Key Information
About the content
Discover how mindfulness works – its scientific underpinnings, and the details of its practise – with this online mindfulness course from Leiden University.
Experience mindfulness for yourself, and learn whether it really works
Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown rapidly in recent years. These practises are increasingly being seen as scientifically and psychologically valid forms of therapy.
As new evidence from neuroscience backs up the claims for mindfulness’ value, it is now being adopted by practitioners as a tool for therapy, and by big business as a ‘lifestyle choice’.
But what is mindfulness? And how exactly does it work? On this course you’ll explore the academic underpinnings of mindfulness – stripping away its ‘mystery’ once and for all.
Syllabus
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe popular conceptions and misconceptions about mindfulness
- Interpret your own experiences of mindfulness practices
- Evaluate the social and political significance of mindfulness
- Compare different psychological and therapeutic approaches to mindfulness
What topics will you cover?
- Introduction to Mindfulness
- Psychology of Mindfulness
- Philosophy of Mindfulness
- Politics of Mindfulness
- Mindfulness and Trauma & Social Justice
- Mindfulness and Nature & Land
- Mindfulness into the Future
- Volunteer Project
Instructors
Chris Goto-Jones
Educated in Cambridge and Oxford Universities, Chris is Dean of Humanities and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Victoria, previously at Leiden. He is a fully trained mindfulness therapist.
Content Designer
Platform
FutureLearn is a massive open online course (MOOC) learning platform founded in December 2012.
It is a company launched and wholly owned by The Open University in Milton Keynes, England. It is the first UK-led massive open online course learning platform, and as of March 2015 included 54 UK and international University partners and unlike similar platforms includes four non-university partners: the British Museum, the British Council, the British Library and the National Film and Television School.
