I'm offering four different online philosophy courses through Lakeland Open College; two different courses per term. All courses consist of 10 one-and-a-half-hour classes and are primarily lecture-based, requiring an advanced level of English listening (and reading) skills. These courses are offered on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
A general introduction into the main problems (and branches) of philosophy. What is philosophy? What is it about? What do philosophers do? The approach of this course is topical rather than historical, meaning that there will be lectures on metaphysics (questions of reality and existence), epistemology (knowledge), philosophy of mind (mind/body relations), ethics (right and wrong) and so forth. While the emphasis of this course is on Western philosophy, occasionally Chinese and Indian philosophy will make an appearance as well.
A general introduction into the main ideas and debates of Buddhist philosophy. The approach of this course is mostly topical rather than historical, meaning that there will be lectures on metaphysics (the nature of reality, the existence of the self), epistemology (the nature and sources of knowledge), ethics (right and wrong), and so forth. The perspective is “academic” and non-sectarian — it is a course about Buddhism, and not a (sectarian) Buddhist course.
An overview of moral theories. Ethical or moral theories are general theories providing principles of right and wrong. These theories include utilitarianism, deontology (such as Kantian ethics), social contract theory, virtue ethics and others. Each class in this course will focus on a different moral theory and explain its advantages and problems.
An introduction to logic, the branch of philosophy that is concerned with the principles of correct reasoning. Logic is the toolbox of philosophy and (together with mathematics) of theoretical science. Thinking well is thinking logically. This course will briefly introduce the main areas of logic, but will focus on classical and modern (formal) deductive logic and how those tools can be used in practice.
All of these courses, or variants thereof, or more specialist/customized courses, are — on request — also available as in person courses on Sado island (Niigata prefecture, Japan). Condensed five-day courses combined with sightseeing on Sado are also possible.
For more infomation, you can contact me by email at mail [at] lajosbrons [dot] net.)