Thought experiments have been used throughout history by great thinkers to expand our knowledge of ourselves and the world. In this course, you’ll explore fascinating thought experiments on subjects like personal identity and selfhood, special relativity and quantum mechanics, free will and moral responsibility, and what makes a life truly worth living. Join history’s great thinkers in The Power of Thought Experiments for an extraordinary journey into your own mind.
The Power of Thought Experiments
11h 54m 19s
English
Paid
About the Authors
Daniel Breyer
About Daniel Breyer
Daniel Breyer is a Professor of Philosophy at Illinois State University. He also leads the Religious Studies program at the school.
He earned his PhD in Philosophy from Fordham University. He has received several honors, including the Outstanding University Teacher Award, which is the highest teaching award at Illinois State University.
Research Focus
Breyer studies thought experiments and how they shape our ideas about the mind, ethics, and belief. His work appears in well-known academic journals.
- Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
- Pacific Philosophical Quarterly
- Journal of Buddhist Ethics
Wondrium by The Great Courses
Wondrium by The Great Courses is the streaming home of more than 18,000 hours of engaging courses designed to enrich and improve your life. Academically comprehensive and relentlessly engaging, our courses bring lifelong learners face-to-face with the world’s greatest professors and subject matter experts on topics ranging from science and history to philosophy and religion to travel and professional growth. Always ad-free, Wondrium is the place to experience the pure joy of learning—anytime, anywhere.
Watch Online 24 lessons
0:00
/ #1: 1. How thought experiments work
All Course Lessons (24)
| # | Lesson Title | Duration | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1. How thought experiments work Demo | 24:43 | |
| 2 | 2. Saving others or letting them die | 28:52 | |
| 3 | 3. What the trolley problem reveals about you | 27:22 | |
| 4 | 4. Suppose you're impartial; Suppose you care | 27:02 | |
| 5 | 5. Unmasking the hidden pitfails of testimony | 30:13 | |
| 6 | 6. Can you time-travel and change the past | 28:04 | |
| 7 | 7. Paradoxes as mental workouts | 30:53 | |
| 8 | 8. What Newcomb's paradox says about decisions | 29:56 | |
| 9 | 9. Stories as thought experiments | 29:08 | |
| 10 | 10. Einstein's revolutionary thought experiments | 31:57 | |
| 11 | 11. Galileo's and Schrodinger's thought experiments | 33:16 | |
| 12 | 12. What makes identify the same over time | 31:26 | |
| 13 | 13. Mind swapping and personal identity | 27:34 | |
| 14 | 14. Who are you after a brain transplant | 29:11 | |
| 15 | 15. Who are you right now | 30:24 | |
| 16 | 16. Exploring the mysteries of consciousness | 31:18 | |
| 17 | 17. When are you morally responsible | 30:30 | |
| 18 | 18. How luch changes moral thought experiments | 31:21 | |
| 19 | 19. Challenging whether you have free will | 31:59 | |
| 20 | 20. Suppose you're immortal. What do you value | 26:29 | |
| 21 | 21. Visit twin earth to explore meaning | 24:06 | |
| 22 | 22. How do you know when you know something | 32:42 | |
| 23 | 23. How to create civilization from chaos | 32:26 | |
| 24 | 24. Thought experiments as a way of life | 33:27 |
Unlock unlimited learning
Get instant access to all 23 lessons in this course, plus thousands of other premium courses. One subscription, unlimited knowledge.
Learn more about subscription