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An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
- Narrated by: David Roochnik
- Series: The Great Courses: Ancient Philosophy
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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In this 12-lecture meditation on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, you'll uncover the clarity and ethical wisdom of one of humanity's greatest minds. Father Koterski shows how and why this great philosopher can help you deepen and improve your own thinking on questions of morality and leading the best life. The aim of these lectures is to provide you with a clear and thoughtful introduction to Aristotle as a moral philosopher.
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These 16 lectures bring the Socratic quest for truth alive and explore ideas that are as vital today as they were 25 centuries ago. Ideas about truth, justice, love, beauty, courage, and wisdom that can change lives and reveal the world in new ways. Here, you'll delve into the inner structure, action, and meaning of 17 of Plato's greatest dialogues, making these lectures an indispensable companion for anyone interested in philosophy in general or Platonic thought in particular.
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Virtually all of the major building blocks of our culture (law, government, religion, science, medicine, drama, architecture, and more) derived ultimately from the ancient Greeks. In these 12 lectures, you'll explore the continuing influence of the classical Greek achievement on contemporary life. The point is not the often tedious claim that there is nothing new under the sun. Rather, it is to underscore the remarkable continuity of the Greek perspective and ethos preserved over several millennia.
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Do you see?
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For more than two millennia, philosophers have grappled with life's most profound and "eternal" questions. It is easy to forget, however, that these questions about fundamental issues like justice, injustice, virtue, vice, or happiness were not always eternal. They once had to be asked for the first time. This was a step that could place the inquirer beyond the boundaries of the law. And the Athenian citizen and philosopher who took that courageous step in the 5th century B.C. was Socrates.
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How should parents raise children, and how should schools educate children? Why are we attracted to things that are forbidden? What is time? How can we understand God, or the nature of evil? What is true friendship? To answer these questions, Professors Cook and Herzman look to the Confessions of St. Augustine of Hippo.
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The Ethics of Aristotle
- Written by: The Great Courses, Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Narrated by: Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this 12-lecture meditation on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, you'll uncover the clarity and ethical wisdom of one of humanity's greatest minds. Father Koterski shows how and why this great philosopher can help you deepen and improve your own thinking on questions of morality and leading the best life. The aim of these lectures is to provide you with a clear and thoughtful introduction to Aristotle as a moral philosopher.
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A very good synopsis.
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-08-21
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
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Plato's Republic
- Written by: The Great Courses, David Roochnik
- Narrated by: Professor David Roochnik Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than 2,000 years later, Plato's Republic remains astonishingly relevant to our everyday lives. It poses one question after another that might well have been drawn from the headlines and debates of our nation's recent history: What sort of person should rule the state? Are all citizens equal before the law? Should everyone have equal access to health care? Plato's greater inquiry, however, was into the question of defining justice itself and the reasons why a person would choose a life aligned with that virtue.
-
-
A must
- By Bjoern Werner on 2019-10-23
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
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Plato, Socrates, and the Dialogues
- Written by: Michael Sugrue, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael Sugrue
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These 16 lectures bring the Socratic quest for truth alive and explore ideas that are as vital today as they were 25 centuries ago. Ideas about truth, justice, love, beauty, courage, and wisdom that can change lives and reveal the world in new ways. Here, you'll delve into the inner structure, action, and meaning of 17 of Plato's greatest dialogues, making these lectures an indispensable companion for anyone interested in philosophy in general or Platonic thought in particular.
-
-
Sensational Account and Overview
- By Andrew on 2022-05-16
Written by: Michael Sugrue, and others
-
Greek Legacy: Classical Origins of the Modern World
- Written by: The Great Courses, Daniel N. Robinson
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Virtually all of the major building blocks of our culture (law, government, religion, science, medicine, drama, architecture, and more) derived ultimately from the ancient Greeks. In these 12 lectures, you'll explore the continuing influence of the classical Greek achievement on contemporary life. The point is not the often tedious claim that there is nothing new under the sun. Rather, it is to underscore the remarkable continuity of the Greek perspective and ethos preserved over several millennia.
