IAI Academy - Free Online Courses - Institute of Art and Ideas

The Future of Being Human

• Coming Soon

Instructor(s):

Categories:

The Future of Being Human

With brain implants and genetic enhancement developing apace, should we upgrade our bodies and minds? Fellow at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute Anders Sandberg delves into ancient history, cutting edge technology, immortality and the intricacies of

The Case Against Reality

science, philosophy, politics

Donald Hoffman

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Donald Hoffman

Categories: Mind & Reason, The Universe & Reality, Life & The Living, Technology & Environment , The World & The Future

The Case Against Reality

Is reality how it appears? Or nothing like it seems? Professor of Cognitive Science and author of the forthcoming The Case Against Reality, Donald Hoffman puts forward the radical suggestion that our perceptions fail to map onto reality.

Being Free in the Digital Age

philosophy, science, politics

James Williams

• Available Now

Instructor(s): James Williams

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Technology & Environment , The World & The Future

Being Free in the Digital Age

How can we lead meaningful lives amidst relentless and powerful forms of digital distraction? Ex-Google strategist turned Oxford ethicist James Williams invites us to rethink technology and take back control.

Rethinking Feminism, Sex and Violence

politics

Finn Mackay

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Finn Mackay

Categories: Ideas & Ideology, Culture & Sexuality

Rethinking Feminism, Sex and Violence

What goals should modern feminists adopt? “World-changing woman” (Guardian) and founder of the London Feminist Network Dr Finn Mackay outlines a bold new manifesto.

A Brief Guide to Everything

science, philosophy

John Ellis

• Available Now

Instructor(s): John Ellis

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

A Brief Guide to Everything

The microscopic quantum world of fermions and bosons is a far cry from the grand expansion of the universe, yet they are connected. CERN’s John Ellis offers an account of what physicists do and don’t know.

Race, Gender and Invisibility: Why Intersectionality Matters

politics, philosophy

Kimberlé Crenshaw

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Kimberlé Crenshaw

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Ideas & Ideology, Culture & Sexuality

Race, Gender and Invisibility: Why Intersectionality Matters

How do attitudes to race and gender overlap to entrench injustice? Pioneer of intersectionality Kimberlé Crenshaw shows us a way of bringing hidden and neglected forms of discrimination to light to build a fairer society.

The History of Sex

politics, philosophy

Véronique Mottier

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Véronique Mottier

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Culture & Sexuality

The History of Sex

What is sexuality and how does it reflect power relations within society? Award-winning Cambridge sociologist Véronique Mottier provides a provocative cultural history.

Nine Myths About Schizophrenia

philosophy, science

Richard Bentall

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Richard Bentall

Categories: Mind & Reason, Psychology & The Brain

Nine Myths About Schizophrenia

Clinical Psychologist Richard Bentall challenges nine myths of schizophrenia accepted by mental health professionals and proposes a more humane, scientific approach to care.

Dark Matter of the Mind

philosophy, science

Daniel Everett

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Daniel Everett

Categories: Mind & Reason, Psychology & The Brain

Dark Matter of the Mind

Does the mind arise from the brain? Is the self a fantasy? American anthroplogist and linguist Daniel Everett interrogates our assumptions and questions if the self is made from more than just matter.

The Science of Psychedelics

philosophy, science

David Nutt

• Available Now

Instructor(s): David Nutt

Categories: Mind & Reason, Psychology & The Brain

The Science of Psychedelics

What impact do psychedelic drugs have on the brain? What does research show about their potential for use? Psychiatrist David Nutt examines the evidence behind some common misconceptions.

Manufacturing Happiness

science

Paul Dolan

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Paul Dolan

Categories: Life & The Living, Psychology & The Brain

Manufacturing Happiness

What is the essence of happiness? How can we affirm the world and ourselves? Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan presents his account of the nature of the good life and how we achieve it.

