Philosophy: An Introduction to Western Philosophy
At a Glance
- Classroom course (South Kensington)
- Tuesdays 18:00 - 20:00
- 20 weeks | October - March
- Starts 22 October 2024
- Fees from £288
- Tutor: Dr Matthew Rowe
Enrol-by Date
- 14 October 2024
Matthew Rowe Teaching Video
In this course Dr Matthew Rowe will introduce us to the ideas, lives and social contexts of some of the greatest Western philosophers in human history. This will take us on a journey stretching back to the sixth century BC and coming forward to the present day.
Beginning with the idea of philosophy itself, and the changes in the definition of philosophy over the centuries, the course will focus on the works of a number of key historical and more contemporary philosophers. It will examine some of the key concepts philosophers have sought to address, their relationship to the societies in which they lived, and their influence on social thought and action, as well as their impact on subsequent thinkers.
Philosophers studied might range from Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, to Kant, Nietzsche and de Beauvoir, amongst others, and students will be encouraged to consider the work of historical and contemporary philosophers in light of their own experiences, and to address the question whether philosophy is still relevant in our lives today.
The course is aimed at complete beginners, and so no previous knowledge of philosophy is necessary.
Class Recordings
These classes are not recorded
Attendance Certificate
Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate
Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment
Course Information
Course Programme
Course Programme (provisional and may be subject to some modification)
Taught sessions are held every week
- Tuesday 22 October 2024 - Introducing Philosophy and Plato
- Tuesday 29 October 2024 - Metaphysics: What is Reality? What exists? How? Why? When?
- Tuesday 5 November 2024 - Introducing Aristotle
- Tuesday 12 November 2024 - Epistemology - What is knowledge? What are its limits and how do we come to know things?
- Tuesday 19 November 2024 - Introducing Descartes
- Tuesday 26 November 2024 - Philosophy of Mind - What is consciousness? Is there a Mind? If so how does it relate to the body?
- Tuesday 3 December 2024 - Introducing Locke
- Tuesday 9 December 2024 - Politics - The relationship between people and states; Laws, disobedience and rights
••• Christmas Break •••
- Tuesday 7 January 2025 - Introducing Hume
- Tuesday 14 January 2025 - Philosophy of Religion - Does God(s) Exist? What is religious belief? Faith, knowledge and truth
- Tuesday 21 January 2025 - Introducing Kant
- Tuesday 28 January 2025 - Aesthetics and Art - What is art? What is beauty? How do we judge?
- Tuesday 4 February 2025 - Introducing Nietzsche
- Tuesday 11 February 2025 - How to be Good? Why Be Good? Judging by rules vs. judging by consequences
- Tuesday 18 February 2025 - Introducing the American Pragmatists (James, Peirce and Dewey)
- Tuesday 25 February 2025 - Philosophy of Science - What is Scientific Method? Is science about truth? How is it different to non-science?
- Tuesday 4 March 2025 - Introducing Wittgenstein and de Beauvoir
- Tuesday 11 March 2025 - Metaphilosophy: What is Philosophy For? How is to be done? Is it a doomed (imperialist) project?
- Tuesday 18 March 2025 - Introducing Heidegger and Existentialism
- Tuesday 25 March 2025 - The Philosophy of the Future - The coming debates: Anthropocene, Post-human and the breakdown of our worlds
Your Tutor
Dr Matthew Rowe is an extremely experienced and engaging teacher of philosophy, as well as being a practising philosopher in his own right.
His interests lie in aesthetics, the philosophy of art and relationship between artistic practice and art theory. He is primarily a writer, although he also engages in solo and collaborative visual art practises when appropriate.
His current writing research focusses on site speficity within artisitic production and issues surrounding morality and photography. Current writing projects include an essay on John Waters and a philosophical analysis of irony and sincerity.
As well as teaching at Imperial College London, Matthew also lectures at City and Guilds of London Art School.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Early Bird: £482 Full price: £536 |
Early Bird: £288 Full price: £320 |
Early Bird: £380 Full price: £422 |
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| All fee rates quoted are for the whole 2-term course. Early Bird rates are available until the end of 30 September 2024. Part-payments are not possible. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
- Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
- Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School
Associate Rate
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- Co-operative College members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
- Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
- Friends of the Royal College of Music
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Natural History Museum staff
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- The American Institute for Foreign Study
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Friends and Family Scheme
This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.
Term Dates 2024-2025
| Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Week starting 21 October - week ending 14 December 2024 (8 weeks)* | Week starting 6 January - week ending 29 March 2025 (12 weeks)* | n/a | ||
| *This is a 2-term course - Autumn term PLUS Spring term - with the Christmas break in between | |||||
Enrolment Process
Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:
- Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
- If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.
When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent straight away following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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Any Questions?
If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr Matthew Rowe, m.rowe@imperial.ac.uk
If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk