Courses for lively discussion

Of all the online courses we’ve taken since early 2019, I think these were the best for fostering interesting discussions, and so I recommend starting a new group with one of these.

  • Mindware

    https://www.coursera.org/learn/mindwareProfessorRichard NisbettRating4.8/5PriceFreeDuration8 Lessons, 12 hours totalLevelBeginnerContentVideos, readings, quizzes

  • Effective Altruism

    https://www.coursera.org/learn/altruismProfessorPeter SingerRating4.7/5PriceFreeDuration12 hoursLevelBeginnerContentvideos, readings

  • Model Thinking

    https://www.coursera.org/learn/model-thinkingProfessorScott E. PageRating4.8/5PriceFreeDuration27 hoursLevelBeginnerContentvideos, readings, quizzes

  • Buddhism & Modern Psychology

    https://nonzero.substack.com/p/buddhism-and-modern-psychology-full#detailsProfessorRobert WrightPriceFreeDurationseveral hoursLevelBeginnerContentaudio or videos

  • How to Read & Understand Shakespeare

    https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-read-and-understand-shakespeareProfessorMarc C. Conner, Ph.D.Rating4+/5PriceFree via Kanopy and your library, or $50 directly via The Great CoursesDuration12 hoursLevelBeginnerContentvideo

  • Human Behavioral Biology

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL848F2368C90DDC3DProfessorRobert SapolskyRating5/5PriceFreeDurationAbout 30 hoursLevelBeginnerContentvideos

  • Justice

    https://www.edx.org/course/justice-2ProfessorMichael SandelRating5/5PriceFreeDuration12 weeks, 3–6 hours per weekLevelBeginnerContentvideos

  • Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy

    https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/5817339ProfessorDavid Kyle JohnsonRating4/5PriceFree via Kanopy through your library, Duration14 hoursLevelBeginnerContentvideos

  • The Perfect Human Being

    The Perfect Human Being – Dutch Science TV series on YouTubeProfessorMany interviewees; interviewer Dutch journalist and philosopher Bas HeijnePriceFreeDuration10 short videos, about 2 hours totalLevelBeginnerContentvideo

  • The Moral Foundations of Politics

    The Moral Foundations of PoliticsProfessorIan Shapiro, YaleRating5PriceFreeDuration24 50-minute videosLevelBeginnerContentVideo, supplemental reading

  • Turning Points in Modern History

    Turning Points in Modern HistoryProfessorVejas Gabriel Liulevicius Ph.D.Rating4/5PriceFree through public libraryDuration24 30-minute videosLevelBeginnerContentVideos, PDF