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Back to Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life by The University of Edinburgh

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796 ratings

About the Course

According to legend, inscribed on walls of the temple on the sacred site of Delphi in Ancient Greece were two premier injunctions: NOTHING IN EXCESS, and KNOW THYSELF. This course will be an examination of the latter injunction in an effort to discover what self-knowledge is, why it might be valuable, and what, if any, limitations it might face. What is missing from a person lacking in self-knowledge that makes her less wise, virtuous, or competent in certain areas than others who have this capacity, and what if anything might she do to fill that gap? Historical sources as well as recent research in philosophy, experimental social psychology, and neuroscience will inform our investigation, in the course of which we will become students of our own dreams, and cultivate some meditative practices. Learning Outcomes: Learners will gain familiarity with prominent themes from Western, classical Chinese, and Buddhist approaches to our knowledge of ourselves. In the course of doing so, they will gain an appreciation of the relation of self-knowledge to wisdom, of the value of intellectual humility, as well as of methods of learning about oneself that do not depend on introspection. Learners will also become familiar with contemporary research in experimental social psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience into the emotions, the unconscious, the role of affect in decision making, and self-deception. They will also gain an appreciation of a challenge to the assumption of a coherent, unified self that derives from the Buddhist tradition. --- This course was created by a partnership between The University of Edinburgh and Humility & Conviction and Public Life Project, an engaged research project based at the University of Connecticut and funded by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Learners can apply for Financial Aid directly with Coursera to assist with the cost of accessing the full course and gaining a certificate for successfully completing the course....

Top reviews

PA

Jun 3, 2020

More visuals and videos to explain the course content would have made teh course more interesting.The videos with just the Porfessor speaking were sometime monotonous.

EA

Aug 2, 2020

This online course is really great. This has been an eye-opener for me examined my life. I also, would like to learn more about this. Thank you so much.

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151 - 175 of 222 Reviews for Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life

By Ebraheem Z

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May 1, 2021

Fantastic course, very informative.

By Don W

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Jul 13, 2023

The course really had me thinking

By Fuume

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May 22, 2023

This course is really beneficial.

By Prashant S S

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May 2, 2019

Very nice and informative course

By tuna e

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Aug 20, 2020

Fun, engaging and informative!

By Victoria M

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May 6, 2020

So great! Loved this course!

By Jocelyn g

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Apr 4, 2020

interesting and well taught

By Bharat S

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Jul 17, 2020

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

By Ephraim S N T T

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Oct 11, 2025

bery awesomesauce po!

By Nancy G

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Jan 5, 2022

Worth the struggle.

By Alreign C L

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Nov 10, 2024

very well detailed

By BOEHM J

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Oct 25, 2020

Excellent course !

By John C

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May 22, 2020

wonderful / thanks

By Libero P

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Aug 13, 2025

Πολύ καλό μάθημα.

By Stephen J

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Aug 6, 2022

Outstanding class

By Mohamed O

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May 8, 2020

Easy and Amazing!

By Yang A W

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Aug 26, 2022

Very insightful!

By Fran E

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Sep 10, 2020

Very informative

By Gary W

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Apr 2, 2020

Excellent course

By ivanna z

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Mar 31, 2022

muy interesante

By Jeremías A R

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Dec 20, 2023

muy buen curso

By Jessica U

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Jan 17, 2021

Great! Thanks.

By elsaunny

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Sep 5, 2024

new knowledge

By Gustavo A V A ( G

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Nov 19, 2021

I loved it!!

By Grace A M

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Nov 2, 2024

it was good