety of courses to a broad range of students, from adults and children exploring the subject for the first time through to advanced undergraduates. His main areas of interest are the Philosophy of Mathematics, Metaphysics, the Philosophy of Language, and Logic. Recently, his research has focussed on developing medieval approaches to semantic paradoxes using modern mathematical methods. When Oliver’s not teaching or writing up papers, he’s either lost in a good book or somewhere deep in the English countryside.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.