Philosophy & Film

Course Description

According to Hamlet, there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in philosophy. Maybe he was right. What Hamlet couldn't know, however, was that today the dreams of philosophy may be made real by movies. Take some recent movies such as The Matrix, Inception, or Memento. Or less recent ones, such as Blade Runner, 2001, or Clockwork Orange. They are all philosophical movies, that is, movies that bring out, and help us in understanding, some of the deepest problems that philosophers have been tackling: how can we be free if we are subject to the laws of nature? How can we be sure that the world we perceive as real is real? Is there such a thing as the right answer to ethical dilemmas? And, finally, what is that makes cinema an art - and perhaps the most relevant art nowadays.

Basic Enrollment Requirements: 

Academic Year (Fall/Spring): Unofficial Transcript – High School Diploma or current high school transcript (for high school students only in applicable classes), Bachelor’s Degree, or progress towards a Bachelor’s Degree + 3.0 GPA.

Summer: None

Refund Policy: The refund policy for Courses at Tufts offerings is dependent on the course length. Please refer to the section details to confirm any exceptions to the standard refund policy. The refund policies are viewable here: https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/policies#Refunds 

Remission Eligible: Yes; first day of term; all university policies apply.