Biology Beyond Genes

philosophy, science

Denis Noble

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Denis Noble

Categories: Life & The Living, Knowledge, Science & Method

Biology Beyond Genes

Is the selfish gene metaphor radically misguided? Should we give up the idea that the gene is the foundation of life? Oxford biologist Denis Noble maps out the future for biology beyond the genome.

Hallucinations

science

Richard Bentall

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Richard Bentall

Categories: Psychology & The Brain

Hallucinations

Are the voices in our heads more than just mental disorders? Clinical psychologist Richard Bentall uncovers the origin of hallucinations and argues they have been radically misguided.

The Future of Money

politics

Nigel Dodd

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Nigel Dodd

Categories: The World & The Future, Ideas & Ideology

The Future of Money

Money is the fantasy that makes the world go round. Where did it come from and what is its future? From the Bank of England to Bitcoin and the Bristol Pound, LSE sociologist Nigel Dodd explores.

What Philosophy Can Do

philosophy

Amie Thomasson

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Amie Thomasson

Categories: Mind & Reason, Metaphysics & Language

What Philosophy Can Do

Can philosophy give us answers? Author of Fiction and Metaphysics and Ontology Made Easy Amie Thomasson tackles philosophy's grandest aspiration and argues that, rather than discovering truths, its real value is its power to radically transform how we thi

Predicting Ourselves

philosophy, science

Andy Clark

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Andy Clark

Categories: Mind & Reason, Metaphysics & Language, Psychology & The Brain

Predicting Ourselves

How do we think, dream and feel? Philosophy Andy Clark examines the ‘predictive brain’ approach – touted as a unifying theory for neuroscience – and explores its dramatic implications for science, psychiatry and society.

Neuroscience and Out of Body Experiences

Susan Blackmore

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Susan Blackmore

Categories:

Neuroscience and Out of Body Experiences

What can neuroscience tell us about out of body experiences? Psychologist Susan Blackmore investigates the new science of OBEs and finds unexpected insights into the self and consciousness.

Atheism for the 21st Century

Michael Ruse

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Michael Ruse

Categories:

Atheism for the 21st Century

Must atheism be trimphalist and aggressive? Philosopher and author of Science, Evolution and Religion Michael Ruse takes the New Atheists to task and argues for a richer, more respectful and more morally reflective tradition of non-belief.

The History of Privatization

Guy Standing

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Guy Standing

Categories:

The History of Privatization

From forests to city squares, parks to libraries, our common spaces are under attack. Economist Guy Standing traces the history of creeping privatization of the natural and social resources in the UK, and makes a passionate case for reform.

Why The World Looks The Same In Any Language

politics, philosophy, arts

John McWhorter

• Available Now

Instructor(s): John McWhorter

Categories: Ideas & Ideology, Narrative & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

Why The World Looks The Same In Any Language

Does the language we speak shape the way we think? John McWhorter explores the 'language hoax', claiming that despite magnificent variation, the world looks the same in any language.

How Stories Seduce Us

politics, arts

Stanley Fish

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Stanley Fish

Categories: Ideas & Ideology, Narrative & Reality, Post-Truth

How Stories Seduce Us

Arguments are woven throughout our public and private lives. What determines which win the day? Renowned literary and legal theorist Stanley Fish leads us through literature, politics and the domestic to reveal the power - and inevitability - of rhetoric.

Simon Glendinning Heidegger Meets Van Gogh

Heidegger Meets Van Gogh: Art, Freedom and Technology

arts, science

Simon Glendinning

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Simon Glendinning

Categories: Technology & Environment , Art & Aesthetics

Heidegger Meets Van Gogh: Art, Freedom and Technology

Have we become enslaved to technology? Is our fear of losing control our greatest danger? Director of the Forum for European Philosophy Simon Glendinning explores Heidegger, art and freedom.

