Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy

Erasmus University Rotterdam via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/thought-experiments

Introduction

### Course Review: Thought Experiments: An Introduction to Philosophy on Coursera **Overview:** The course "Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy" is an intellectually stimulating and engaging journey into the world of philosophical inquiry. It challenges participants to harness their imagination just as one would when watching a film, prompting them to ponder the reality of situations and the nature of philosophical concepts. The course serves as a practical introduction to philosophical thinking, equipping students with the tools necessary to engage with complex ideas through the method of thought experiments. **Course Structure and Syllabus:** The course is expertly divided into well-defined modules, each tackling fundamental problems in philosophy. 1. **The Problems of Philosophy**: Here, learners are introduced to the essence of philosophical thought. The module emphasizes the importance of conceptual thought experiments and covers crucial philosophical concepts such as knowledge, truth, and existence. 2. **The Gettier Problem**: This module delves into epistemology, exploring the intricacies of knowledge and belief through the lens of the Gettier problem. Participants scrutinize the conditions under which true belief becomes knowledge, enhancing their critical thinking. 3. **The Problems of Scepticism**: Students investigate the challenges posed by sceptical thought, engaging with radical empiricist perspectives about reality. This section fosters deeper conversations about perception and belief. 4. **The Mind-Body Problem**: Exploring dualism and materialism, this module focuses on the relationship between mental and physical states. It invites students to consider profound questions regarding consciousness and identity. 5. **The Problem of Free Will**: This compelling topic examines the compatibility of free will with determinism. By analyzing notable arguments, students explore significant philosophical implications on moral responsibility. 6. **The Problem of Personal Identity**: Here, the course tackles the essence of what it means to be “the same person” over time, invoking various theories about memory and psychological continuity. 7. **The Is-Ought Problem**: This module critically assesses different ethical theories, encouraging learners to grapple with what defines moral actions and the challenges presented by thought experiments. 8. **The Problem of Justice**: Finally, participants delve into social contract theories, reflecting on what constitutes an ideal government and the role of justice in society. **What Makes This Course Unique:** One of the standout features of this course is its interactive approach. The use of thought experiments encourages learners to actively engage with the material, enhancing comprehension and retention. Unlike traditional philosophy courses that may lean heavily on theory, this course combines imaginative exploration with rigorous analysis, making philosophical inquiry accessible and enjoyable for all students. **Target Audience:** This course is ideal for anyone seeking a foundational understanding of philosophical thought, whether you are a complete novice or looking to refresh your knowledge. It is particularly appealing to those who enjoy deep reflection and are curious about the challenges that underpin human understanding. **Recommendation:** I wholeheartedly recommend "Thought Experiments: An introduction to philosophy" for anyone interested in exploring profound philosophical questions through imaginative scenarios. The engaging format, combined with a clear progression through key philosophical themes, makes it a standout choice on Coursera. With its careful balance of theory and practice, this course equips participants with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate complex philosophical issues, fostering a deeper appreciation of both philosophy and the world around us. Whether you are pursuing philosophy for personal enrichment, academic advancement, or simply as a curious learner, this course is a valuable investment in your intellectual journey.

Syllabus

The problems of philosophy

What does it take to bring the best philosopher out of you? It requires you to systematically use your imagination in the philosophical way. The first module introduces you to the four types of thought experiments that have been part and parcel of Western philosophy since its very inception, and focuses, more specifically, on the role that conceptual thought experiments play in attempts to put one's finger on the essence, core or nature of philosophically relevant concepts, like sameness and difference, good and evil, knowledge, truth, existence, causality and beauty.

The Gettier problem

Can you know something which isn’t true, or which is only accidentally, coincidentally or fortuitously true? What are the individually necessary and jointly sufficient conditions for an epistemic subject to really know something? The second module illustrates the role that thought experiments play in Socratic dialogues and conceptual analysis, by putting examples of and counterexamples to competing analyses of knowledge under close scrutiny. The focus is on the Gettier problem, i.e., the problem that justified true belief doesn’t seem sufficient of knowledge, and four attempts to tackle that problem.

The problems of scepticism

What is real? Although most of our abductive thought experiments end up interpreting our sensory experiences in terms of an external, material world, there is a persistent tendency among radical empiricists to refuse to make any speculations about what could lie beyond experience and is explanatory of it. In this module, we’ll distinguish between different sceptical worries, suggesting that a motive for such scepticism about the external world, may be to avoid skepticism about knowledge. Moreover, we’ll consider some more recent attempts to solve sceptical paradoxes by appealing to “contexts”.

The mind-body problem

According to Descartes, mind and body are not like love and marriage, because you can have one without the other, However, whoever distinguishes between mind and body, has to explain why they seem to interact. After putting some early modern dualist solutions to the interaction problem under scrutiny, this module discusses four contemporary materialist solutions to the mind-body problem. One of the recurring problems for materialism are the qualitative aspects of our experiences, or qualia for short. A radical solution to that problem, is to simply eliminate qualia altogether.

The problem of free will

We tend to explain events in terms of prior, external causes. However, if our actions are completely determined by prior, external causes as well, we face the problem that our actions do not seem up to us, so that we cannot be morally responsible for them. Firstly, this module analyzes the consequence argument for the view that causal determinism is incompatible with both free will and moral responsibility. Subsequently, some compatibilist alternatives are considered that aim to somehow reconcile causal determinism with either or both free will and moral responsibility.

The problem of personal identity

Persons cannot be morally responsible for actions of other persons. So diachronic personal identity is a prerequisite of moral responsibility: there should be a fact of the matter whether a person is identical to the person who has performed some praiseworthy or blameworthy action in the past. To solve the problem that invoking personal memories as a criterion of personal identity seems circular, some philosophers have developed and defended psychological continuity theories, which require the possibility of quasi-memories: memories that are either personal or real memories of another person.

The is-ought problem

What makes an action right? Is it one’s good intention prior to the action? Or rather the good consequence that follows from the action? Or still, the fact that one has simply fulfilled one’s duty? Firstly, this module considers several competing views in normative ethics and finds that they are all easily susceptible to imaginary counterexamples. Subsequently, the open question argument is interpreted as explaining or predicting this predicament: conceptually competent persons will always be able to conceive of imaginary cases that function as counterexamples to purported analyses of good.

The problem of justice

What is the ideal state? According to Popper, it’s impossible and dangerous to try to answer that question, because it results in closed societies and revolutions. However, in line with the tradition of social contract theories, this module rephrases the question of the ideal state in terms of the question of the ideal social contract. What kind of leadership or government is best suited to enforce the social contract? And should the state aim for distributive justice, or should the minimal state rather be restricted to protecting life and property?