Courses

Knowing what the weather is like, if our soup is too hot, or what our car looks like is seldom much of a challenge. But how do we know these things? Is all knowledge gained through our senses reliable?

This course will look at the theme of freedom as explored by often neglected female philosophers, including: Princess Elisabeth, whose correspondence with Descartes led to his producing his final treatise, The Passions of the Soul; Gabrielle Suchon, who anticipates existentialism;  Mary Wollstonecraft, who provides a colourful account of social norms and the limitations they place on our ability to exercise our freedom; and Simone de Beauvoir, whose account of our “situated freedom” resonates today.

This is a taster course for those new to philosophy and those who wish to think again about some key questions. We will explore the nature of free will, personal identity and human flourishing, with reference to what philosophers from the early Greeks to 21st century thinkers have had to say.

This course will look what often neglected female philosophers have had to say on freedom, including: Princess Elisabeth, whose correspondence with Descartes led to his producing his final treatise, The Passions of the Soul; Gabrielle Suchon, who anticipates existentialism; Emilie Du Chatelet, whose essay “On Happiness” is insightful and radical; Mary Wollstonecraft, who provides a colourful critique of the constricting effects of social norms and Simone de Beauvoir’s account of a “situated ethics”.