Knowledge and Rationality

philosophy

Corine Besson

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Corine Besson

Categories: Mind & Reason, Knowledge, Science & Method

Knowledge and Rationality

Is our knowledge of the world essentially rational? What does it mean to be burdened with the gift of rationality? Philosopher Corine Besson considers the nature of humanity's defining trait.

Narratives of Empire

politics

Kwasi Kwarteng

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Kwasi Kwarteng

Categories: The World & The Future, Ideas & Ideology

Narratives of Empire

What are the forces which drive empires? Historian and politician Kwasi Kwarteng examines imperial projects through history arguing that narratives of dominance have played a crucial role.

Evidence and Ideology

philosophy

Nancy Cartwright

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Nancy Cartwright

Categories: Knowledge, Science & Method

Evidence and Ideology

From drug laws to terror threats, we want political decisions to reflect the facts. But is objective evidence impossible and the facts ours to interpret? Philosopher Nancy Cartwright investigates.

The Future of Belief

philosophy

John Cottingham

• Available Now

Instructor(s): John Cottingham

Categories: Ethics & Religion

The Future of Belief

Has our scientific age outgrown religion? Is faith still an essential component of human existence? Philosopher and theologian John Cottingham argues for the importance of religion in the modern world.

Realism in Perspective

philosophy

Michela Massimi

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Michela Massimi

Categories: Knowledge, Science & Method

Realism in Perspective

Can science and knowledge be true when they arise from a human vantage point? Philosopher of Science Michela Massimi brings together realism and perspectivism to forge a new kind of realism on science.

Unveiling Reality

philosophy, science

Bryan Roberts

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Bryan Roberts

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

Unveiling Reality

Are there mysteries that science cannot explain? Do we still need philosophy in order to understand the universe? Philosopher of physics Bryan Roberts explores the limits of our greatest source of knowledge.

Why The World Exists

science

John Ellis

• Available Now

Instructor(s): John Ellis

Categories: The Universe & Reality

Why The World Exists

Where did the universe come from? What don’t we understand about its future? From dark energy to cosmic inflation, theoretical physicist John Ellis gives a contemporary account of how it all began.

Harmony and Balance

philosophy, science

Frank Wilczek

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Frank Wilczek

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

Harmony and Balance

From Dark Energy to Quantum Gravity, the cosmos remains mysterious. How should we approach the puzzles that remain? Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek argues that, in science, beauty will lead us to truth.

The Universe As We Find It

philosophy, science

John Heil

• Available Now

Instructor(s): John Heil

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

The Universe As We Find It

Didn’t science kill philosophy? Can metaphysics uncover the way the world is? Philosopher John Heil revives metaphysics and confronts the big questions of substance, causation and consciousness.

Transformative Technologies and the Future of Punishment

philosophy, science

Rebecca Roache

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Rebecca Roache

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Technology & Environment

Transformative Technologies and the Future of Punishment

From mind uploading to moral enhancement, future technologies will offer radical new possibilities for punishment. How should these new tools be used? Philosopher Rebecca Roache explores the future of justice.

The Sex Work Fantasy

politics

Julie Bindel

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Julie Bindel

Categories: Culture & Sexuality

The Sex Work Fantasy

Is sex-work a job like any other? What lies behind the image of the ‘happy hooker’? Radical feminist activist and journalist Julie Bindel challenges an emerging neoliberal story.

Can You Be Moral in a Corrupt World?

philosophy, politics

Janne Teller

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Janne Teller

Categories: Ethics & Religion, The World & The Future

Can You Be Moral in a Corrupt World?

Have globalisation and online anonymity broken down moral order? What should guide our actions in the 21st Century? Author of Nothing and former UN conflict resolution expert Janne Teller explores.

The World in Eleven Dimensions

philosophy, science

Michael Duff

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Michael Duff

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

The World in Eleven Dimensions

General relativity and quantum mechanics are the most successful theories in science. But at least one is wrong. Imperial's Michael Duff outlines why M-theory is our only candidate for an ultimate theory.

