Best Free Philosophy Courses Compared (2025)

The best free philosophy courses depend on what you want. Lecture-style? Try MIT OpenCourseWare or edX. Structured courses with certificates? Coursera. Guided reading, Socratic dialogue, and argument mapping in one place? That's where schrodingers.cat sits. Below is a straight comparison—no fluff—so you can pick the fit.

What we compared

We looked at four ways to learn philosophy online for free: MIT OCW (lectures + readings), Coursera (video courses + quizzes), edX (similar to Coursera, often university-branded), and schrodingers.cat (learning paths + Socratic dialogue + argument mapping). Each has a different strength. None of them charge you to start. We didn't include paid-only platforms or ones that require a subscription for core content—everything here lets you begin at no cost.

MIT OpenCourseWare

Classic lecture courses and syllabi. You get the real MIT experience—readings, sometimes video lectures—but you're on your own. No discussion, no one to question your assumptions. Brilliant if you're self-directed and just want the material. Less good if you want to test your thinking with someone. The philosophy offerings are strong: you'll find courses on ethics, metaphysics, logic, and the history of philosophy. Download the syllabus and readings and work through them at your own pace. No account required; no progress tracking. Good for people who already know how to study and don't need a cohort or feedback.

Coursera & edX

Video-based courses, often with quizzes and peer discussion. You can earn certificates (sometimes for a fee). Good for "I want a course that feels like a class." The philosophy offerings vary; some are shallow, some go deep. Check the syllabus before you commit. Both platforms host courses from universities (e.g. Edinburgh, Yale, Harvard on edX), so you get a structured sequence and sometimes graded assignments. The downside: you're mostly consuming video. If you learn better by reading and arguing, you might find yourself passive. Still, if you like the classroom feel and want optional credentials, they're a solid choice. For a deeper look at how different platforms compare, see Philosophy learning platforms: which one fits you.

schrodingers.cat

Guided learning paths through primary texts, reflection prompts, and optional Socratic dialogue with a philosopher (from your dashboard). Plus a free argument mapping tool and a forum to debate. No video lectures—you read, reflect, and get questioned. Best if you want to do philosophy, not only watch it. No signup required to browse. Paths are organized by theme and difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced); you can take the path quiz to get a recommendation or browse by topic. The philosophy map shows thinkers across time and place so you can see where your path fits in the bigger picture. If you're new to philosophy, start with Philosophy for beginners: first steps or Free philosophy courses: how to start.

Who each is for

• MIT OCW — You're disciplined, you want raw material, you don't need a cohort.
• Coursera / edX — You like video courses and optional certificates; you're fine with a more "course-like" feel.
• schrodingers.cat — You want guided reading, Socratic dialogue, and argument mapping in one place, all free.

Summary. The best free philosophy courses depend on your style. If you want lectures and syllabi, MIT. If you want video courses and optional certs, Coursera or edX. If you want to read primary texts, get questioned in dialogue, and map arguments, schrodingers.cat. Pick one and start; you can always try another later.

Browse learning paths →

Key takeaway: The best free philosophy courses depend on your style—lectures (MIT), video courses (Coursera/edX), or guided paths + dialogue + argument mapping (schrodingers.cat).