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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors by University of Pennsylvania

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About the Course

What is philosophy? How does it differ from science, religion, and other modes of human discourse? This course traces the origins of philosophy in the Western tradition in the thinkers of Ancient Greece. We begin with the Presocratic natural philosophers who were active in Ionia in the 6th century BCE and are also credited with being the first scientists. Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximines made bold proposals about the ultimate constituents of reality, while Heraclitus insisted that there is an underlying order to the changing world. Parmenides of Elea formulated a powerful objection to all these proposals, while later Greek theorists (such as Anaxagoras and the atomist Democritus) attempted to answer that objection. In fifth-century Athens, Socrates insisted on the importance of the fundamental ethical question—“How shall I live?”—and his pupil, Plato, and Plato’s pupil, Aristotle, developed elaborate philosophical systems to explain the nature of reality, knowledge, and human happiness. After the death of Aristotle, in the Hellenistic period, Epicureans and Stoics developed and transformed that earlier tradition. We will study the major doctrines of all these thinkers. Part I will cover Plato and his predecessors. Part II will cover Aristotle and his successors....

Top reviews

AT

Jan 10, 2021

This is an excellent course. The lecturer presents the material very clearly, carefully bringing out what is at stake in the views and arguments of the Greek thinkers and schools she considers.

LG

Apr 25, 2019

Excellent course, Pr. Sauvé-Meyer keeps the material very engaging, and makes it very clear and easily accessible. Knowing how difficult the original texts are sometimes, this is very valuable.

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126 - 150 of 207 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Lin P

Jul 18, 2022

Great course, really enjoyed it and learned a lot, Thanks!

By Barbara M

Oct 2, 2021

Great courses! Dr. Myers was very an excellent presenter.

By Stinking B

Jan 9, 2020

Excellent! Great outline of schedule, amazing instructor!

By christiane b

Jan 13, 2017

Absolutely wonderful! Susan Meyer is a fabulous teacher!

By Antonio M M

Aug 20, 2017

Professional, well-organized, instructive and enjoyable.

By 王雨嘉

Aug 8, 2016

Though I feel it a bit hard, but it's still interesting.

By Marcelo S

Aug 15, 2020

Wonderful! I was wishing to do this since long time.

By Mandeep K

Jun 15, 2020

Highly recommended course for all literature lovers

By leslie l

May 3, 2016

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana

By Gongfu L

Jun 1, 2022

A wonderful introduction for ancient philosophy!

By Sohail z

Sep 7, 2023

It was really a wonderful intellectual lessons.

By Nikolaos S

Jun 7, 2021

Excellent course! I learned many useful things!

By VARNIKA S

Oct 8, 2022

very knowledgable content helped to learn alot

By Chengyue Z

Jun 30, 2020

wonderful introduction to ancient philosophy

By Andrés F M M

Jun 1, 2020

Very interesting course. Fully recommended.

By Luiz F F

Mar 2, 2018

Amazing content. I enjoyed and lernt a lot.

By George C M

Apr 19, 2016

Good course well presented and interesting.

By Marinka V

Feb 12, 2023

Inspiring course. Also for practical use.

By Sarah D

Apr 6, 2017

A very detailed and comprehensive course.

By Edi d

Sep 25, 2016

I got more out of it than I had expected.

By Hercules C

May 2, 2021

Very well-structured! Congratulations!

By Russell D

Feb 7, 2017

Excellent introduction to Aristotle.

By Simón A C G

Sep 14, 2021

the pace and structure are amazing

By kiara a

Jul 21, 2020

MUY BUEN CURSO,CON TEMAS COMPLETOS