Why The World Does Not Exist

philosophy, science

Markus Gabriel

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Markus Gabriel

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

Why The World Does Not Exist

Can reality be described by a single theory? Does our failure to find a theory of everything expose the limits of knowledge, or might the world not exist at all? Philosopher Markus Gabriel explores.

Why Diversity Should Be Limitless

philosophy, politics

Chandran Kukathas

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Chandran Kukathas

Categories: Ethics & Religion, The World & The Future, Ideas & Ideology

Why Diversity Should Be Limitless

How should a free society accommodate cultural diversity? Should we tolerate the intolerable? Radical LSE political theorist Chandran Kukathas explores the tension at the heart of modern liberal society.

The Neuroscience of Love

politics, philosophy

Berit Brogaard

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Berit Brogaard

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Culture & Sexuality

The Neuroscience of Love

Can love be rational? Are we ever in control? American philosopher of mind Berit Brogaard outlines her new theory of love and uncovers the simple truths about the most complex emotion.

Artificial Intelligence and the Last Man: Kenneth Cukier

The Past and the Future of Artificial Intelligence

science, politics

Kenneth Cukier

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Kenneth Cukier

Categories: Technology & Environment , The World & The Future

The Past and the Future of Artificial Intelligence

Is AI humanity's savior, or do the threats outweigh its benefits? Best-selling author and Data Editor of The Economist Kenneth Cukier uncovers how to be prepared for the next phase of human evolution.

New Adventures in Spacetime

philosophy, science

Eleanor Knox

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Eleanor Knox

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

New Adventures in Spacetime

We live in the moment. Or so it might seem. King’s College philosopher of physics Dr Eleanor Knox reveals how Einstein’s work has radical implications for past, present and future.

Physics: What We Still Don't Know

science, philosophy

David Tong

• Available Now

Instructor(s): David Tong

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

Physics: What We Still Don't Know

What’s left to discover at the deepest levels of reality? Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge David Tong gives his personal take on what we still don’t know.

The Infinite Quest

science, philosophy

Peter Cameron

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Peter Cameron

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Metaphysics & Language

The Infinite Quest

From Zeno to Gödel, philosophers and mathematicians have grappled with the infinite. Prize-winning mathematician Professor Peter Cameron proposes that infinity itself may be an illusion.

The Future of Capitalism

politics

Anatole Kaletsky

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Anatole Kaletsky

Categories: The World & The Future, Ideas & Ideology

The Future of Capitalism

Many thought the financial crash was a final blow to capitalism. Why does it still reign supreme? Chair of the Institute for New Economic Thinking Anatole Kaletsky outlines the shape of things to come

Looking for The Meaning of Life

philosophy

Steve Fuller

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Steve Fuller

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Metaphysics & Language

Looking for The Meaning of Life

Does it make sense to ask for a meaning to life, and if so what might it be? Philosopher and Auguste Comte Professor at Warwick, Steve Fuller approaches the ultimate Why?

The Physics of the Possible and the Impossible: Constructor Theory

philosophy, science

Chiara Marletto

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Chiara Marletto

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

The Physics of the Possible and the Impossible: Constructor Theory

Is information fundamental to reality? Did the universe emerge from a bundle of bits? Oxford constructor theorist Chiara Marletto outlines the new theory which seeks to explain life, the universe and everything in it.

Science vs. Religion

philosophy, science

Mark Vernon

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Mark Vernon

Categories: Ethics & Religion, The Universe & Reality

Science vs. Religion

What’s at the heart of the conflict between science and religion? Can it be solved? Philosopher and author Mark Vernon answers one of modernity’s most complex problems.

Minds, Morality and Agency: Mark Rowlands

Are Animals Moral Agents?

philosophy, science

Mark Rowlands

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Mark Rowlands

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Life & The Living

Are Animals Moral Agents?

