Philosophy, Religion, and the Meaning of Life

By: Francis J. Ambrosio, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Francis J. Ambrosio

What is the meaning of life? Is human existence meaningful or absurd?

If you've ever pondered these questions, you have an extraordinary adventure in store, as an award-winning teacher presents a boldly revealing inquiry into these most fundamental of human concerns.

In this inspiring series of 36 lectures, Professor Ambrosio charts how these questions have been pursued and grasped through the ages, providing you with the understanding and the tools to come to terms with them in a direct, practical way. Using the key metaphorical figures of the Hero and the Saint, he leads you through the history and evolution of two Western traditions that address the question of meaning: The Greek-derived, Humanist philosophical tradition and the Judeo-Christian/Islamic theistic tradition, tracking the two archetypes as they react to and evolve with cultural changes across the centuries. But these lectures go far beyond an exercise in intellectual understanding. From the very beginning, Professor Ambrosio aims the philosophical problem of meaning squarely at the student, inviting you to actively engage with it by asking you to grapple with universal questions like, How should I live my life? What is the relationship of death to life? Is there some deep, sustainable connection between the two?

Drawing on the work of thinkers from Plato and Epictetus to Simone Weil and Viktor Frankl, you'll probe the existential choices about meaning and value that exist as potentials in the fabric of our experience and that call forth the dignity and possibility of our own living.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

A larger Me

This course affords opportunity to deepen and mature life views on the choices made in life. One instance includes a discussion of forgiveness as a discreet act, or an additional filter .

Slow to talk, but worth your time

I started listening to this at normal speed, and found it to be difficult to stay focused on due to the frequent long pauses. I turned the speed up to 1.20x speed and it sounded more like a normal talking speed. Once I did this, I was able to focus on the content.

high quality

I decided to give this book a chance and I don't regret it. I learned a lot of new things. The professor is very intelligent and offers many interesting insights.

Educational, worth listening, but a bit too poetic

I was introduced to a lot of great thinkers and concepts in this audiobook, and I'm gratful for that. However, some parts were too metaphorical or poetic to easily understand for me. A lot of flowery language that was difficult for me to follow. Overall though, worth the time.

Challenging

This Great Courses lecture series is more challenging and requires greater concentration and effort than most of the Great Courses - and certainly more than your average audiobook. If you are interested in the subject matter - I should say committed to delving into it - then it is worth your while. For me, that meant re listening to portions (even entire lectures), and reviewing the course guide in some detail. Not for the sunshine listener or the fair weather learner. I give it five stars.

Great listen

Was a little skeptical getting this title given few previous (somewhat lukewarm) reviews. I am somewhat familiar with the material presented from dabbling in philosophy reading and more recently listening to similar titles on Audible. Definitely a good pick for me, professor Ambrosio makes good points and explains things in an interesting and engaging way. He covers a lot of material presenting the facts and solutions people found at different points in history and I feel it is definitely worth a relisten. If one expects this course will spell out a cook book meaning of life, this is not it, everybody needs to find it for themselves.

moving

the beginning was kind of slow. despite his poetic style. once he go to kierkegaard, though, it was fantastic from there on out.

Very Interesting.

I love to learn. These lecture series have really helped me to grow intellectually. This can be complex. It is still very good!!!

Lecturer is maddeningly slow.

Have a cup of coffee, dude! I had to double the speed just to stay awake. And I'm a Southerner who should be used to slooooow talkers.
Not many new insights going on here. It's just a mediocre lecture series on the history of Western thought and only superficial glosses at that.

Good but hopelessly incomplete

Making the “secular saint” the apex of this course is like writing a history of science and putting Scientology as the apex. But it is useful, I very much appreciated that Ernest Becker was included because he does not get nearly the recognition he deserves from secularists.