MasterClass

Cornel West Teaches Philosophy

Cornel West is one of the most profound, diverse, and intellectual thinkers of our time. Now he’s inviting you into the depths of his brilliant mind to teach you how thinking like a philosopher can help you navigate your personal relationships, your decision-making, and your everyday life by looking at the world from a completely different point of view.

Where to Watch Cornel West Teaches Philosophy

15 Episodes

  • Meet Your Instructor
    E1
    Meet Your InstructorCornel West is an acclaimed academic and activist who believes philosophy is about raising questions where there are no clear answers. In this lesson, he establishes the fundamental ideas for the class that will open doors to new ideas and heighten meaning in your everyday life.
  • How to Think Like a Philosopher
    E2
    How to Think Like a PhilosopherCornel walks you through his personal philosophy, explaining how applying critical thinking can help you navigate your everyday interactions and become a deeper thinker.
  • What It Means to Be Human
    E3
    What It Means to Be HumanTo understand humanity, you must first understand yourself. In this lesson, Cornel shares how to embark on a candid journey within and discover a better understanding of self.
  • Cultivating Compassion
    E4
    Cultivating CompassionIn this lesson, Cornel explains how compassion is a form of love that is cultivated by ridding yourself of egoism.
  • Living a Wise and Courageous Life
    E5
    Living a Wise and Courageous LifeCornel provides techniques for connecting deeper with the human condition so you can move from being a spectator to a participant in your everyday interactions.
  • How Philosophy Serves Humanity
    E6
    How Philosophy Serves HumanityIn this lesson, Cornel explains how philosophy is a counterweight against forms of dogma, and looking at humanity through a philosophical lens allows for members to better understand their own egotistical proclivities, resulting in becoming the best versions of themselves.
  • A Philosophical Take on Love
    E7
    A Philosophical Take on LoveThere are various forms of love that each of us is able to give and receive. In this lesson, Cornel explains what they are, how human beings are impacted by them, and the sacrifices required to achieve a love that allows you to become the best versions of yourself.
  • Hope and Optimism, Love and Loss
    E8
    Hope and Optimism, Love and LossIn this lesson, Cornel unsettles the mind and empowers the soul by illuminating the delicate interplay between hope, optimism, and despair.
  • The Importance of Receiving Love
    E9
    The Importance of Receiving LoveCornel shares a personal account of how the supernatural love he received from his mom and dad allowed him to define himself in spite of catastrophic circumstances.
  • Case Study: John Coltrane and A Love Supreme
    E10
    Case Study: John Coltrane and A Love SupremeIn this lesson, Cornel explores how having a jazz-like conception of philosophy allows you to understand how music transfigures suffering, pain, and hurt into an expression that connects to humanity at large.
  • The Impact of Music on Community
    E11
    The Impact of Music on CommunityCornel expands on how the intersection of music and philosophy fosters relationships in a way that allows us to transcend all the pettiness that gets in the way of building healthy communities.
  • The Impact of Music on Humanity
    E12
    The Impact of Music on HumanityIn this lesson, Cornel explains how human beings can use music to process grief and how doing so can enable us to move forward.
  • Fostering the Best of Your Communal Roots
    E13
    Fostering the Best of Your Communal RootsCornel discusses the importance of communal practices, customs, and mores in providing us with the resources to understand and shape ourselves as distinct individuals.
  • Honesty, Trust, and Individuality in Community
    E14
    Honesty, Trust, and Individuality in CommunityHonesty is the key to living a wise and courageous life. In this lesson, Cornel unpacks how to own your sense of self and the key to understanding the difference between individuality within community and isolated individualism.
  • Democratizing Philosophy
    E15
    Democratizing PhilosophyLearn how to apply philosophy to everyday life as Cornel reminds us that the quest to be the best versions of ourselves is a continuous journey.

 

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