Studying philosophy in the age of "viewing philosophy"

Lately, simply browsing digital platforms, we can easily find short videos sharing Stoic thought, profound quotes from Socrates, or other Western philosophers. In an age of overwhelming and constantly changing information, the increased appearance of philosophical content on screens is a positive sign.

But the reality is, when faced with complex organizational management problems, personnel crises, or the struggle to find one's place in the wave of AI, many people are beginning to realize that simply skimming through fragmented pieces of knowledge is not enough. We can easily memorize a quote from a famous philosopher after just a 60-second video, finding temporary peace amidst the hustle and bustle of life. But the smoothness of these videos inadvertently hides what constitutes the soul of philosophy: the cognitive pain of having to challenge and refute preconceived notions. The algorithms behind social media prioritize brevity, thus unintentionally omitting the most important parts of philosophy: the context of the dialogue, the methods of argumentation, the reasoning process, and even the personal struggles behind it. To transform philosophical propositions into a solid "thinking operating system," we still need a space for direct dialogue and systematic guidance and inspiration from experts.

That sentiment is also the reason behind the course "The Essence of Western Philosophy," organized by the Faculty of Philosophy and Management, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in collaboration with Libero Education. The course, held in May 2026, attracted a diverse community of learners: from university lecturers, managers, and entrepreneurs to high school students and international students… They brought to the class equally diverse aspirations: some wanted to expand their knowledge to apply to their personal lives, while others were deeply concerned with finding fundamental principles to solve organizational management problems. But above all, they shared a common desire: to learn how to ask "why" and think about the essence before making any judgments or decisions.

The course comprises seven modules, designed as a series of conversations between experts, educators, and long-time researchers in philosophy, and students, to jointly uncover the philosophical foundations of Western civilization and management thinking. Facing an ever-changing society, these philosophical conversations lead students back to the most fundamental values ​​of ancient Greece, guide them in mastering their emotions in the face of life's changes using Stoicism, delineate the boundaries between individual freedom and social responsibility with Immanuel Kant, bring students back to the spiritual roots of a sustainable market economy through Protestant ethical principles, and redefine the core ethical principles of humanity in the age of science, technology, and artificial intelligence.

The course left a lasting impression with each student's personal discoveries and insights. A business student was deeply moved by the importance of cultivating inner strength within their company. A language and literature lecturer was delighted to now be able to confidently read and understand Western literary works from beginning to end without having to skip chapters related to philosophy as before.

Following the success of the Eastern Philosophy Excellence (2025-2026) and Analytical Philosophy (2024) courses, the Western Philosophy Excellence (2026) journey has fully accomplished its mission of bringing academic philosophy closer to the general public. We can approach philosophy in many ways, but having guidance from those who have gone before, being provided with a structured "logical framework," still holds special value. It transforms us from passive "philosophers" into active, conscious, and autonomous thinkers.