The Great Courses (Firm)
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Logic is intellectual self-defense against such assaults on reason and also a method of quality control for checking the validity of your own views. But beyond these very practical benefits, informal logic—the kind we apply in daily life—is the gateway to an elegant and fascinating branch of philosophy known as formal logic, which is philosophy’s equivalent to calculus. Formal logic is a breathtakingly versatile tool. Much like a Swiss army...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Language
English
Description
We commonly define the Pythagorean theorem using the formula a2 + b2 = c2. But Pythagoras himself would have been confused by that. Explore how this famous theorem can be explained using common geometric shapes (no fancy algebra required), and how it’s a critical foundation for the rest of geometry.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Language
English
Description
Quantum mechanics gives us a picture of the world so radically counterintuitive that it has changed our perspective on reality itself. In Quantum Mechanics: The Physics of the Microscopic World, award-winning Professor Benjamin Schumacher gives you the logical tools to grasp the paradoxes and astonishing insights of this field.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
As context for this modern symphonic masterpiece, investigate the nearly inconceivable atrocities committed against Poland during World War II by Hitler’s and Stalin’s regimes, encompassing efforts by both aggressors to destroy Polish nationhood. Learn about Henryk Gorecki’s life in wartime and in the repressive era that followed, and hear the sublimely beautiful "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"that expresses the Polish experience through sung...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
One stark contrast between Etruscan society and the Greek and Roman worlds is the relative equality of Etruscan women to men. They appeared in public and even danced and banqueted in mixed company, inspiring strident condemnation from foreign authors. Here, review the role of women as priestesses, wives, mothers, and members of society at large..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Turn now to chemical energy, the potential energy resulting from the position of atoms within molecules. After an overview of photosynthesis (perhaps the universe’s most amazing form of energy conversion), learn how combustion transforms biofuels into light and heat, and how energy density affects the transportation of biofuels like petroleum.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
1999.
Language
English
Description
Libyans ruled from the Delta city of Bubastis for 200 years and fought to restore Egypt's greatness. During this time, Egypt became involved with the biblical kingdoms of Judah and Israel. In the end, Egypt suffered division once more, but this time the two halves did not fight one another.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
For anyone interested in understanding the profound effect Jesus had on the world, it’s important to realize that his actions and teachings didn’t emerge from a vacuum. Rather, they were the product of a fascinating dialogue with—and reaction to—the traditions, cultures, and historical developments of ancient Jewish beliefs. In fact, early Judaism and Jesus are two subjects so inextricably linked that one cannot arrive at a true understanding...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Perhaps the most famous of the three defining dystopias of the early 20th century, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four has created a vocabulary of ideas we continue to use in political discourse today. Trace the ways Orwell uses language to shape his dystopic vision and the way it both reflects and distorts reality.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Now experiment with bottom-up design, an approach that starts with the available elements and builds from there. Utilize a Python module called turtle graphics to model robot motion, relying on the basic turtle commands: forward, backward, and turn left or right by an angle you specify.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
1999.
Language
English
Description
How did Egypt become history's first nation? Once King Narmer unified Upper and Lower Egypt, it took only a few hundred years to build a power that would dominate the Near East for millennia. Learn why the political structure of ancient Egypt made this possible and how the "Narmer Palette" tells this story.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Conclude by assessing the roles of the Arthurian legend in modern culture. Consider the associations of the saga in merchandising and the commercialization of historical sites, as well as its uses in pop culture and media. Finally, grasp the remarkable adaptability of King Arthur as a symbol of courage and hope..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2014.
Language
English
Description
We are now seeing the wide-scale adoption of mindfulness practices into many healthcare settings. Study the approaches and benefits of pioneering programs such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and learn additional techniques that can deepen any mindfulness practice.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Marketing your book is a huge part of becoming a best-seller, and much of the onus of marketing will fall on you. Learn about how you’ll be expected to provide support in order to help publicize your book, such as hosting author events, creating a presence on social media, and reaching out to your connections..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Throughout the centuries, philosophers and scientists have tried to come to a definitive understanding of the self and self-consciousness - and failed. The exciting intellectual journey through these theories and experiments will lead you to a new way of seeing yourself and the world around you.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
One intriguing theme presented in science fiction is the concept of utopia and dystopia—and how remarkably similar these two seeming opposites can be. Explore the fundamental questions of “Can our lives be better?” and “Can our lives be worse?” Take an in-depth look at some of the most poignant portrayals of utopian and dystopian societies and the social contexts that inspired them..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Start your exploration of this profound topic with a helpful overview of how we, as human beings, think about death. What place does it occupy in our lives? How have our attitudes about it changed over time? What symbols and euphemisms do we use to talk about it?
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Put your knowledge of value into practice, beginning with still lifes of white objects on white backgrounds drawn in a broad palette of light to dark. Learn to see a color’s value as distinct from its hue and saturation. Realize a range of value-based projects, from drawings combining interior and outdoor spaces to portraits, full-figure drawings, and drawings translating color to value..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
What was emergency medicine like in the 1800s? Go back in time to the American Civil War for a glimpse at how military doctors and surgeons treated wounds and combatted infection. Compare these injuries and treatments to those of the Boston Marathon bombing. Also, contrast the medical treatment given to President Garfield after he was shot with the treatment Reagan received after his attempted assassination..