Ch 13: Philosophy and Nonfiction: Help and Review
About This Chapter
Who's it for?
Anyone who needs help learning or mastering introductory humanities material will benefit from taking this course. There is no faster or easier way to learn humanities. Among those who would benefit are:
- Students who have fallen behind in understanding the connection between nonfiction and philosophy or relevant writers
- Students who struggle with learning disabilities or learning differences, including autism and ADHD
- Students who prefer multiple ways of learning humanities (visual or auditory)
- Students who have missed class time and need to catch up
- Students who need an efficient way to learn about philosophy and nonfiction
- Students who struggle to understand their teachers
- Students who attend schools without extra humanities learning resources
How it works:
- Find videos in our course that cover what you need to learn or review.
- Press play and watch the video lesson.
- Refer to the video transcripts to reinforce your learning.
- Test your understanding of each lesson with short quizzes.
- Verify you're ready by completing the Philosophy and Nonfiction chapter exam.
Why it works:
- Study Efficiently: Skip what you know, review what you don't.
- Retain What You Learn: Engaging animations and real-life examples make topics easy to grasp.
- Be Ready on Test Day: Use the Philosophy and Nonfiction chapter exam to be prepared.
- Get Extra Support: Ask our subject-matter experts any philosophy-related nonfiction question. They're here to help!
- Study With Flexibility: Watch videos on any web-ready device.
Students will review:
This chapter helps students review the concepts in a philosophy and nonfiction unit of a standard introductory humanities course. Topics covered include:
- Philip Sidney's essay about poetry
- John Stuart Mill's major philosophy
- Victorian era thought and criticism
- Sermons from the Great Awakening
- The life and quotes of Benjamin Franklin
- Thomas Paine's influence on the Revolutionary War
- Francis Bacon's ideas and legacy.

1. Philip Sidney and the Defense of Poesy
Sir Philip Sidney: courtier, soldier, governor, poet and critic. Learn all about this multifaceted Elizabethan celebrity and his massive effect on the worlds of poetry and literary scholarship.

2. John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism, Quotes and Theory
Join us for this analysis of nineteenth century British philosopher John Stuart Mill, whose radical political and ethical ideas based in utilitarianism have had a profound effect in the final frontier and on our current political landscape.

3. Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin: Politics and Essays
Meet THE power couple of the 1790s: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Watch how Wollstonecraft inspires the feminist movement, and thrill to Godwin's early anarchic ways! Plus: how does one betray the other, even after death?

4. John Ruskin: Victorian Thought and Criticism
From his beginnings as a poet and painter to his status as one of Victorian England's foremost social critics, learn all about John Ruskin's influence on the worlds of art and economic structure.

5. Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening: Sermons & Biography
Jonathan Edwards was an American minister whose sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' became one of the most famous sermons of the 18th century. In this lesson, we'll look at Edwards' sermon and analyze it for Puritan beliefs and style.

6. Benjamin Franklin: Quotes and Autobiography
Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a storm and that he signed the Declaration of Independence. But how much do you know about his writing? In this lesson, we'll look at two of his most famous works and how they influenced American literature.

7. Thomas Paine: Common Sense and The Crisis
Thomas Paine was an influential writer during the American Revolution. In this lesson, we'll explore the content and style of two of his most famous pamphlets and how they helped shape American history.

8. Francis Bacon: History, Ideas and Legacy
This lesson examines the contributions of Sir Francis Bacon to science. We take a long hard look at the scientific method, with special emphasis on experimental science. Then we briefly examine how Bacon sold science to the world.

9. The Three Laws of Logic
In this lesson we will discuss the three laws of logic. Learn about each of the three laws, what they mean, and how they apply to rational thinking. Then test your knowledge with a quiz.

10. Base Rate Fallacy: Definition & Example
Why do most people think that if you flip a coin a few times, getting a string of heads is less likely than any other particular combination of heads and tails? In this lesson, you will find out how this and other examples of base rate fallacy occur.

11. Noam Chomsky's Theories on Language
In this lesson, you will learn about the key theories of language development put forth by Noam Chomsky. Following this lesson, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge with a short quiz.

12. What is Metaphysics? -Definition & Examples
In this lesson we willl be exploring metaphysics, which is a wide-ranging topic covering a lot of philosophical questions about the universe and our place in it.

13. Nietzsche's Perspectivism: Definition & Overview
This lesson will explain the concept of perspectivism and how it fits into Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy. Nietzsche's understanding of truth, morality, and cultural values will be explained and considered.

14. Informational Writing: Types & Samples
In this lesson, we will define informational writing, examine the purpose of this type of writing and explore the features of different kinds of informational texts.

15. The American Transcendentalists: Values & Explanation
In this lesson, we will read and learn about the American Transcendentalist movement, focusing on its origin and core values. We will also conduct a brief passage analysis, before concluding the lesson with a quiz.

16. The Antichrist by Nietzsche: Summary & Analysis
'The AntiChrist' by Nietzsche is a deep exploration of symbolism and a repudiation of Christianity. Through this novel, the author sought to destroy religious beliefs and archetypes. Learn what these are in this lesson, and then test your knowledge with a quiz.

17. The Birth of Tragedy by Nietzsche: Summary & Analysis
This lesson covers 'The Birth of Tragedy,' Friedrich Nietzsche's first published book. Read a summary of this important early work by one of the most controversial philosophers of modern times. Then, take a quiz to test your comprehension.
Earning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Transferring credit to the school of your choice
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Introduction to Humanities: Help and Review course
- Literary Terms & Techniques: Help and Review
- Literary Time Periods: Help and Review
- Literature of the Middle Ages: Help and Review
- The English Renaissance: Help and Review
- Literature of the Victorian Era: Help and Review
- British Romanticism: Help and Review
- British Literature of the 20th Century: Help and Review
- Literary Modernism: Help and Review
- Romantic Poetry: Help and Review
- World Literature - Drama: Help and Review
- Poetry of the Ancient and Modern Worlds: Help and Review
- Prominent American Novelists: Help and Review
- History of Visual Art: Help and Review
- History of Architecture: Help and Review
- Basic Elements of Music: Help and Review
- Overview of Opera and Orchestral Music: Help and Review
- Intro to Medieval Music: Help and Review
- Intro to Renaissance Music: Help and Review
- Intro to the Baroque Period in Music: Help and Review
- Music's Classical Period: Help and Review
- Music's Romantic Period: Help and Review
- Music of the Modern Era: Help and Review
- Overview of Jazz Music: Help and Review
- Intro to Musical Theater and Popular Music: Help and Review
- Intro to World Music: Help and Review
- Introduction to the Performing Arts: Help and Review
- Introduction to Morality
- Moral Belief Systems
- Ancient Greek Views on Ethics
- Theories of Natural & Moral Law
- Consequentialist & Non-Consequentialist Philosophies
- Morality Within Western Religion
- Issues of Morality in Life & Death
- Moral Issues in Economic Equality & Poverty
- Philosophical Theory & the Justice System
- Moral Issues in Peacetime & War
- Human Rights Ethics
- Moral Issues in Relationships & Sexuality
- Biomedical Ethics
- Morality in Business
- Environmental Ethics