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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors 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

DV

Aug 19, 2016

Very much enjoyed this course. Some areas were a review but in others I was able to gain a great deal of new insight into the philosophies that were covered. Many Thanks!

VV

Jul 27, 2018

Excellent overview of Aristotle, the Epicureans, and Stoics. The ideas were clearly expressed in a way that makes learning easier.

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176 - 200 of 234 Reviews for Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors

By Joanna C

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Oct 19, 2017

Interesting and informative.

By Tomas M

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Jun 19, 2021

Amazing course. Thank you.

By Чафонов В В

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May 15, 2022

Good introductory course!

By ROMINA P P

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Jan 15, 2026

Muy interesante me gusto

By HAROLD R G I

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Sep 22, 2025

Muy valiosa informacion

By John T

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Jun 3, 2017

Very Exceptional Course

By Zhou X

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May 25, 2016

Short and sweat course!

By William A

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Jun 23, 2016

An enlightening course

By ADRIAN A E C

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Sep 15, 2025

Excelente contenido

By ELISABETH S

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May 9, 2016

more than great!!!

By Leo T

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Jan 3, 2022

Very good course

By Stephen W

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Mar 29, 2017

Wonderful course!

By Wesley D S

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Mar 29, 2017

Loved the course!

By Cédric H

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Apr 4, 2016

Excellent course.

By WALTER E T C

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Sep 22, 2025

Excelente Curso

By IKER A H S

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Sep 20, 2025

MUY BUEN CURSO

By Juan M S

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Jul 17, 2023

Awesome course

By Cezar B S

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Feb 24, 2023

Great course!

By Luyao Z

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Jan 27, 2017

Great class!

By Matthew V

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Aug 18, 2020

I loved it!

By Paul C

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Mar 9, 2017

Superb. En

By Luis F S A

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Jan 31, 2026

EXCELENTE

By SANDRA E F G

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Jan 29, 2026

excelente

By Abdulaziz S B

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Dec 10, 2019

Excellent