Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists

By: Luke Timothy Johnson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson

It's easy to forget that philosophy means "love of wisdom," not "love of thinking." In addition to philosophy that tells you how to think well, the field also provides guidance on how to live well - solid advice on how to be a good father or friend, or how to grow old gracefully, or to know what true happiness is.

Greek and Roman thinkers such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Dio Chrysostom, and Plutarch of Chaeronea devoted their lives not to metaphysics and epistemology but to the appreciation and practice of morality and virtue, values, and character. They give us - in plain, straightforward language - rules designed to help us progress as people.

These 24 inspiring lectures introduce you to the sages who, as a group, represent the "missing page" of the history of philosophy. Although their names are sometimes familiar to us, as in the case of Cicero and Plutarch, their philosophy is not. Studying these thinkers offers some surprising ways to think about philosophy.

For example, they believed the heart of philosophy is the question of how to live well as a human being. It is how you act, not what you think, that is most important. Virtue and morality are the keys to living a good life. And philosophers should practice what they preach (although, as you'll discover, the Greco-Roman moral philosophers certainly had flaws).

From Cicero's deep sense of civic duty to Marcus Aurelius's pursuit of wisdom and dedication to the common good, this course offers ample opportunity to hear, in their own words, the philosophers' prescriptions for healthier living.

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

©2002 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2002 The Great Courses

An overlooked chapter of Western philosophy!

An overlooked chapter of Western philosophy! Definitely going to read these ancient writers when I can.

nice but requires attention

I struggled sometimes even though I enjoyed it. it really felt like I was losing half of what was taught and that made me feel less inclined to keep going. I think it requires more attention and learning than I wanted to give.

Broad and deep on The Stoics

I have listened to nearly all of Professor Johnson's Great Courses lectures

He will leave you with a deep understanding of the The Stoics. Your appetite will be whetted so that you can most into the practice of this ancient philosophy to live a life of wisdom and not just knowledge.

And then to experience the correctly understood Happiness these phi slippers strived for.

A really solid intro to Greco-Roman moralists

A very good starting point for someone interested in starting their journey into the world of Greco-Roman moralists. Recommend!

EXCELLENT, philosophy in the Hellenistic era.

This again, is by far one of the best Great Courses lectures I have listened to.
Professor Johnson is passionate and deeply committed to present the subject matter to his students.
He has command of the issues and makes the lectures fly by.
It opened up a whole new world for me, which I intend to explore in more detail.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

Beautifully done

Many great courses are bland in contrast to LTJ’s memorable and jovial tone. He’s able to squeeze humor into this dense lump of information like you’re listening to a friend. Highly recommend his other courses as well.

Interesting, informative and original

I really enjoyed these lectures. As a person schooled in theoretical philosophy I found the practical and ethical focus both interesting and stimulating. The lectures point out aspects of the thinkers discussed that seem to have been largely ignored by recent history of ideas. Great overview, certainly made me want to turn to the full original texts discussed.

Practical Philosophy Corrects Mistaken Assumption

The often heard claim that philosophy is just a lot of bull is corrected by this clean overview of what has been forgotten or ignored in so many philosophy departments, thereby giving seeming credence to the bs claim. Thanks LTJ!

Needed but Overlooked Philosophers

Luke Timothy Johnson does an excellent job surveying important thinkers that we have been influenced by even if unaware and which should be more upfront in our minds.

Wonderful introduction to practical philosophy

If you could sum up Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists in three words, what would they be?

Character, Practice, Habits

What does Professor Luke Timothy Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very passionate reader, really enjoyed his style.

Any additional comments?

I would have loved this course to be twice as long as it was. The content is a great mix between historical context, philosophical ideas and practical tips. I found the book to be both inspiring and challenging. Although I was already familiar with the topic, I learned a lot. Highly recommended.