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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

AA

Apr 18, 2020

Excellent course. This course has opened up ancient philosophy to me and made it accessible. I feel I have finished the course a good understanding of such keys texts as Plato's Republic and Timaeus.

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.

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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

By Charlotta R ( b l

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Jun 10, 2016

Loved it!

By Болат А

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Oct 9, 2024

Классно

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Jun 3, 2020

Amazing

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Oct 10, 2022

lindo

By Muna A

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Apr 23, 2019

Thanks

By Ramiro V

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Aug 24, 2018

Great!

By Lydia S

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Feb 24, 2017

Great.

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Oct 22, 2016

Great.

By Samir M

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Aug 3, 2016

Great!

By Ырысты Б

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Oct 4, 2024

круто

By ehab a o

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Jan 3, 2019

great

By 许俊炜

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Jul 29, 2016

好课！爽！

By SHREYA R

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Sep 24, 2024

good

By Ferdinando C S

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Jun 27, 2023

LOVE

By Sergio A C F

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Nov 19, 2016

good

By 魏震

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Jun 7, 2016

Neat

By 張子文

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Feb 18, 2016

D.T.

By Kenneth B

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Feb 7, 2024

Fun

By Бекнұр А

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Sep 16, 2024

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