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Masterpieces Of World Literature And Why They Matter
Alisa Miller
Throughout history and around the world, certain books have made such an impact on readers that they created a permanent place in literature. Often, these books illustrate elements of humanity that resonate with people, such as class struggle or finding oneself. Other times, what the book brings is so unique or groundbreaking that it serves as an example for the next generation of literature. This course will explore ten literary masterpieces from around the world and why they have earned a measure of importance.
Sci-Phi: Philosophy through Science Fiction
David Kyle Johnson, PhD
Science fiction isn’t juvenile escapism. It finds its origin in philosophical writings and is one of the fundamental avenues through which we engage with philosophical questions. Do we have free will? Could machines think? Could there be an afterlife? Does God exist? What is good and evil? In this course, we will explore these questions and more by seeing how they are raised in science fiction and how the world’s greatest thinkers have tried to answer them. After finishing the course, you will have a greater appreciation for science fiction and a better understanding of the philosophical...
The Mad World of the Roman Emperors
James Wareing
This course will give you an insight in the world of the Roman emperors. In the late first century BC, Rome transitioned from a republic, where no man could rule Rome by themselves, to an empire. In doing so, Rome experienced a period of unprecedented success and innovation. Yet, this coincided with the rule of some of the most tyrannical and brutal emperors history has seen. In many cases, they were no more brutal than they were mad. They would be a tabloid’s dream today, and some of the stories are scarcely believable. Our journey will introduce us to a range of characters, such as the...
Women in Philosophy
Dr. Will Buckingham
Philosophy is about exploring the deepest questions of human life. But there is a significant problem in the history of philosophy. While women make up just over 50% of humanity, most philosophers throughout history have been men. This is beginning to change, but what happens when philosophy starts to take women’s voices seriously? This course aims to introduce some important women philosophers and to ask challenging questions about the relationships between philosophy, men, and women.
Vikings: History and Mindset
Tom Shippey
This course looks at the forces that made the Vikings, their adaptive responses to changing circumstances, and most of all, their successful mindset. It asks the hard questions: What got them started? What gave them their edge? How did they manage to terrorize Europe for three centuries, from Ireland to Ukraine? What tactics did successful kings use against them? Lessons follow the careers of famous Vikings, like Ivar the Boneless and Egil Skallagrímsson, and some not so famous, like Haesten, “the Vikings’ Viking.” Lessons also cover the Viking assaults on Ireland, England, Spain, Russia,...
How Science Works
Benjamin Keep
What do we know about science? Although we encounter scientific claims on a daily basis in the modern world, we rarely consider science itself as an object of study. This course remedies that. It explores deep questions about scientific knowledge and how science works. For instance: How does science develop reliable knowledge? When should scientists change their beliefs? And do they do so when they should? It draws on the philosophy, history, and sociology of science to give you the tools to think more critically about the science you encounter, offers intellectual conundrums to ponder—and it...
The Theories of Sigmund Freud
Psychology Insights Online
This course is designed to introduce you to the life of Sigmund Freud and to explore a few of his most significant ideas and theories. As one of the most prominent theorists in the history of psychology, Freud pioneered the design and implementation of talk therapy as a method for treating mental illness. In this course, you will learn more about Freud the person, his background, his beliefs, and his legacy. In addition, this course will provide a detailed overview of Freud’s key theories on the unconscious, human development, and personality. We will also discuss psychoanalysis, the first...
Why Read Homer's "Odyssey"
Robert Garland
Homer's "Odyssey" was composed over two and a half thousand years ago. Why should we bother to read it now? Because the "Odyssey" is about such perennial issues as self-discovery, exploration, nostalgia for one's home, becoming an adult, appetite for the unknown, testing oneself to the limit, and love of family. Not the least of the reasons for reading it at this time is the fact that it empowers women. It is also a fairytale brimful with one-eyed cannibals, witches, seductresses, and princesses. Odysseus' odyssey is consistently hindered and advanced by women. Discover how this work offers...
The Rise and Fall of Athenian Democracy
Louis Markos
2500 years ago, the small city-state of Athens helped lead a barely-united Greece to victory against the massive, invincible forces of the invading Persian Empire. Out of that fiery crucible, a culture and an ethos arose in Athens that gave birth to the humanistic ideals on which Europe was founded and through which she prospered. In less than a century, the citizens of Athens either created or brought to perfection most of those arts and disciplines that still define our Western culture today. In this series, I shall trace the events that led to the birth and flowering of Athenian democracy,...
The Molecular Building Blocks of Life
Dr. Bill Thomas
Living things are made from a dazzlingly complex arrangement of different molecules. Surprisingly, this vast diversity is achieved by a handful of fairly simple organic molecules. While many of these molecular building blocks are familiar, their biological roles are often misunderstood. In this course, we will define terms like amino acid, carbohydrate, and DNA and explain how they form the basis for all life on earth.