Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

No. Learners may earn a Specialization certificate from Coursera.

What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

You will be able to discuss and analyze the nature of reality drawing on physics and astronomy, philosophy, and psychological brain science.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Can I take the course for free?

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

Trace philosophy and science through the ages.

Instructor: Marcelo Gleiser

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

3 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.8

(33 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

3 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.8

(33 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

What you'll learn

How much can we know of the physical world? Can we know everything? Or are there fundamental limits to how much we can explain? If there are limits, to what extent can we explain the nature of physical reality? RealityX investigates the limits of knowledge and what we can and cannot know of the world and ourselves.

We will trace the evolution of ideas about the nature of reality in philosophy and the natural sciences through the ages. Starting with the philosophers of Ancient Greece and ending with cutting edge theories about the universe, quantum physics, and the nature of consciousness. Join world-renowned physicist and author Marcelo Gleiser and leading experts as we explore how philosophers and physicists from Plato to Einstein and many others have attempted to explain the nature of the world and of reality.

What’s included

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

10 practice exercises

Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from Dartmouth College

Specialization - 3 course series

Question Reality: Cosmos

Course 113 hours4.9 (24 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This course explores the concept of reality and the physics of the sky. You will travel through the philosophies and worldviews of early civilizations to the time of early scientists such as Plato, Aristotle, and Copernicus.

You will learn how Galileo's findings with the telescope challenged the Aristotelian interpretation of the cosmos, about Galileo’s revolutionary conclusions on gravity, and Newton's universal law of gravitation. This course will also introduce you to the scientific methods and their limitations. You will also explore the properties and behaviors of homemade pendulums. Next, you will explore modern ideas of cosmology, of the Big Bang, and even recent speculations that our universe is not all there is. Mysteries and properties of light and how they were discovered, questioned, and confirmed through experiments over the past few hundred years through the present will also be discussed.

Skills you'll gain

Physics, Scientific Methods, Deductive Reasoning, Experimentation, Mechanics, Applied Mathematics, World History, Ancient History, General Science and Research, Vibrations, European History, and Physical Science

Question Reality: Matter

Course 27 hours4.8 (10 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

In this course, you will walk through a timeline of “the atom” from the Greeks through discoveries in the 1900s and learn how our understanding of matter and the atom affected our views on reality.

You will be introduced to some of the current understandings of matter and subatomic particles and also take a trip to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN! Finally, you will explore quantum mechanics' interpretation of reality and compare quantum versus classical boundaries. This course also addresses questions such as: Where do you draw the line between the quantum and the classical worlds? What do we mean by “knowable” and “unknowable”?

Skills you'll gain

Physics, Chemistry, Research, Scientific Methods, General Science and Research, Qualitative Research, Physical Science, Laboratory Equipment, and World History

Question Reality: Mind

Course 36 hours4.4 (14 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This course explores questions about mathematics, nature, and perfection.

Skills you'll gain

Logical Reasoning, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Thinking, Simulations, Computer Science, Scientific Methods, Science and Research, and Psychology

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Marcelo Gleiser

Dartmouth College

3 Courses3,940 learners

Offered by

Dartmouth College

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Frequently asked questions

This Specialization is self-paced so that depends on how quickly you complete the three courses. We recommend allowing a minimum of 4-6 weeks to complete the three courses.

Basic knowledge of the scientific method is helpful, but not necessary. This Specialization is designed to provide foundational knowledge for the concepts discussed.

The Specialization is designed for the three courses to build upon each other, starting with Cosmos, then Matter, and finally Mind.

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

What’s included

Advance your subject-matter expertise