Explore Philosophy, Religion & Belief
From the meaning of life to moral dilemmas: explore the questions philosophers and thinkers have pondered for centuries. Our daytime, evening and weekend courses cover a wide range of subjects. Join a class to encounter ethics and existentialism, memory and the mind, or discover the paradoxes and politics of the modern world.
Expert tutors
Our classes are taught by experienced, professional tutors with a wide range of specialisms in philosophy, from ethics to political philosophy, and from Eastern philosophies to psychoanalysis to name just a few. Many of our tutors also teach at London universities and bring their expertise from other academic disciplines, for example art, literature and politics. Please refer to specific course outlines for individual tutor biographies.
Studying at City Lit
Philosophy courses are offered in a range of formats and lengths - from a single day to a twelve-week course, during the day, in the evening and at weekends. Courses can be studied singly or in combination with other courses as your interests and learning develop in new directions. A number of our past philosophy students have gone on to study philosophy at university at degree and masters level.
Find a course
Browse our range of philosophy courses in London and online below to choose your perfect option: both complete beginners and returning students are equally welcome at City Lit.
- Buddhist philosophy
Course start date: Mon 16 Sep 2024Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John Goff'Impermanence is the root of human suffering.' Over hundreds of years a highly developed philosophy grew from this simple idea. However, one does not need to adopt a religious outlook to benefit from Buddhist philosophy. - Introduction to political philosophy Course start date: Mon 16 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerWhat are the ends and means of politics? Interweaving modern history and politics with key philosophical texts, study and debate the ideas, ideologies and concepts underpinning our thinking about the organisation of society. - Introduction to moral philosophy Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariel KernbergWhat’s the right thing to do? But what does ‘right’ actually mean? And what reason do I have to do it? Join us as we grapple with these fundamental questions. NB: No class on Tues 29th October. - Philosophy reading group: Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (Part 1) Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher HornerHegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit is a key text in philosophy. Exciting and influential, it is also a dense and challenging read. This reading reading group aims to help you grasp its arguments and ideas.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £289.00 Senior fee £289.00 Concession £188.00 - How should we reason? An introduction to logic Course start date: Thu 19 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Oliver JosiahPhilosophical Logic is the study of the rules of correct reasoning. This course will introduce you to some widely accepted rules of correct reasoning and teach you how to describe these rules with mathematical precision.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - African political philosophy Course start date: Wed 25 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ovett NwosimiriThis course is an introduction to African political philosophy.Over nine sessions we will engage with the discourse and what is African about its political philosophy. We will explore the rich and diverse tradition of political thought in Africa. We will delve into the historical, cultural, and philosophical foundations of African political philosophy.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Philosophy and literature: from romanticism to (post)modernism Course start date: Fri 27 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Barrie SelwynLiterature provides a very effective springboard into the understanding of the developing notions of selfhood and human nature in the history of ideas and philosophy sharpens our understanding of literature within the broader context of this history.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - An introduction to the classic trio of British empiricists: John Locke, George Berkeley and David Hume Course start date: Tue 1 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cristina PaternoJoin this course and discover the work of John Locke, the founder of British Empiricism; George Berkeley and his famous view on perception; and David Hume’s fork of ‘relations of ideas' and 'matters of fact'.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Philosophy and the problem of evil Course start date: Wed 2 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
If God exists, and is essentially all-powerful, all-knowing and perfectly good, how could a world which God creates include pain and suffering? This question summarises the so-called ‘problem of evil’ which has preoccupied theistic philosophers for centuries. This course is an introduction to that problem, and to some attempts to solve it.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Philosophy and authenticity Course start date: Wed 9 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John HolroydIs it possible to be true to oneself? And, is this a worthwhile pursuit or a delusion of modernity? This course will explore these questions with the help of five modern philosophers.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Integrating philosophy and ethics in a capitalist world Course start date: Sat 12 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouEmbark on a journey to explore the intricate interplay between philosophy, ethics and capitalism. Join our exploration into aligning values with the demands of a dynamic global economy. Explore how values and principles can harmonise with the demands of a global economy.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - History of ideas: the past and the future of liberal democracy Course start date: Sat 12 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edgar Ter-DanielyanThis course introduces Liberal Democracy, reviews its philosophical and historical origins, and discusses what are its challenges and possible futures.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Philosophy and emotional intelligenceCourse start date: Wed 16 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cristina PaternoJoin us on a captivating journey to uncover the meaning of emotions and their impact on our lives. Explore ideas from Aristotle, Seneca, and Sartre to Goleman, examining self-regulation and emotional intelligence. Engage in lively debates and reflective discussions, making the learning experience both enriching and engaging.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - The seminars of Michel Foucault Course start date: Thu 17 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Daniel WeizmanWe explore Michel Foucault's public lectures at the Collège de France, introducing key concepts such as genealogy, governmentality, and biopolitics. Through Foucault's lens, we critically navigate debates on truth, social engineering, and politics in turbulent times.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Constructing the witch: how women became maleficent
Course start date: Sat 26 Oct 2024Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ann JeffersThis study day will examine the question of the association of women with magic and witchcraft.
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list