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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors 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

MD

Jan 16, 2021

This was my first online course. In a crazy year, the flexibiilty to reset deadlines was much appreciated. I enjoyed the grading system, especially when your peers are from all around the world.

HL

Feb 22, 2022

T​his course is an excellent introduction to reading & learning about ancient philosophers. The videos helped to make the works of Plato, Socrates & many others understandable. Thank you.

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376 - 400 of 480 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors

By Roberto P

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Dec 18, 2025

very well done

By Leonardo C d S

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Aug 25, 2024

Great course!

By 李晨竞

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Mar 26, 2016

讲得很好，特别能启发思考~

By Matheus N

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Aug 13, 2025

Maravilhoso!

By Deleted A

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Oct 26, 2020

great course

By Chandan k

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Jun 22, 2020

very good...

By mukesh c

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Mar 29, 2019

great course

By Phoebe

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Feb 28, 2017

Good course!

By Oky T S

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Aug 30, 2016

Impressive !

By Eben E S

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Mar 30, 2025

Insightful!

By authier m

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Jan 30, 2025

super cours

By Paddy B

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May 18, 2020

Good Course

By ÉCOLE D L V

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Dec 30, 2019

Love it !!!

By Matías I V N

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Jun 29, 2019

good choise

By Nancy M

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Apr 18, 2019

outstanding

By Christophe v

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Apr 2, 2016

excellent !

By Anália L S d M

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Apr 22, 2020

EXCELLENT!

By Juan S G P

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Sep 19, 2018

Excellent!

By Paccelli Z

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May 4, 2017

Excellent!

By Laís L

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Jan 19, 2017

Excelente!

By 王雨嘉

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Jul 10, 2016

Wonderful.

By Ernesto M F

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May 7, 2021

Excelente

By Theo S C

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Oct 18, 2020

excelente

By Abdulaziz S B

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Dec 13, 2019

Excellent