The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Rall from
Tough course, graduate vocabulary, buy it anyway
You have to pay close attention to the lectures, have the guide book handy, and be prepared for a graduate level vocabulary. I am not sure if the professor intended this as an introduction for the novice on the subject (me) or a survey of 3000 years of philosophy for the already initiated. The Prof. definitely uses a graduate level vocabulary. And for the novice; you will probably be looking up a lot of terms in a dictionary or on the internet. My 4-star rating is based on the fact the presentation is not as clear as it could be. I've purchased many TGC offerings. Some Profs. are just better at explaining things than others. Professor Robinson, in my opinion, is just not as good at his explanations than some other Profs. But that critique is a function of your previous knowledge of the subject. As a novice you may find yourself repeating lectures and accessing other sources to get a good understanding of any particular philosopher or philosophy. Three-thousand years in about 30 hours is always a daunting task. However, if you want a broad introduction to an immense field of study it will give it to you. If you are a novice in the subject it is worth taking. Just be prepared for a tough slog through some complicated arguments.
Date published: 2020-10-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Schnullie from
Great professor!
I know nothing about philosophy. But figured that in the time of Covid, it might be a good idea. The professor is a brilliant mixture of information insight, and humor, which is perfect for this type of course. Well done.
Date published: 2020-09-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
A brilliant and insightful course
For me, this course alone justifies the whole enterprise of The Great Courses. Professor Robinson is a very insightful, eloquent and knowledgeable teacher. The courses are rich with the kind of anecdotes and side stories the really give the the big picture of, not just the Great Ideas, but the context of the person and cultures from which they sprouted. I had a minor in philosophy, so some background. But, this course added such depth to that knowledge. I really cant recommend it enough. The professor has a background in psychology, history and philosophy. He treats his subjects with both with and reverence and manages to reveals the insight and beauty inherent in the ideas that shaped history.
I have only had the audio version and did not feel that I had missed anything. If you only ever buy one course from the Great Courses (and I have had over 50) this would be the one.
Date published: 2020-08-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
petern from
Great teacher
Very well done, The professor is erudite, articulate and thoroughly knows his subject matter. His enthusiasm for the curriculum makes for a very enjoyable experience and leads one to want to learn more about philosophy. Much different experience then the one i had at school, wish he would have been my professor back then.
Date published: 2020-05-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Charlie6023 from
The intro I wish had
I have seen the description for Daniel Robinson's The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition, nearly since it came out in 2004. I have long hesitated because my introduction to philosophy in the 1983-1984 school year was something short of incompetent.
My first impression from the first 12 lectures: This is the introduction that I wish my undergraduate education had included. Professor Robinson obviously loves his subject and has honed his lectures over a 30+ year career. I have probably found another course that deserves extensive followup reading.
One small quirk (that does not interfere with his lectures): he rarely looks at the camera.
The course does remind me of one of the limitations of the video class format: it is not possible to ask a question.
Date published: 2020-05-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anopinion from
Another favorite!
So full of insightful and educational information that I will be watching it for a third time and possibly again after that. I have taken notes like almost all the other courses that have taught me so much about the world and life. The quotes I have from this Professor, I continually refer to over the years as valuable tools that inspire me to think for myself AND also to remember that I am human and should be thoughtful and careful - not only for my own sake, but for others as well...
"The Philosopher doesn't enter the arena of philosophy as one devoid of belief, values, hopes and aspiration - No - all of that is in place for it goes with the territory. But, there are those rare moments when we say this... No matter how much this means to me, no matter how centered my being is on this pattern of beliefs - no matter how close I am personally and emotionally and even romantically to those who hold such convictions, I must reserve the right to question and to doubt. I will retain this skeptical bias as an obligation owed to my own rationality, my own integrity. I am prepared to follow the golden cord leading me out of the labyrinth, no matter how many twists and turns there are. Because once I let go of that my intellectual life is not my own."
AND...
"So we are always quite confident in our science, in our religion, and in our philosophy... When your confidence has reached a really high level in these regards, particularly everything that can be learned experimentally, by reason, by direct observation, by analytical, by linguistic analysis, by consultation with cultural historians and anthropologist, so that you are absolutely certain that you've got the thing nailed down. Then what I would urge as a therapy, is to move in front of a mirror and say... I may be wrong... I may be gravely wrong.... I may be hopelessly, irretrievably wrong... And in that... you may very well be right."
This is but a minute sampling of the insightful and thoughtful lessons contained in this course by a Professor who is most assuredly a philosopher in his own right. Who at the very end, the very last of this series astounded me with a view point in which I could not agree, nor ever shall, though many years ago he might have tempted me to believe. Yet, the education contained here I would not trade for anything and will watch again and again.
Date published: 2020-04-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
cubano from
Great Ideas of Philosophy
Ever since I bought it I have not been able to stop listening to the lectures. These lectures are very challenging and provoke a new manner of viewing every day life in a different light. I highly recommend this course.
Date published: 2020-04-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
bobfields from
Worth re-watching!
Professor Robinson is an incredibly wise and erudite man and it was a great pleasure and honor to have the chance to listen to his views on the nature of philosophy. Thoroughly recommended!
Date published: 2020-02-17
Daniel N. Robinson
Developments in philosophy are chiefly in the form of greater clarity, an ever more refined sense of just what makes the problem problematic. If ignorance is not thereby totally overcome, at least it is exposed.
ALMA MATER
City University of New York
INSTITUTION
Philosophy Faculty, Oxford University; Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, Georgetown University
About Daniel N. Robinson
Dr. Daniel N. Robinson (1937–2018) was a member of the philosophy faculty at Oxford University, where he lectured annually since 1991. He was also Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, at Georgetown University, on whose faculty he served for 30 years. He was formerly Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, and he also held positions at Amherst College and at Princeton University.
Professor Robinson earned his PhD in Neuropsychology from City University of New York. He was president of two divisions of the American Psychological Association: the Division of History of Psychology, from which he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Division of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, from which he received the Distinguished Contribution Award.
Professor Robinson was the author or editor of more than 40 books, including Wild Beasts & Idle Humours: The Insanity Defense from Antiquity to the Present, An Intellectual History of Psychology, The Mind: An Oxford Reader, and Aristotle's Psychology. He was the editor of the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. He also published widely on the constitutional history of the US and its philosophical foundations, with original research appearing in the International Journal of Constitutional Law and The American Journal of Jurisprudence. He was coeditor of The American Founding: Its Intellectual and Moral Framework (London: Continuum, 2012).
