Philosophy | CCE University of Sydney
Centre for Continuing Education

Philosophy courses

Philosophy courses. For dealing with the big questions.

Are you ready to expand your wisdom and become a better thinker? Look no further than our philosophy courses. We will give you the ability to use logical reasoning and critical thinking in your everyday life. With access to the tools of logic and reason, our philosophy courses will provide you with the perspective to analyse humanity's experience of the world.

Our small but experienced team of experts use centuries-old wisdom to try and answer some of life’s greatest questions. From moral dilemmas to existence itself, we’re here to help you uncover possible answers to your biggest queries. From working through philosophical texts, carrying out philosophical debate, and conducting critical analysis exercises, our courses provide an invaluable education. We provide a supportive atmosphere where everyone can engage in meaningful discussions about current topics and ancient doctrines alike.

Enrol today and join us on a journey towards higher thought processes so that you can make well-informed decisions that shape your life significantly. Open up yourself to philosophical exploration - sign up now! Learn philosophy in Sydney with philosophy courses from the University of Sydney - your premier provider of short courses in Sydney and online.

Philosophy Course: Simone de Beauvoir

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Existentialism is concerned with the drama of human existence: the quest for an ‘authentic’ life; existential ‘angst'; human freedom; and the absurdity of existence. This ten-week course will explore Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophical existentialism and her many novels. We will compare and contrast her form of existentialism to Jean-Paul Sartre's, her long-time friend, lover and nemesis. Philosophical... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Simone de Beauvoir

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<p>Existentialism is concerned with the drama of human existence: the quest for an ‘authentic’ life; existential ‘angst'; human freedom; and the

...

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... [More]
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Great Philosophical Essays Course

<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Philosophy"}</p>

<p>The philosophical essay, in its modern form, originates from the late-sixteenth-century France with Michel de Montaigne, who “retired from

...

Philosophy Course: The Art of Critical Thinking

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. This philosophy course aims to develop your critical thinking skills through practical sessions and the study of informal logic techniques. We will learn the basics of a good argument and evaluate the reasons why arguments go wrong. We will work through practical exercises and evaluate examples from everyday life. Aims The aim of the course is to provide you with an understanding of how to construct a... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Introduction to Phenomenology

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Phenomenology has been, and still remains one of the most significant philosophical movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Phenomenology attempts to take the relationship between body and experience seriously, and find the complex inter-relation of body to mind, consciousness and language. Phenomenology is a vibrant part of contemporary philosophy and the theory has had many applications in fields such... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Introduction to Nietzsche

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. "That which is done out of love always takes place beyond Good and Evil." - Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil (1886). Nietzsche is famous for his theories of Nihilism; the eternal return; will to power; master/slave morality; God is dead; and free spirits. We will read selections from Nietzsche’s early, middle, and late works, and discuss the development of his ideas and his complex,... [More]
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Philosophy of Art Course: Introduction from Plato to the Postmodern

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. This philosophy course explores the idea that art is not marginal to human concerns, but a key element in emotional, social and psychological life. Many philosophers have proposed that art is not only the highest human achievement but an essential realm which allows humans to imaginatively reconstruct themselves and the worlds they inhabit. From Greek tragedy to Postmodern conceptualism, we will explore... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Hannah Arendt

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Hannah Arendt wrote some of the most profound philosophy of the twentieth century. Her work is rich and subtle and she engaged critically with the key intellectual ideas of philosophical history, including: What makes humans ‘human’? What makes an ethical life? The nature of evil; How do we forgive the unforgivable? What does it mean to have ‘common sense’? What is the nature of ‘story telling’? Hannah... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Introduction to Shakespeare

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Shakespeare’s plays speak directly to us because of his depth of human understanding and his insights into the human condition. We will explore themes including love, power, revenge, ambition, evil, nobility, truth, and tragedy, through an analysis of Shakespeare’s major characters and themes. We’ll also discuss Shakespeare in the context of his time. His plays reflect the ferment of post reformation... [More]
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Philosophy Course: Wittgenstein's Life, Language and Thoughts

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Ludwig Wittgenstein occupies a unique place in 20th Century philosophy. He brings a depth of understanding and richness of vision unparalleled in the history of modern linguistics, and profoundly influenced all 20th and 21st Centuries development in the connection between language and thought. Ludwig Wittgenstein’s project is very ambitious in scope, he hopes to show the boundary between the thinkable and... [More]
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Philosophy Course: The Fabulous Nineteenth Century

Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. What a century! There are so many towering intellects to choose from it is difficult to decide who has had the most impact on the twentieth and twenty-first century. Marx utterly transformed political theory and political reality; Darwin’s evolutionary theory has affected almost every area of science and social theory; and even if Freud’s theory of the unconscious is objectively a ‘fiction’, it became one... [More]
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