Cultivate Your Mind: A Free Harvest of Philosophy

Thinking about thinking has always served us well. Like a pool reflecting our rippled selves, a good philosophical dialogue clarifies what we see. When we grow up, our ideas and imagination mix with everything we experience, are taught, and hear in stories. Philosophy examines this, our intellect, our culture, our reasons for remembering. It gives us an open door into the realm of idea and motive that, if we enter, can put us in a powerful place when using our own discernment and inventiveness.  
 
As we nourish ourselves on the best food the mind can grow and bring seeds from all over the world to plant in our garden, complementing what we naturally grow, our diet and health will benefit. Mental health is not just a chemical reaction, so often it is about our thoughts. This is why philosophy matters far beyond the classroom. So, philosophy doesn’t just inform science, politics, ethics, and religion, it informs the self, the subconscious, and our friends as to what is really happening. Philosophy helps us to reserve judgement and appreciate the subtle differences in virtue and logic that we independently nurture.  
 
Not everything that grows is perfect, roses have thorns. Stinging nettles are full of good vitamins. Blackberry bushes snag and grab you, and apple trees are difficult to climb. Philosophy can be like a huge orchard and flower garden. When we jump in, sometimes there will be something painful, uncomfortable, or simply unpassable that puts us in our place. The entire opus of gathered philosophy is bound to be overgrown, unkempt, and unfriendly in places. This is why we are better off with a guide. A professional guide who knows the garden, who has maps, and who can explain how to reach the fruit and smell the flowers without getting scratched or tangled.  
 
Help yourself, in your own time, and at your own pace, to this list of Free Philosophy podcasts and courses online. There’s a brilliant selection. Begin, and you’ll discover not only yourself more clearly, but the world more deeply too. 
 
The History Of Philosophy Without Any Gaps 
 
This is a huge compilation and takes us through the whole subject in little, accessible sections. We meet the main luminaries of the subject one by one. The breadth of the globe is considered, and we visit schools of thought from all over the world. This helps to give us deeper insights into the way people think if they come from other cultures.  
 
After Dinner Conversation 
 
A regular discussion on ethics far and wide, something to delve into and put the mind to work when examining the conscience. How does your moral code match up to the global consensus? 
 
The Gray Area 
 
In the Gray Area Podcast, regular episodes explore the darker side of ethics and morality. It asks probing questions about modern and ancient practices that examine the virtue or lack of, in various contexts.  
 
Royal Institute of Philosophy 
 
This website is full of Philosophy Resources. Many of the resources are completely free and they include courses, podcasts, and articles that examine a wide range of philosophical thought.  
 
FutureLearn 
 
A worldwide education portal that links to several leading colleges and universities, FutureLearn has a healthy selection of Free Philosophy courses for you to enjoy.  
 
OverThink 
 
For people who don’t always have the time to think deeply, this offers a generous opening into a world of deep thought. A light-hearted tone and a subject matter that’s usually highly accessible, OverThink is a great place to relax. 
 
OpenCulture 
 
A go to place for cultural knowhow, info, and knickknacks, OpenCulture has a page dedicated Free Philosophy, too. Thier list is in-depth and more centred on topic and teacher rather than the whole.  
 
Yale Free Courses 
 
Yes, it is ‘that’ Yale, so if you wanted to add that name to your list of accolades, you could do it for only the cost of time. Their philosophy tends to be political and historical rather than spiritual or systemic. It’s the kind of philosophy that helps explain why politicians seem to be so alien at times.  
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