-
-
Do you see?
- By Anonymous User on 2020-08-30
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
Masters of Greek Thought: Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle
- Written by: Robert C. Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Bartlett
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than two millennia, philosophers have grappled with life's most profound and "eternal" questions. It is easy to forget, however, that these questions about fundamental issues like justice, injustice, virtue, vice, or happiness were not always eternal. They once had to be asked for the first time. This was a step that could place the inquirer beyond the boundaries of the law. And the Athenian citizen and philosopher who took that courageous step in the 5th century B.C. was Socrates.
-
-
A difficult endeavor
- By N.J. on 2019-10-15
Written by: Robert C. Bartlett, and others
-
St. Augustine's Confessions
- Written by: The Great Courses, Ronald B. Herzman, William R. Cook
- Narrated by: Ronald B. Herzman, William R. Cook
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How should parents raise children, and how should schools educate children? Why are we attracted to things that are forbidden? What is time? How can we understand God, or the nature of evil? What is true friendship? To answer these questions, Professors Cook and Herzman look to the Confessions of St. Augustine of Hippo.
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Superb
- By kelly on 2019-04-27
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
Publisher's Summary
More than 2,500 years later, the fundamental questions asked by the ancient Greeks continue to challenge, fascinate, and instruct us. Is reality stable and permanent or is it always changing? Are ethical values like justice and courage relative? What is justice? What is happiness? How shall we best live our lives?
In this series of 24 lectures, Professor Roochnik invites you to join this eternal discussion. You'll study the development of Greek philosophy, meet its major thinkers, and explore the issues and ideas that concerned them, from the Pre-Socratic concerns with "Being" to the staggering contributions of Plato and Aristotle.
Alfred North Whitehead, the great 20th-century British philosopher, said, "The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." In the Middle Ages, Aristotle was held in such high esteem that he was simply known as "the philosopher."In this course, you not only learn about Greek philosophy but, to some extent, how to do it. Professor Roochnik emphasizes that Greek philosophy is ultimately not about facts or answers but about the give-and-take of ideas. By joining the conversation, you will come away with a new appreciation for how Greek philosophy still heavily influences our view of life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-06-01
Very well put together
These lectures are amazing. Really very well put together. very dialectical. Good narrator. good pace.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 2022-02-12
Well written, well spoken.
I felt as though I was in a prestigious University lecture. I felt enlightened to have listened to this book. I truly enjoyed and couldn't wait to finish it.
1 person found this helpful
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- Gary
- 2016-07-01
Gave me much needed contrasts and comparison
The Professor does an incredibly good job of making Greek Philosophy understandable. Today as well as during the ancient Greeks there's been the outstanding disagreement for what the nature of Knowledge really entails. Importantly the lecturer covers the comparisons and contrast between the pre-Socratic, the sophists, with Plato and Aristotle.
The being and becoming, the crossing a river or never crossing it, the atom or the void, the essence verse the existence, those are all aspects of nature and were the main concerns of the pre-Socratics. So often, I'll read something and they will refer to Parmenides ('nothing is not possible"), Heraclitus ("we never cross the river"), Democritus ("all is atom"), or another pre-Socratic philosopher and they would expect me the reader to understand the complete context by what was meant by the single name. Now I can understand.
This lecture series will put each of the main thinkers into context and compare them between each other, and tell you how they are similar and where they differ, and also never overly confusing the listener by giving too much to process at once.
There are many great gems within this series. Plato knew his "nature was not to know nature" and he would be better served by focusing on what our 'values' and 'virtues' should be and realized he was best able to work with logos (rational discourse), but always realizing that the sophisticated sophists (non-absolutist or relativist) had a strong argument and could not be defeated on their own terms. By just asking the question, "what is justice" is equivalent to as the Professor says, asking the question "who won the game last night", by the very fact of asking the question presumes there was a game and a winner, just as asking the question "what is justice" can imply things beyond the question itself.
