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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

VV

Jul 26, 2018

Excellent overview of Aristotle, the Epicureans, and Stoics. The ideas were clearly expressed in a way that makes learning easier.

ET

Feb 18, 2022

The course did not only serve as a refresher course on Aristotle, it actually capacitated me to know more and anew. Thank you for this program.

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226 - 234 of 234 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Clotilde A

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Feb 2, 2019

Great course, interesting topics and explanations, thanks !

By Sindhura B

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Aug 20, 2016

A good starting point to ancient philosophy .

By Joy S

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Jun 17, 2018

pretty good info. Aristotle was weird

By Julio C N P

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Oct 15, 2016

like it most the epicurean philosophy

By Sherry P

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Sep 24, 2020

Loved it. Very informative

By Jp C

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Nov 6, 2016

Definitely interesting.

By Jose E

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Apr 7, 2016

Excellent!

By Brandon M

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Feb 14, 2023

The course format is boring. It is not the fault of the lecturer but instead of how Coursera gives courses.

By Ionko N

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Jul 5, 2016

I don't need the teacher to read Aristotle for me. Reading is not Teaching.