Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion
- Expresses Complex Ideas
- Debates Conflicting Perspectives
- Provides Historic Contexts
These courses explore life’s greatest questions by discussing classic and modern philosophers, psychology, and world religions. They develop skills to express complex ideas, challenge orthodoxy, and expose underlying assumptions.
Cultivating Mindfulness and Compassion in Today's World
To counter modern-day life’s intrusions upon our attention and humanity, explore the principles and practices of mindfulness and compassion.
Tibetan Meditation: Bringing Meaning to Every Moment
Explore how the Mahayana Buddhist concepts of compassion and wisdom can serve as the basis for a healthy, happy, and meaningful life.
The Bible in Literature: Good Books Inspired by the Good Book
Explore the myriad of ways that writers have drawn from the Bible as a source for ideas.
Comparative Religion: From Christianity to Confucianism
Gain a basic understanding of the beliefs and practices of the world’s major religions.
From Hippocrates to Cognitive Neuropsychology: A History of the Study of the Mind
Learn about major developments in theories of the mind, from ancient Greece to neuropsychology.
From Mythos to Logos: The Emergence of Philosophy in Ancient Greece
Trace philosophy’s roots, from the myths of poets, through the pre-Socratic philosophers, to maturity in Athens with Plato and Aristotle.
The Enigmatic Psychology of Our Dream Life
Explore Western culture’s psychological theories of dreaming, and look at current research about how dreaming functions and what it means.
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: The Five Books of Moses (Torah)
Read the first five books of the Bible, tracing the processes by which they were formed and considering the multiple contexts that informed them.
Religion and Literature: From the Bible to James Baldwin
Explore themes—love, death, evil, suffering, and forgiveness—across religious and literary texts from the Western canon and beyond.
Tragedy and Philosophy: Philosophical Implications of Ancient Greek Tragedy
Explore the grand themes and philosophical ideas that inspired ancient Greek dramatists.
Crime and Punishment in the Ancient Near East
Examine law and the judicial process in the ancient Near East.
The Philosophy of Art
Explore timeless questions about art from a philosophical perspective: What is the significance of art? How is it meant to be understood?
Women in the Ancient Near East
Using existing literature and art, explore women’s position in the sociopolitical sphere of the Ancient Near East.
Religion and Architecture in New York City
Explore how religion has impacted the history of New York City and the role of religion in the City today.