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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

LC

Aug 3, 2023

Its short duration course but so much new knowledge and conceptual. Really like the way of Socrates questioning and moreover their analysis argument is whole new best ever.

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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351 - 375 of 477 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors

By Felipe Z G

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Jun 4, 2020

Excellent course!!!

By Francisco J J

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Apr 10, 2016

Outstanding course!

By John T

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Jun 2, 2017

Outstanding Course

By Felipe V R

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Jun 9, 2016

Muito Bom o curso!

By ELISABETH S

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May 8, 2016

more than great!!!

By Charlene K

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Jan 17, 2023

excellent course.

By An H T

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Sep 2, 2021

Simply the best!

By AURORA P

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Jun 8, 2020

Great experience.

By Carlos M G

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Mar 16, 2019

Excellent teacher

By Abubakar D

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Jun 8, 2017

Excellent course!

By Muhammad F

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Apr 4, 2024

Wonderful Course

By karl h

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Jan 2, 2024

very informative

By Miriam G P d A

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Sep 13, 2022

excelente curso

By ALEJANDRO D

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Dec 29, 2020

Excelente curso.

By Arturo C

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May 27, 2020

A great teacher!

By Kacper “ G

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Sep 28, 2019

Excellent course

By Jaffar H

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May 17, 2016

Excellent Course

By Issa K

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Jul 2, 2020

Awesome Course!

By Emanuele S

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May 3, 2020

Amazing Course!

By Alvaro F

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Mar 23, 2019

Very good class

By Leonardo C d S

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Aug 25, 2024

Great course!

By 李晨竞

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Mar 26, 2016

讲得很好，特别能启发思考~

By Matheus N

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Aug 13, 2025

Maravilhoso!

By Deleted A

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Oct 26, 2020

great course

By Chandan k

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Jun 21, 2020

very good...