Great Philosophical Essays Course

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence.

The philosophical essay, in its modern form, originates from the late-sixteenth-century France with Michel de Montaigne, who “retired from political life, shut himself in his library, and tried something new”. In 1580, he published the first version of the Essays. In this course we will look at the ideas of some of the most significant philosophers and public thinkers through their essays. The essay form serves many purposes: philosophers may use it to summarise their ideas or comment on a contemporary social or political issue. These essays may be serious, as in Hume’s (1711-1776) “On Suicide”, or humorous, as in Voltaire’s (1694-1778) “Dialogue Between a Savage and a Bachelor of Arts”, or even delightfully whimsical, as in John Tyerman Williams (1920-2016) “Pooh and the Philosophers”. We will take essays from Montaigne to the present.

Aims

The course aims to introduce you to some excellent philosophical essays to ponder and enjoy. The class encourages lively discussions on important philosophical issues which are relevant to ethics, politics and personal life. For instance, Montaigne’s essays explore a broad spectrum, from his attempt to understand the workings of his own mind and  emotions to coping with the loss of his dear friend and love, humanist poet Étienne de La Boétie, whose death in 1563 deeply affected him.

Outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• understand the key concepts in the development of the essay style of philosophy
• discuss extracts from the history of the essay to the present
• relate the essay ideas to your personal life and contemporary issues
• further your interest in the philosophical essay through many platforms such as Aeon, which embrace the short form essay as their mode of presentation.

Content

Concepts and development of the essay

We will discuss the essay style, how it differs from other modes, its advantages and drawbacks. We will then introduce our first essayist Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592). All extracts will be from The Complete Essays of Montaigne.

The age of enlightenment

Essayists in the enlightenment used the essay form to critique religion, superstition, and monarchy. They often used humour, irony and satire to convey their messages. These thinkers championed science and the liberalisation of social structures. We will discuss the following essays:

• Voltaire (1694-1778). “Dialogue Between a Savage and a Bachelor of Arts” in The Works of Voltaire: Short Essays.
• David Hume (1711-1776) “On Suicide” in David Hume: Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary.

The Nineteenth Century: romance and revolution

Nineteenth Century romantic essayists, such as Mary Shelley (1797-1851), author of Frankenstein, used the essay to express personal opinions. Her “On Ghosts” serves as a prime example. Similarly, Mark Twain (1835-1910) in “Corn-pone Opinions” and “The Dervish and the Offensive Stranger” adopts a more personal style. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) in “On Liberty and Other Essays” and Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) in “Resistance to Civil Government” employ the essay for philosophical and political commentary.

Civil rights and the power of the essay

The centrepiece of this theme is Martin Luther King Jr’s (1929-1968) “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, reprinted in Why We Can’t Wait. Additionally, we will examine this work in relation to oppositional viewpoints, such as the very powerful essay by Malcom X: “The Ballot or the Bullet”.

The whimsical essay

Wisdom need not be ponderous; as demonstrated by the following delightful and insightful works:

• John Tyerman Williams (1920-2016). Extracts from “Pooh and the Philosophers,” first published in Great Britain by Methuen London 1995.
• Daniel Klein and Thomas Cathcart. Extracts from “I Think, Therefore I Draw: Understanding Philosophy through Cartoons,” first Published by Penguin Books, 2018.

The revival of the philosophical essay online

The essay is experiencing a boom, driven largely by sheer volume. The philosophical essay, typically spanning 5 to 10 pages, appeals to those seeking less than a book but more depth than TikTok. Sites such as Aeon have mastered this format.

Aeon. Jonathan Egid, “Forging Philosophy,” 2024. Jennifer Banks, “What Awaits Us?,” 2024.

Intended audience

Anyone with a general interest in philosophy and the course themes.

Prerequisites

None

Delivery style

Lecture/discussion

Delivery mode

Online via the platform Zoom

Materials

Course notes are provided for each session. All course materials are provided electronically, via Dropbox. Printing services are not provided.