ARI Campus

Philosophy: Who Needs It (ARI)

Offered by The Ayn Rand Institute,
Philosophy: Who Needs It (ARI)

What is philosophy — and how is it relevant to my life? Ayn Rand answered these questions in her address to the senior class of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974.

Rand challenges the idea that philosophy belongs only in the ivory tower. Instead she argues that, whether we realize it or not, we all hold and act on philosophic ideas — and philosophy is a crucial, practical need of human life.
This illustrated audio lecture is a great starting point for those new to philosophy or to Rand’s ideas. The talk became the lead essay in Rand’s book Philosophy: Who Needs It.

Lesson Outline:

  1. INTRODUCTION: A SHORT STORY
  2. WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
  3. PHILOSOPHY AS INESCAPABLE AND INDISPENSABLE
  4. WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY?
  5. A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO WEST POINT GRADUATES

Suggested Readings: Philosophy: Who Needs It, Atlas Shrugged.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Principles of Secure Coding (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Davis

Principles of Secure Coding (Coursera)

Security & Networking

This course introduces you to the principles of secure programming. It begins by discussing the philosophy and principles of secure programming, and then presenting robust programming and the relationship between it and secure programming. We'll go through a detailed example of writing robust code and we'll see many common programming problems and show their connection to writing robust, secure programs in general.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Philosophy Security Coding
Details
Alfabetização Midiática, Informacional e Diálogo Intercultural - UNESCO e UNICAMP (Coursera) Coursera
Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP

Alfabetização Midiática, Informacional e Diálogo Intercultural - UNESCO e UNICAMP (Coursera)

Humanities

Este curso quer pensar junto com você sobre um fenômeno recente no Brasil, que é a presença de uma grande quantidade de informação via mundo digital. Vamos mostrar diferentes caminhos do que podemos fazer com essa quantidade incrível de midias e como participar da construção de conteúdo digital de maneira sóbria e segura.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Information Literacy Intercultural Communication
Details
Introducing Objectivism (ARI) ARI Campus
The Ayn Rand Institute

Introducing Objectivism (ARI)

Humanities Social Sciences

In 1962, Ayn Rand was invited to write a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times. Her first column was a brief introduction to her philosophy, Objectivism. In this short course, based on a recording of Rand reading her column, you will hear her summarize her positions on the nature of reality, the efficacy of human reason, the nature of man, and the ideal political system.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Philosophy Modern Philosophy Objectivism
Details
Søren Kierkegaard - Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity (Coursera) Coursera
University of Copenhagen

Søren Kierkegaard - Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity (Coursera)

Humanities

In this course created by former associate professor at the Søren Kierkegaard Research Centre, Jon Stewart, we will explore how Kierkegaard deals with the problems associated with relativism, the lack of meaning and the undermining of religious faith that are typical of modern life. His penetrating analyses are still highly relevant today and have been seen as insightful for the leading figures of Existentialism, Post-Structuralism and Post-Modernism.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
History Philosophy Crisis
Details
On Strategy : What Managers Can Learn from Philosophy - PART 1 (Coursera) Coursera
CentraleSupélec

On Strategy : What Managers Can Learn from Philosophy - PART 1 (Coursera)

Management & Leadership

In the expression “creative thinking”, the keyword is not creativity; the keyword is thinking. With the help of great philosophers, you will rediscover the art of thinking. To help leaders to be rigorous even without figures, great philosophers have lots of ideas. Managers are invited to rediscover the art of thinking. They should understand the role of mental models, realize the importance of cognitive bias, agree on clear definitions and efficient criteria etc. Creativity demands the ability to unshackle ourselves from conventional ways of thinking, to "think outside the box".

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Business Philosophy Innovation
Details
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera)

Humanities

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Neuroscience Science Evolution
Details
Introduction to Philosophy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Introduction to Philosophy (Coursera)

Humanities

This course will introduce you to some of the main areas of research in contemporary philosophy. Each module a different philosopher will talk you through some of the most important questions and issues in their area of expertise. We’ll begin by trying to understand what philosophy is – what are its characteristic aims and methods, and how does it differ from other subjects? Then we’ll spend the rest of the course gaining an introductory overview of several different areas of philosophy.

Nov 30th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology
Details
De-Mystifying Mindfulness (Coursera) Coursera
Leiden University

De-Mystifying Mindfulness (Coursera)

Health & Society Personal and Professional Development

Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown exponentially in recent years. Rather than being seen as mystical practices from ancient Buddhism or esoteric philosophy, they are increasingly seen as technologies rooted in evidence from psychology and neuroscience. Mindfulness has become the basis for numerous therapeutic interventions, both as a treatment in healthcare and as a means of enhancing well-being and happiness. For millions around the world, mindfulness has become a life-style choice, enhancing and enriching everyday experience. Mindfulness is big business.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Psychology Ethics
Details
Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences (Coursera)

Humanities

What is the origin of our universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? This is the first part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Physical Sciences. Scientific research across the physical sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the physical sciences.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Neuroscience Cosmology Universe
Details
Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences (Coursera)

Humanities

What is our role in the universe as human agents capable of knowledge? What makes us intelligent cognitive agents seemingly endowed with consciousness? This is the second part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences. Scientific research across the cognitive sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the cognitive sciences. Each week we will introduce you to some of these important questions at the forefront of scientific research. We will explain the science behind each topic in a simple, non-technical way, while also addressing the philosophical and conceptual questions arising from it.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Neuroscience Philosophy Consciousness
Details