Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/know-thyself-the-examined-life

Introduction

### Course Review: Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life In a world that constantly demands self-improvement and introspection, the course "Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life" on Coursera stands out as a transformative experience. Rooted in philosophical inquiry and designed to deepen our understanding of self-knowledge, this course delves into timeless wisdom from notable philosophers, challenging learners to navigate the murky waters of self-awareness and human nature. #### Course Overview The course opens by revisiting the well-known maxim "Know Thyself," inscribed at the Temple of Delphi, and sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of what self-knowledge truly means, why it is significant, and the potential limitations it faces. This inquiry is not just academic; it pushes participants to reflect on their own lives and the wisdom that self-awareness can bring, or the folly that a lack of it may engender. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Getting Started**: It acclimates students to the course structure while emphasizing the importance of self-examination in personal growth. 2. **Socrates and the Examined Life**: The course dives into Socratic philosophy, exploring Socrates' bold assertion that "an unexamined life is not worth living." This module challenges students to explore the discomfort that often accompanies self-reflection, making it a necessary yet daunting journey. 3. **Descartes' Essence**: Here, learners are introduced to Descartes' radical questioning of reality and existence. The thought-provoking engagement with Descartes encourages students to consider their own beliefs critically and understand how this philosophical approach can pave the way for genuine self-knowledge. 4. **A Re-casting of the Mind/Body Problem**: This segment re-examines Cartesian dualism through Gilbert Ryle's modern critiques. It emphasizes how knowledge can be gained not just through introspection but by engaging with the external world. This is an eye-opening perspective that many will find refreshing and applicable to their daily lives. 5. **MIND AND SELF: Some Aspects of Human Nature**: This module tackles the question of human nature's existence and its implications. By confronting questions about the potential for change within our nature, participants are prompted to reflect on personal growth and transformation. 6. **Final Assessment**: Culminating in an assessment that integrates the learned concepts, this component ensures students can articulate their understanding of self-knowledge and its significance in their everyday lives. #### Why You Should Take This Course The course is an intellectual feast, offering robust philosophical discussions that go beyond surface-level interpretations of self-knowledge. It is tailored for anyone seeking to cultivate a deeper understanding of self-awareness and its impact on wisdom, virtue, and competence. Whether you are a philosophy novice or well-versed in the subject, the engaging content and thought-provoking discussions will challenge your perspectives and enrich your understanding. Moreover, the multidisciplinary approach incorporates ideas from esteemed philosophers, allowing students to appreciate the evolution of thought surrounding self-knowledge while relating it to their experiences. #### Recommendation I highly recommend "Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life" for anyone looking to dive deep into personal growth. This course is not merely an academic exercise; it is a path to understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and the essence of being human. The skills and insights gained from this course will not only enhance your self-awareness but also empower you to navigate personal and professional challenges with increased clarity and confidence. Embark on this philosophical journey to discover the value—and limits—of knowing oneself, and you may find that examining your life profoundly impacts every aspect of it. Enroll today and start your path to a more examined, more meaningful existence!

Syllabus

Getting started

At his trial, charged with corrupting the Athenian youth, Socrates isn't exactly apologetic. He tells the jury to their faces that they only charged him because they don't like that he forces them to confront uncomfortable truths. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the jury sentences him to death. Socrates accepts the sentence unfazed, famously stating that he'd rather die than stop making people think, as 'an unexamined life is not worth living'. In this module we will examine this dictum and ask: was Socrates right to throw shade on the unexamimed life?

Are you dreaming right now? How do you know you're not? Rene Descartes set himself a pretty titanic task: to doubt absolutely everything he cannot be certain of - even that the world exists! - and then try to see if we can rebuild our knowledge of ourselves and the world only from what we can be really certain of. In the process, he formulated some provocative thoughts on the radical separation of the mind from the body.

Descartes' dualistic picture of the mind-body relation was highly influential for centuries. A vocal minority of thinkers challenged dualism, but only in the Twentieth Century did Gilbert Ryle manage to discern how Descartes' dualistic reasoning went wrong. In understanding Ryle's approach, we will also gain an appreciation of how know-how is a legitimate form of knowledge, and of how one way of gaining self-knowledge is by looking outward rather than looking inward.

Is there such a thing as a human nature? And if there is, how can we know what it is? In this module we will look at how the concept of human nature is used and potentially misused, and what can all this tell us about ourselves. And finally: can human nature be changed?