Are you and I merely a "heap of atoms"? Many today seem to think so! So where did these notions come from -- and how do we address such ideas? Take a tour through the history of philosophy and explore what some of the greatest minds have said about mind, body, and soul -- to examine Truth and gain clear thinking about ourselves and the world.
How to get the most out of Philosophy: Mind, Body, and Soul with Sam Nicholson, Ph.D.:
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First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.
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Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.
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Read assignments before class meetings
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Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.
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Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.
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Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.
Total class meetings: 9
Duration: 55 minutes per class
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested credit: 2/3 Semester Philosophy. For full credit, add another philosophy course with Dr. Nicholson.
Instructor: Sam Nicholson, Ph.D.
Instructor Email: scn8v@virginia.edu
Course Description: What is the human person? A soul entrapped in a body or a union of body and soul? A purely mechanical entity or one with free will and moral dignity? The great philosophers have addressed these and related questions, and they are sure to intrigue anyone with a passing interest in science, philosophy, theology, or contemporary culture. In this class, we will examine the chief philosophical views on the soul and human nature, from the ancient Greeks to the Medieval scholastics to the modern philosophers. We will explore how philosophical arguments can be brought to bear on some of the most pressing questions surrounding human dignity and the nature of personhood.
Course outline:
Class 1: Introduction, syllabus, background
Class 2: The Atomists, Democritus, Leucippus
Class 3: Plato, the Meno
Class 4: Aristotle, De Anima (selections)
Class 5: Epicurus, basic writings
Class 6: St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, QIa.75
Class 7: Rene Descartes, Meditations
Class 8: Julien Offray La Mettrie, "Man a Machine"
Class 9: Alan Turing "The Imitation Game" and Ed Feser, "Philosophy of Mind"
Course materials: All course materials are provided FREE by the instructor from sources compiled online. No textbook purchase is necessary.
Homework: This course will run three weeks in the summer and will span 9 classes. We will have 2 quizzes, a mid-term, and a final examination. Expect to spend at least one hour per day reading and studying outside of class time.
- Teacher: Sam Nicholson