If you enjoy discussing and arguing about important abstract ideas you might be interested in one of Dr Alan Collett's courses which he runs from time to time in Wivenhoe (previously at the Royal British Legion Hall on Wivenhoe Quay but now at the Wivenhoe Sailing Club, Walter Radcliffe Way). These are private courses, arising out of the closure of
Open Studies at the University of Essex. They are run by Dr Alan Collett, an
experienced philosophy lecturer, who has taught for several universities
and adult education departments and who now teaches for the Open
University. This series of courses has been running since 2006 and attracts an enthusiastic group of students
of all ages to study and debate in an informal atmosphere, under the
direction of the tutor. Each term a different course is offered. The courses are designed to be suitable for those with
no previous knowledge of philosophy. To benefit from the course a student
only needs to be interested in discussion with like-minded people. There
is no assessment. Philosophy and the Human World This 6 week course is based on Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament, a recent book of essays by Thomas Nagel, an eminent American philosopher. Nagel has always been interested in exploring the broad relationship between the subjective and the objective points of view, in particular the tension between the subjectivity of human experience and the objectivity of science. The essays in the collection follow this theme and for the purposes of the course we will focus on six of them, listed below. Each week a different essay will be introduced by the tutor and then discussed by the class. The course will be suitable as an introduction to philosophy, but will also be of interest to those who have some knowledge of the subject. There is no assessment. The classes are held at the Wivenhoe Sailing Club, Wivenhoe from 10 am until 12.30 pm. The course starts on 11 May and finishes on 15 June 2010. The cost of the course is £45. For more information contact Alan Collett, telephone 01206 826404, email alancollett5@hotmail.com. Syllabus 1. Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament 2. Dawkins and Atheism 3. Why Is There Anything? 4. Nietzsche’s Self-Creation 5. MacKinnon on Sexual Domination 6.Sartre: The Look and the Problem of Other Minds Reading List Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament, T. Nagel, 2010. Purchase of this book is highly recommended although not essential.
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