Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

How can our human world exist and best flourish embedded in the physical universe? An outline of a problem‐based liberal‐studies course

How can our human world exist and best flourish embedded in the physical universe? An outline of... Purpose – In this paper the author aims to sketch a liberal‐studies course designed to explore our fundamental problem of thought and life: How can our human world exist and best flourish embedded as it is in the physical universe? The fundamental character of this problem provides one with the opportunity to explore a wide range of issues. Design/methodology/approach – The paper addresses the following questions: what does physics tell us about the universe and ourselves? How do we account for everything physics leaves out? How can living brains be conscious? If everything occurs in accordance with physical law, what becomes of free will? How does Darwin's theory of evolution contribute to the solution to the fundamental problem? What is the history of thought about this problem? What is of most value associated with human life? What kind of civilized world should we seek to help create? Why is the fundamental problem not a part of standard education in schools and universities? What are the most serious global problems confronting humanity? Can humanity learn to make progress towards as good a world as possible? Findings – Taking the fundamental problem as central provides the course with a coherent structure. The course would be conducted as a seminar, and it would respond to queries and suggestions from students. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides only a sketch of the character of the course. Practical implications – The course would be conducted as a seminar, and it would respond to queries and suggestions from students. Originality/value – Taking the fundamental problem as central provides the course with a coherent structure. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png On the Horizon Emerald Publishing

How can our human world exist and best flourish embedded in the physical universe? An outline of a problem‐based liberal‐studies course

Nicholas Maxwell
On the Horizon , Volume 22 (1): 11 – Feb 4, 2014
Download PDF
11 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/how-can-our-human-world-exist-and-best-flourish-embedded-in-the-9YMKDnZeiM
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1074-8121
DOI
10.1108/OTH-11-2013-0043
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – In this paper the author aims to sketch a liberal‐studies course designed to explore our fundamental problem of thought and life: How can our human world exist and best flourish embedded as it is in the physical universe? The fundamental character of this problem provides one with the opportunity to explore a wide range of issues. Design/methodology/approach – The paper addresses the following questions: what does physics tell us about the universe and ourselves? How do we account for everything physics leaves out? How can living brains be conscious? If everything occurs in accordance with physical law, what becomes of free will? How does Darwin's theory of evolution contribute to the solution to the fundamental problem? What is the history of thought about this problem? What is of most value associated with human life? What kind of civilized world should we seek to help create? Why is the fundamental problem not a part of standard education in schools and universities? What are the most serious global problems confronting humanity? Can humanity learn to make progress towards as good a world as possible? Findings – Taking the fundamental problem as central provides the course with a coherent structure. The course would be conducted as a seminar, and it would respond to queries and suggestions from students. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides only a sketch of the character of the course. Practical implications – The course would be conducted as a seminar, and it would respond to queries and suggestions from students. Originality/value – Taking the fundamental problem as central provides the course with a coherent structure.

Journal

On the Horizon – Emerald Publishing

Published: Feb 4, 2014

Keywords: Philosophy; Humanities; Global problems; Liberal studies; Fundamental problem; Natural science

References

  • A New Theory of Vision and Other Writings
    Berkeley, G.
  • A Discourse on Method Etc.
    Descartes, R.
  • Autobiographical notes
    Einstein, A.
  • Ideas and Opinions
    Einstein, A.
  • A History of Greek Philosophy: Vol. II, The Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus
    Guthrie, W.K.C.
  • Epiphenomenal Qualia
    Jackson, F.
  • What Mary didn't know
    Jackson, F.
  • The Scientific Background to Modern Philosophy
    Matthews, M.R.
  • Physics and common sense
    Maxwell, N.
  • Can there be necessary connections between successive events?
    Maxwell, N.
  • Understanding sensations
    Maxwell, N.
  • The rationality of scientific discovery
    Maxwell, N.
  • Science, reason, knowledge and wisdom: a critique of specialism
    Maxwell, N.
  • From Knowledge to Wisdom
    Maxwell, N.
  • What kind of inquiry can best help us create a good world?
    Maxwell, N.
  • The Comprehensibility of the Universe: A New Conception of Science
    Maxwell, N.
  • Can humanity learn to become civilized? The crisis of science without civilization
    Maxwell, N.
  • The mind‐body problem and explanatory dualism
    Maxwell, N.
  • The Human World in the Physical Universe: Consciousness
    Maxwell, N.
  • Do philosophers love wisdom
    Maxwell, N.
  • Is Science Neurotic?
    Maxwell, N.
  • Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos and aim‐oriented empiricism
    Maxwell, N.
  • Philosophy seminars for five year olds
    Maxwell, N.
  • Practical certainty and cosmological conjectures
    Maxwell, N.
  • From Knowledge to Wisdom: A Revolution for Science and the Humanities
    Maxwell, N.
  • From knowledge to wisdom: the need for an academic revolution
    Maxwell, N.
  • Do we need a scientific revolution?
    Maxwell, N.
  • Are philosophers responsible for global warming?
    Maxwell, N.
  • How can life of value best flourish in the real world?
    Maxwell, N.
  • Are universities undergoing an intellectual revolution?
    Maxwell, N.
  • Cutting God in Half ‐ And Putting the Pieces Together Again: A New Approach to Philosophy
    Maxwell, N.
  • Three philosophical problems about consciousness and their possible resolution
    Maxwell, N.
  • A Priori conjectural knowledge in physics
    Maxwell, N.
  • Arguing for Wisdom in the University
    Maxwell, N.
  • In praise of natural philosophy: a revolution for thought and life
    Maxwell, N.
  • Does philosophy betray both reason and humanity?
    Maxwell, N.
  • How Universities Can Help Create a Wiser World: The Urgent Need for an Academic Revolution
    Maxwell, N.
  • What's wrong with science and technology studies? What needs to be done to put it right?
    Maxwell, N.
  • What philosophy ought to be
    Maxwell, N.
  • What is it like to be a bat?
    Nagel, T.
  • The Open Society and Its Enemies
    Popper, K.
  • Philosophy and Scientific Realism
    Smart, J.J.C.