Do we radically misclassify animals? University of Miami Professor of Philosophy Mark Rowlands challenges the boundaries between humankind and animals as minds and moral agents alike.

Life, Meaning and Morality: Christopher Hamilton

Nietzsche, God and the Search for Meaning

arts, philosophy

Christopher Hamilton

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Christopher Hamilton

Categories: Ethics & Religion, Art & Aesthetics

Nietzsche, God and the Search for Meaning

If 'God is dead', what place does meaning and morality have in our lives? KCL philosopher and author of Living Philosophy Christopher Hamilton examines the perplexities of experience.

Fear and Trembling in the 21st Century

philosophy, politics

Clare Carlisle

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Clare Carlisle

Categories: Ethics & Religion, The World & The Future

Fear and Trembling in the 21st Century

From Paris to Palestine, the perils of undying faith still hold the world hostage. When should we abandon our beliefs? KCL philosopher Clare Carlisle reinterprets Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

The History of Fear

politics

Frank Furedi

• Available Now

Instructor(s): Frank Furedi

Categories: The World & The Future, Ideas & Ideology

The History of Fear

We are less familiar with pain and suffering than our ancestors, yet new forms of fear play an ever-expanding role in 21st century life. Sociologist Frank Furedi asks why.

How To Be A 'Promiscuous Realist'

philosophy, science

James Ladyman

• Available Now

Instructor(s): James Ladyman

Categories: The Universe & Reality, Knowledge, Science & Method

How To Be A 'Promiscuous Realist'

We take it for granted that the quantum fields and particles exist. Metaphysician James Ladyman provides reasons to be skeptical about scientific knowledge. Is the evidence too strong to be denied?

Categories: Ideas & Ideology, Culture & Sexuality

Beyond Beyonce Feminism

Has neoliberalism destroyed gender equality? Advocate, author and broadcaster Beatrix Campbell examines the emergence of a new model of patriarchy and proposes solutions.

IAI Academy is a new educational platform offering courses from world-leading scholars on the ideas that matter. With a unique philosophical take on today’s biggest questions, our courses are recorded at our annual festival HowTheLightGetsIn and made available online, to everyone, for free.

The Future of Being Human

The Case Against Reality

science, philosophy, politics

Donald Hoffman

Being Free in the Digital Age

philosophy, science, politics

James Williams

Rethinking Feminism, Sex and Violence

politics

Finn Mackay

A Brief Guide to Everything

science, philosophy

John Ellis

Race, Gender and Invisibility: Why Intersectionality Matters

politics, philosophy

Kimberlé Crenshaw

The History of Sex

politics, philosophy

Véronique Mottier

Nine Myths About Schizophrenia

philosophy, science

Richard Bentall

Dark Matter of the Mind

philosophy, science

Daniel Everett

The Science of Psychedelics

philosophy, science

David Nutt

Manufacturing Happiness

science

Paul Dolan

Biology Beyond Genes

philosophy, science

Denis Noble

Hallucinations

science

Richard Bentall

The Future of Money

politics

Nigel Dodd

What Philosophy Can Do

philosophy

Amie Thomasson

Predicting Ourselves

philosophy, science

Andy Clark

Neuroscience and Out of Body Experiences

Susan Blackmore

Atheism for the 21st Century

Michael Ruse

The History of Privatization

Guy Standing

Why The World Looks The Same In Any Language

politics, philosophy, arts

John McWhorter

How Stories Seduce Us

politics, arts

Stanley Fish

Heidegger Meets Van Gogh: Art, Freedom and Technology

arts, science

Simon Glendinning

Knowledge and Rationality

philosophy

Corine Besson

Narratives of Empire

politics

Kwasi Kwarteng

Evidence and Ideology

philosophy

Nancy Cartwright

The Future of Belief

philosophy

John Cottingham

Realism in Perspective

philosophy

Michela Massimi

Unveiling Reality

philosophy, science

Bryan Roberts