The samples featured here mostly come from OpenLearn and iTunes U. They are taken from various points in the courses - some are relatively simple introductions but others are more complex extracts from the later weeks. There are also some links to study guides, calendars and book chapters. Remember you can also view course books and study guides at many public libraries and at OU regional and national centres.
Note: This course starts for the last time in February 2011 - it is replaced by Exploring Philosophy (A222)
There are two units on OpenLearn: Introducing philosophy (around 8 hours' study) and Two concepts of freedom (around 20 hours' study).
The Philosophy and the human situation album on iTunes U inlcudes audio tracks on topics such as Liberty and Offence; Rousseau and Positive Freedom; Ethics, Animals, and the Environment; Wonder; Artificial Intelligence; The New Argument from Design; Faith and Reason; Environmental Values; and Functionalism about the mind; or go to the OU podcasts version (search for a211).
There is a unit on OpenLearn on Hume (around 16 hours' study) and albums on Re-assessing the Marquis de Sade (available from iTunes U or OU Podcasts) and Wordsworth re-visited available from iTunes U or OU Podcasts).
There are five units on OpenLearn: Minds and mental phenomena (around 20 hours' work); Emotion: an introductory picture (around 20 hours' work); Language and thought: introducing representation (around 20 hours' work); Imagination: the missing mystery of philosophy (around 20 hours' work);and Introducing consciousness (around 20 hours' work).
The Thought and Experience album on iTunes U has audio files on Origins of the modern concept of mind, Issues facing contemporary philosophy of mind, Ancient philosophers' views on emotions, A contemporary study of emotions, The Gricean Program, Thought experiments in philosophy, Naturalistic theories of mental content, Defining Creativity, David Novitz's criticisms of The Creative Mind, Four “Lovelace” questions, The relationship between imagination and creativity, The hard problem of consciousness, Consciousness Explained; or go to the OU podcasts version.
The course taster site includes extracts from the course books, an audio track on soul versus mind, the course guide and a sample study calendar.
The course information website answers some frequently asked questions, particularly regarding who this course is suitable for.
The course information website addresses whether you are ready for MA-level study and includes suggestions for preparatory reading and answers to frequently-asked questions. It also links to a week's study unit on OpenLearn.
