Philosophy is a theoretical discipline involving the study of knowledge, existence, reality, and other fundamental concepts.

Step #1: Learn itStep #2: Apply itStep #3: Stay up-to-date

Access the following free resources from across the web. Note that Bootstrap Ed does not own any of the resources featured on this page. 

Full Classes

*Note: Many of the featured class lectures discuss specific texts – with the assumption that those following along have read said texts. If you don’t have copies of the texts on hand, check them out at your local library for free. If it’s a shorter text, search for it on Google.

  • Missouri State – Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 110), Lecturer: Daniel Kaufman
    • 31 lectures, approximately 40 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • MIT (edX) – Introduction to Philosophy: God, Knowledge and Consciousness; Lecturers: Caspar Hare, Ryan Doody
    • Approximately 60-72 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Yale – Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature (PHIL 181), Lecturer: Tamar Gendler
    • 26 lectures, approximately 45 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • Georgetown (edX) – The Divine Comedy: Dante’s Journey to Freedom; Lecturers: Frank Ambrosio, etc.
    • Approximately 64-80 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Yale – Introduction to Political Philosophy (PLSC 114), Lecturer: Steven Smith
    • 24 lectures, approximately 45 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • Harvard (edX) – Justice, Lecturer: Michael Sandel
    • Approximately 36-72 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Princeton (edX) – Civil Liberties, Lecturer: Robert George
    • Approximately 14-35 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Oxford – A Romp Through Ethics for Complete Beginners, Lecturer: Marianne Talbot
    • 8 lectures, approximately 80 minutes each
    • Playlist

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Other Tool

Complete the following exercises to apply your newly acquired knowledge.

  • WRITE: Explain (4-6 pages double spaced)
    • Choose a concept of interest to you raised in one of the philosophical texts featured above. Describe the concept and explain its implications.
  • WRITE: Critique (8-10 pages double spaced)
    • Critique a philosophical text. Summarize the piece and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Cite the work of other thinkers if ideas they have raised are relevant to your assessment of the given text.
  • WRITE: Comparison (8-10 pages double spaced)
    • Choose two texts that seek to address the same question or topic but that reach different conclusions about the given question or topic. Summarize the two texts, explaining how they are similar and different and explain which of the two you find most compelling and why.

Engage with the field on an ongoing basis. Note that Bootstrap Ed does not own any of the resources featured on this page. 

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