Improving Philosophers

Part I of a two-part course
with Dr Nicholas Joll

‘Doing Philosophy’

Saturday 10.00 – 11.30 

From 2nd Sept – 30th Sept

The Black Shed

Wivenhoe Bookshop 

Weekly topics:

This course is for those who wish to become better philosophers. It is also for those who are starting upon philosophy and wish to gain a solid foundation. Though the course will take in some metaphilosophy – metaphilosophy being the study of the nature and point of philosophy – mainly the course will try to develop one’s philosophical skills. How is one to analyse a philosophical idea? How can one assess such an idea? What makes for a good objection? What makes for a good defence of an idea? How should one best engage with a philosophical text? How can one structure one’s philosophical thoughts?

Parts I and II are bookable separately. Yet, attendees of part II will find it a benefit to have attended the first part of the course. Part II treats logic. In so doing it will keep the funny symbols of so-called symbolic/mathematical logic to a minimum. The point of this second part of the course is to (further) sharpen one’s thinking.

Nigel Warburton’s short book Thinking From A–Z would be a useful accompaniment to both parts of the course, and is availble at the bookshop for a special price.

The fee for this 5 week course is £70 which includes a continental breakfast of croissants, conserves and fresh coffee.