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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Paradoxes of War by Princeton University

4.6
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685 ratings

About the Course

The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, I hope that you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues. You will learn some basic military history and sociology in this course as a lens for the more important purpose of seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war. I want you to both learn about war, but more importantly, use it as way of understanding your everyday social world. So, for example, the discussion of war and gender will serve to start you thinking about how expectations of masculinity are created and our discussion of nationalism will make clear how easy “us-them” dichotomies can be established and (ab)used. I will suggest some readings for you to complement the class and assign some activities through which you will be able to apply the theoretical insights from the course to your observations of everyday life. At the end of the course, you will start to see war everywhere and come to appreciate how much it defines our life. All the features of this course are available for free. It does not offer a certificate upon completion....

Top reviews

DW

Mar 14, 2018

Very interesting topic and well-presented, too. Covers virtually every historic period in which there's been warfare (which, I guess, is every historic period in which there's been people).

JW

Jan 11, 2020

Great course! This course has provided some great information and proposed some important philosophical questions. I wish there were exams and a certificate to go along with it too.

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101 - 125 of 172 Reviews for Paradoxes of War

By Rohi T

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Nov 17, 2015

extraordinary.

done with passion

By Claire C

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Aug 14, 2015

unexpectedly thought provoking

By Inusha S K

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Aug 8, 2016

detailed, easy to understand

By José C G

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Sep 21, 2015

Very good .. congratulations

By Bill A

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Oct 23, 2015

Professor is very engaging.

By Iwo L

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Jan 16, 2017

Great toppic, nice optics

By Rose G

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Mar 28, 2016

Very interesting course

By Alexandre N N F

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Feb 16, 2022

Great and best course!

By Renato

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Nov 8, 2015

Excellent course!

By ARIFUL H

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Nov 21, 2023

COURSE COMPLETED

By Олексій В

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Jun 29, 2018

Amazing course!)

By Lucijano J

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Dec 11, 2015

Very insightful!

By Cihan A

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Aug 2, 2017

Perfect course.

By Theodoros E

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Aug 15, 2015

Great course!!

By theresa t

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Jul 19, 2024

Great Class!

By Joaquin G

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May 4, 2020

Just amazing

By JongyongPark

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Jan 1, 2017

informative

By zichenzheng

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Jun 5, 2016

nice course

By Gilberto d S V

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Jun 20, 2016

good curse

By Tilen G

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Jun 12, 2016

Excellent!

By Timmy Z

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Jan 20, 2023

woot woot

By Reyhan P A

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Jun 25, 2021

Very good

By Deleted A

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Aug 11, 2015

Excellent

By Israel C

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Sep 27, 2016

Amazing!

By Massimiliano

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Jan 4, 2016

Ottimo!