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.
Offered By
Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors
University of PennsylvaniaAbout this Course
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessCould your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for Business
Offered by
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Aristotle’s Categories
Aristotle's Natural Philosophy
Aristotle's Ethics
Epicureanism
Reviews
- 5 stars83.60%
- 4 stars14.47%
- 3 stars1.32%
- 2 stars0.29%
- 1 star0.29%
TOP REVIEWS FROM ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY: ARISTOTLE AND HIS SUCCESSORS
Absolutely amazing course. Very excellent teacher. She is eloquent, knowledgable and effective at teaching. The only sad part is that she only has 2 courses on Coursera.
Excellent overview of Aristotle, the Epicureans, and Stoics. The ideas were clearly expressed in a way that makes learning easier.
Excellent course. Really well presented and the prompts/quizzes were appropriate. I wish there were more. I have done both her courses. And they are both excellent.
The course did not only serve as a refresher course on Aristotle, it actually capacitated me to know more and anew. Thank you for this program.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
