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A series of lectures delivered by Peter Millican to first-year philosophy students at the University of Oxford. The lectures comprise of the 8-week General Philosophy course, delivered to first year undergraduates. These lectures aim to provide a thorough introduction to many philosophical topics and to get students and others interested in thinking about key areas of philosophy. Taking a chronological view of the history of philosophy, each lecture is split into 3 or 4 sections which outline a particular philosophical problem and how different philosophers have attempted to resolve the issue. Individuals interested in the 'big' questions about life such as how we perceive the world, who we are in the world and whether we are free to act will find this series informative, comprehensive and accessible.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Philosophical methods • History of philosophy • Key philosophical topics • Science and philosophy • Philosophical skepticism • Knowledge and perception • Free will • Personal identityThis podcast, titled "General Philosophy," consists of a series of lectures by Peter Millican, delivered to first-year philosophy students at the University of Oxford. The lectures serve as an introduction to philosophical topics and methods, aiming to spark interest in key philosophical questions about life, perception, identity, and freedom. By taking a historical approach, the podcast chronologically explores the evolution of philosophical thought.
The podcast covers a broad range of philosophical subjects, starting with an introductory overview of the history of philosophy, from its ancient roots to the modern period. It examines significant philosophical shifts from Aristotelian science to the revolutionary ideas of figures like Galileo and Descartes. The series delves into the contributions of well-known philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume, discussing their views on topics like determinism, empiricism, and induction.
The podcast also addresses specific philosophical problems and theories. It explores epistemological issues like the problem of induction, skepticism about the external world, and the debate between internalist and externalist accounts of knowledge. Discussions include the nature of free will, moral responsibility, and differing concepts of freedom, as well as Cartesian dualism and the mind-body problem. The series concludes with an exploration of personal identity, including John Locke's perspective and subsequent critiques.
Overall, this podcast offers a comprehensive survey of philosophy, aiming to provide listeners with a foundational understanding of philosophical inquiry and a historical context for contemporary philosophical debates.