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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

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.

LL

Mar 8, 2016

Good intro to early Greek philosophy. Dr Meyer has a simple and subtly humorous approach to the material. Dr Meyer makes the subject approachable so that the student wants to do further reading.

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301 - 325 of 463 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors

By CINDY S

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May 7, 2024

Excelente, pero no dan el certificado

By Constantinos K

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Jun 28, 2016

Very interesting and helpful subject.

By Edgar M

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Oct 16, 2022

marvelous! thanks to teacher Susan.

By Mariano C

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May 7, 2021

Thanks a lot. I want be phiolosopher

By Laura M P

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May 1, 2020

Excellent! Complete and interesting!

By Abdulmalik M M

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Jul 8, 2016

Good. I've learned a lot. Thank you.

By Michelle A

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Aug 19, 2020

What a fantastic course! Thank you.

By Shikha D

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Jul 6, 2017

Awesome course! Highly recommended.

By Jean B C

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Mar 15, 2016

Excellent course and really useful!

By Jibran T

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Feb 25, 2016

Profound and thoroughly insightful.

By Xiao J

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Feb 10, 2025

Very comprehensive and accessible.

By G B

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Dec 28, 2024

Great class, well done, thank you.

By Theodore M

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May 30, 2016

well structured and well presented

By Rebecca L M H

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May 15, 2024

So well structured and enjoyable!

By Cesar P

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Aug 20, 2024

Muy bueno como punto de partida.

By Gabriel S

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Dec 13, 2021

5 Star Professor, 5 Star Course.

By Prashant S S

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May 2, 2019

Very nice and informative course

By George N M

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Feb 9, 2023

This course is simply amazing!

By Saeed E

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Sep 21, 2021

amazing lectures and materials

By Joanna C

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Oct 18, 2017

Well paced, interesting course

By Valeria G A

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Nov 27, 2023

really good, loved the videos

By Shirley K

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Jul 30, 2020

such a fun course.! thank you

By Talha R

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Sep 9, 2019

Amazing course, enlightening.

By Dragutin R

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Oct 20, 2017

Just what I needed.

Thank you.

By Kuznichenko S

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May 14, 2020

I am glad study this course!