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Back to Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors

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

FS

Aug 25, 2017

Good, interesting introduction to the cosmology and ethics of Plato and presocratic thinkers. The reading material is good and the lectures are pleasant and interesting!

AH

Mar 17, 2016

Highly recommended. This course was a great guide to understand to pre socratic philosophers. Professor Susan Sauvé Meyer is very clear in her explanations. Thanks a lot. I enjoy the course.

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376 - 400 of 480 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors

By Alvaro F

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Mar 24, 2019

Very good class

By Roberto P

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Dec 18, 2025

very well done

By Leonardo C d S

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Aug 25, 2024

Great course!

By 李晨竞

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Mar 27, 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 27, 2020

great course

By Chandan k

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Jun 22, 2020

very good...

By mukesh c

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Mar 29, 2019

great course

By Phoebe

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Mar 1, 2017

Good course!

By Oky T S

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Aug 31, 2016

Impressive !

By Eben E S

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Mar 30, 2025

Insightful!

By authier m

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Jan 30, 2025

super cours

By Paddy B

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May 18, 2020

Good Course

By ETZEM A

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Dec 31, 2019

Love it !!!

By Matías I V N

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Jun 30, 2019

good choise

By Nancy M

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Apr 18, 2019

outstanding

By Christophe v

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Apr 3, 2016

excellent !

By Anália L S d M

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Apr 23, 2020

EXCELLENT!

By Juan S G P

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Sep 20, 2018

Excellent!

By Paccelli Z

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May 4, 2017

Excellent!

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 8, 2021

Excelente

By Theo S C

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Oct 19, 2020

excelente