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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

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.

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.

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151 - 175 of 212 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Russell D

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Feb 7, 2017

Excellent introduction to Aristotle.

By Simón A C G

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Sep 14, 2021

the pace and structure are amazing

By kiara a

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Jul 21, 2020

MUY BUEN CURSO,CON TEMAS COMPLETOS

By Bart S

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Jan 24, 2020

excellent survey, learned a lot!!

By Patrick W

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Jul 9, 2017

Extremely interesting! Thank you!

By Prashant S S

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May 2, 2019

Very nice and informative course

By 김하희

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Aug 11, 2018

I loved this lecture. Thank you!

By JOHN Q

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Mar 17, 2016

Great course. Thanks so much.

By Kacper “ G

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Feb 18, 2020

Clara Non Sunt Interpretanda

By Joanna C

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Oct 18, 2017

Interesting and informative.

By Charlotta R ( b l

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Sep 3, 2016

great course ( part e of 2)

By Tomas M

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Jun 19, 2021

Amazing course. Thank you.

By Чафонов В В

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May 14, 2022

Good introductory course!

By John V T

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Jun 2, 2017

Very Exceptional Course

By Zhou X

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May 25, 2016

Short and sweat course!

By William A

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Jun 23, 2016

An enlightening course

By ELISABETH S

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May 8, 2016

more than great!!!

By Leo T

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Jan 3, 2022

Very good course

By Stephen W

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Mar 29, 2017

Wonderful course!

By Wesley D S

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Mar 29, 2017

Loved the course!

By Cédric H

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Apr 4, 2016

Excellent course.

By Juan M S

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Jul 16, 2023

Awesome course

By Cezar B S

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Feb 23, 2023

Great course!

By Luyao Z

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Jan 26, 2017

Great class!