I now know why my heart lies with the pre-Socratics (and sophists), why Plato is always more worth while than I've known and Aristotle with his common sense approach and his belief in reality being knowable is still relevant today, and ultimately the foundation laid down by these great thinkers are still just as relevant today.
10 people found this helpful
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- A. M.
- 2014-08-23
Prof. Roochnik is a ROCK STAR!
Any additional comments?
I'll listen to any lecture given by Prof. Roochnik. His knowledge is equalled only by his ability to convey the information is simple easy to understand terms. A great teacher!
19 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 2015-04-22
Great.
Like many of the courses in this series, it lives up to its name. It is great. The professor is top notch, and even though I have completed graduate work in philosophy I still learned a great deal. The learnings came from putting things in a larger perspective given this professor's immense background, and also learning A bit more about some of the thinkers with which I was already familiar.
14 people found this helpful
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- Rich
- 2015-03-04
An Excellent Introduction
Any additional comments?
I bought this title after reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, to further explore the topics presented in that book.
"An Introduction to Greek Philosophy" is an excellent--if not essential--companion to ZMM. Prof. Roochnik covers a wide body of ancient works clearly and efficiently. He also references numerous other A.D. philosophers throughout his lectures, creating new paths of exploration for you if you enjoyed this title.
Perhaps my largest takeway was Roochnik's urging to take the side of the philosopher before offering your own critique, no matter how ludicrous their writings initially sound. Sound advice outside, as well as inside, the classroom. Other personal takeaways I enjoyed include:
- The Pre-Socratics (more enjoyable than I initially thought they would be)
- Relativism vs. Absolutism
- Plato's Forms
- Aristotle's God: "God does not love, because God does not hate."
The entry/exit of each chapter is laughable--I don't remember attending any college course that opened each lecture with a string quartet and a rousing ovation. Don't let that skew your perception of the quality of the material covered. This title was well worth the cost of an Audible credit (and -way- cheaper than the equivalent university credit).
11 people found this helpful
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- jwhjwh
- 2021-01-17
What a concept!
While I’m enjoying listening to this, it’s maddening to listen to Roochnik circle round and round definition and concept formation without seeming to have a clue what they are. Maybe it will get better with Aristotle which I am quickly approaching.
2 people found this helpful
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- michael leary
- 2018-11-03
Useful introduction that stimulates
Roochnik's series is a wonderful way to start learning more about life and philosophy. The framework situates major figures in western philosophy. Having no philosophical background the language and terms were well explained and clearly expressed. And through use of examples the points that Roochnik sought to convey were well made. It has been an eye opener and pleasure.
2 people found this helpful
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- Maple Bourbon
- 2015-04-20
A bit dry, but essential
I have to admit some bias for these lectures. You're basically getting a semester's worth of classroom lectures for under $30 per course. This introduction to Greek philosophy was fantastic and engaging, though the last couple hours were somewhat tedious to get through.
7 people found this helpful
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- Jerry
- 2019-04-24
Another great course
This course was wondeful. A very good start to philosophy. Not to much, not too little.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ronn McCarrick
- 2018-09-21
Exactly as Advertised
This is exactly what it professes to be, a series of lectures focused on introducing the listener to Greek philosophy. The narration is lively, the professor is knowledgeable, and the information is presented simply and clearly. I'm taking an Introduction to Philosophy class at the local college and I thought this would help get me going in the subject, and it did just that. It covers the big three of Greek Philosophy quite well an it will definitely give you a feel for the subject, teach you a few things, and help you decide if this is a subject you want to continue to pursue. I did not look at the accompanying PDF, so I can't fully grade the product as a whole, but as with all of The Great Courses I've listened to, this one was both entertaining and educational. Very well done.
1 person found this helpful
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- JDP_TN
- 2015-05-26
Well Done
And amazing lecture, perfectly suited for a long commute. The speaker was incredibly easy to listen to.
2 people found this helpful