Why be moral? What is moral? Does atheism have a rational foundation? If we are just atoms in motion, how can anything be right or wrong? How can rationality even exist? Christians and Muslims have been challenging atheists with these questions lately even more than ever. Learn how to answer them…and with something more coherent and well thought out than they even think their answers are! Thinking through the answers to these questions can also make you smarter, wiser, with a better grasp of the world and your place in it.
Get a leg up on both goals, by taking my course next month (this March) on Naturalism as a Worldview: How to Build a Philosophy of Life. It establishes the philosophical foundations of humanism. And I think it’s the best way to introduce yourself to doing philosophy and thinking like a philosopher!
We will get at questions like: What is the nature of reality? What is the nature of humanity? What is the nature of love? What is the nature of beauty? And what consequences do these have? How do we decide on what’s best or what’s true if there is no God? Why live? Or care? About anything? Why is faith unreliable? What is reliable? How reliable? Why? What exists? What doesn’t? How do we know?
Learn about all aspects of naturalism as a philosophy of life, and how to use it in practical ways, and improve on it, to develop a better personal philosophy of life, the world, and everything. In the process you will learn many of the basics of college-level philosophy, and how to think like a philosopher, an important skill for those who know religion is bunk, but that we still need a better way of understanding ourselves and the world.
The course is one month online. You study and participate at your own pace, as much or as little as you like, and you get to ask me any questions you want about the course topics all month long, and read and participate in online discussions with me and other students. I will direct and comment on readings each week and give weekly course assignments which consist of answering questions about what you’ve learned and what you think about it. The course text you have to buy is Sense and Goodness without God (which you should purchase in the format you want as soon as possible). All other readings and media will be provided to students free of charge (all you have to provide is your access to the internet).
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Official Course Description: Build the foundations for a practical philosophy. Learn how to develop and defend your own naturalistic worldview from studying and critiquing a model example, and how to employ it in your daily lives and your understanding of the world. Learn the basics of how to develop and test a philosophy of epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics (theory of existence), ethics (theory of morality), aesthetics (theory of beauty), and politics (theory of government), using logical, evidence-based reasoning. Based on assigned readings, lectures, and weekly class discussion online with Dr. Carrier (Ph.D. in the history of philosophy from Columbia University).
Specific Topics Addressed Include: (1) “Naturalism, Supernaturalism, Philosophy, and Worldview Theory,” in which we learn what naturalism is, and how it differs from supernaturalism; what a worldview is, and the basics of how to think about and construct a worldview; and what philosophy is, and how to think like a philosopher. (2) “Naturalism and the Universe, Your Self, Your Mind, and Your Freedom,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the nature and origins of existence, of the universe and all its contents, but also in particular of you as a person, and thus of consciousness, thought, and freedom (your personal autonomy). (3) “Naturalism on Morality, Society, and Politics,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about whether there is any moral or political truth, what it’s nature is, and where it comes from, and what this means for how we should strive to organize society. (4) And “Naturalism on Meaning, Purpose, and Beauty in Life,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the meaning of life and its purpose or value, and about the nature of beauty and ugliness, and what value they have, what they signify, and where they come from.
Tuition: $59
The course could fill so register soon! Late registration is possible but not guaranteed. Let your local organizations know about this course, too. There may be other members interested!
The term “Without God” is an oxymoron, for God does not exist, yet has influence, is aligned to the Hindu math concept of ZERO. Or non existence. The decimal system adopted by Europeans as their base for science is rooted in Hindu philosophy which made no distinction between its language of “religion” and Math.
That’s gibberish.
Just to be clear about the structure: when you say there are other readings, do those readings include weekly “lectures” that you write exclusively for the course? And if so, how long/substantial are they? I ask because I have been reading your blog for some time — the ethics and epistemology sections especially — and many of your posts seem like they would be prime candidates for the kinds of topics this course will cover. However, as I have already read them and much of SAG, I’d like some sense of the other materials you will provide. Of course there will always be value in the opportunity to ask questions, but I’m trying to figure out whether — for me — that value reaches sixty dollars.
Indeed. That’s a good question to ask.
The primary value is the full attention of my time, getting to ask me anything on topic and getting a detailed answer. And to read the discussions that ensue from the examination questions, which provokes thought and discourse on interesting ideas you might otherwise not have considered, in a troll-free environment.
We engage a close reading of Sense and Goodness without God with its author (so like a month long book club about one book, with the actual author in session with you), to explore its possible merits and flaws, and what different parts of it mean, and the consequences of that.
The additional readings consist of key articles I’ve written (including in print). Since I’ve written so many, the primary benefit here is knowing which ones to focus on, and having a close reading and discussion of each. We also look at a few things written by other proponents of naturalism with different views from mine for comparison and discuss them as well.
Such is this course. Much of which will be new to many of the students. Those who already have comprehensively read all of this, however, will only benefit from the opportunity to discuss it all closely with the author, and see where these discussions go from other students as well. Plus, perhaps, with this re-reading and the focus questions and discussions, you’ll discover aspects of these writings you overlooked or didn’t emphasize in your mind before.
My other courses may operate a little differently. For example, my course on the science and philosophy of free will involves reading someone else’s book on the subject and a variety of materials from the real world where free will comes up in practical application (from medical ethics and discussions of consent and autonomy, to Supreme Court decisions and legal memoranda). My course on critical thinking likewise uses someone else’s book and is more interactive workshop than lecture discussion. And so on.
This blog post is just an ad for a seminar?
It’s beginning to dawn on me that I may have misunderstood FTB.
Yeah. We advertise our work on our own blogs. Shock! Horror! Clutch your pearls!
We also write articles on our blogs. And post news announcements. And updates about our lives. And talk about where we are speaking and hanging out. And mention our latest publications. We even tell jokes.
Google “blog” to learn about this amazing new technology called the “blog” and how it is diversely used. It will amaze and astonish.
Hi Richard
1. Is the etymology of Amen from Amun-Ra the Egyptian god?
2. If so, would the ancient Israelites have enough contact to borrow that?
Thanks in advance.
I doubt it. Amen is the Hebrew adverb for “so be it.” It comes from the verb aman, “to confirm.” There is no relevant connection to the Egyptian word Amon that I can see, which is just from the Greek attempt to render the Egyptian Yamanu.
If you can find an expert in either language you can check that.
Its great how some claims that are longish can still be refuted with a two word statement.
Hi,
Is the audiobook version suitable for the course, or is it going to be difficult to use in this context ?
Also, is the course open to theists ? Just to know if I can recommend it to some religious friends.
Audiobook won’t be easy to use with the course, IMO. E-book or print is much better.
Yes, theists can take the courses, but they should know the environment is presumptively atheistic and content directed at atheists and most students and discussions will be among atheists. And the conduct policy requires polite discussion. No trolling.