Chevron Left
Back to Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors by University of Pennsylvania

4.8
stars
733 ratings

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

AT

Jan 11, 2021

This is an excellent course. The lecturer presents the material very clearly, carefully bringing out what is at stake in the views and arguments of the Greek thinkers and schools she considers.

LG

Apr 26, 2019

Excellent course, Pr. Sauvé-Meyer keeps the material very engaging, and makes it very clear and easily accessible. Knowing how difficult the original texts are sometimes, this is very valuable.

Filter by:

201 - 217 of 217 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Jaafar A

•

Jul 31, 2020

very good course, but requires more multiple choice and fill in the black exercises to be perfect.

thanks Dr. Susan Meyer.

By Francisco L

•

Jul 4, 2019

Very complete, to be perfect, from my point of view, the course would need less material to read and a point of dynamism.

By Pedro I d L S

•

Feb 1, 2022

Great course. I thought I would encounter less reading but there is no reason to complain! Very didactic.

By David M

•

Jun 20, 2016

Interesting overview. Would have appreciated more time on Hellenistic Philosophy

By kousay a

•

Mar 15, 2020

Greek Philosophers were masters of thought and logic. An excellent course!

By Mostafa B

•

Dec 5, 2016

This was a very enjoyable experience, thank you all for the opportunity.

By Mick H

•

Sep 15, 2016

Another fine MOOC by the prof. I really like her dry delivery style.

By Zeyu C

•

Jan 15, 2017

Though not too inclusive, it's a great course for introduction.

By Clotilde A

•

Feb 2, 2019

Great course, interesting topics and explanations, thanks !

By Sindhura B

•

Aug 21, 2016

A good starting point to ancient philosophy .

By Joy S

•

Jun 17, 2018

pretty good info. Aristotle was weird

By Julio C N P

•

Oct 16, 2016

like it most the epicurean philosophy

By Sherry P

•

Sep 24, 2020

Loved it. Very informative

By Jp C

•

Nov 7, 2016

Definitely interesting.

By Jose E

•

Apr 7, 2016

Excellent!

By Brandon M

•

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

•

Jul 5, 2016

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