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Back to Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

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

4.8
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611 ratings
•
170 reviews

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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101 - 125 of 165 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Marcelo H S

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Aug 15, 2020

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

By Mandeep K

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Jun 15, 2020

Highly recommended course for all literature lovers

By leslie l

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May 3, 2016

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana

By Chengyue Z

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Jun 29, 2020

wonderful introduction to ancient philosophy

By Andrés F M M

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Jun 1, 2020

Very interesting course. Fully recommended.

By Luiz F B P F

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Mar 2, 2018

Amazing content. I enjoyed and lernt a lot.

By George C M

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Apr 19, 2016

Good course well presented and interesting.

By Sarah D

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Apr 6, 2017

A very detailed and comprehensive course.

By Edi d

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Sep 25, 2016

I got more out of it than I had expected.

By Russell D

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Feb 6, 2017

Excellent introduction to Aristotle.

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 S R

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Sep 3, 2016

great course ( part e of 2)

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

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Jun 23, 2016

An enlightening course

By ELISABETH S

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May 8, 2016

more than great!!!

By Stephen W

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Mar 29, 2017

Wonderful course!

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