The Great Courses (Firm)
Author
Series
Great Courses volume 9
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
[Exodus 1–15] Both encouraging and threatening, Exodus 1 15 is one of the Bible’s most thrilling stories. First, consider the story’s literary setting (and its surprising humor). Then, discover its focus on two different forms of power: God’s and pharaoh’s. Finally, see how the events in Exodus have resonated throughout subsequent history.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
The Irish Renaissance in the early 20th century was a remarkable period for arts, literature, and culture—and it sprang out of the legendary history of the nation. To help us understand this pivotal period, Professor Conner traces the course of Irish history starting with the ancient Celts and running through the Middle Ages.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2013.
Language
English
Description
Fertility. Envy. Success. These are just a few of the many common associations the brain makes with the color green. Here, Professor Lidwell takes you even deeper into this lush color, guiding you through an exploration of two lesser-known contexts of green: as a way to foster creativity and a way to reduce anxiety and mental fatigue.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
We commonly think of science fiction as dealing with the future, but there is a fascinating subset of science fiction that looks at the past. Learn how science fiction writers often mix real-life history with fiction and invoke mechanisms such as time travel to explore alternate histories—looking at how the world might have been different had history gone another direction at pivotal points in our past. One illuminating example of this approach,...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Explore the world of trade-offs and learn why issuing debt instead of equity can actually increase the value of a firm; why you should always consider the Weighted Average Cost of Capital of your investments; and how convertible bonds attempt to capture the best of both debt and equity..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
The Suez Canal, which halved the sailing distance from Europe to India, changed the course of Middle Eastern and world history. Examine the events behind the building of the canal, and reveal the amazing feat of its construction. Assess the economics of the endeavor, a story of foreign debt that would cost Egypt its independence.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
[Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job] Questions about the meaning of life abound in the Bible’s books of wisdom literature: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. Join Professor Koester as he unpacks each book’s distinctive character and outlook, the answers it offers to life’s questions (sometimes straightforward, sometimes nebulous), and its contribution to a fascinating dialogue on how to live.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Research shows that when evaluating options, we tend to place more importance on attributes we understand and less importance on those we don't - without considering relevance to the decision at hand. Learn how to better evaluate the choices in front of you and to avoid as many poor-decision pitfalls as possible.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Colors abound in the natural world, so it's essential for landscape photographers to understand how they mix-and how people respond to them. Taking you to places like Acadia National Park and Adirondack State Park, Mr. Melford shows you how to play with color in your photos.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
We tend to think of the mind being in charge of, and giving instructions to, the body. But is it possible for the body to direct the mind? Learn how the Eastern practical disciplines of yoga and meditation and Western habits of physical exercise can affect the brain and the mind.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Survey the remarkable range of extreme weather around the planet. Then consider: Why does Earth have weather at all? Professor Snodgrass introduces basic features of the atmosphere that naturally lead to severe weather. He concludes by outlining the goals of the course—among them, preparedness.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2001.
Language
English
Description
The son of the consul of 218 B.C., Africanus earned his sobriquet by crushing Hannibal in 202 at Zama (now Tunisia), one of the most decisive battles in world history. Here we compare Scipio and Hannibal and the lessons they offer.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2013.
Language
English
Description
True creators don't work in isolation. Instead, they often borrow from or modify the ideas of their predecessors. Here, learn how to incorporate solutions from other people (as well as nature) into your specific challenge with the power of tools in Synectics, which rely on the use of direct and personal analogies.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Many people assume that Etruscan culture simply died after the rise of Rome, but in truth, the culture lived on several centuries into Roman rule. Trace the history of the Etruscans’ final years, from the invasion of Rome to various resistance and revival movements to their eventual integration into the Roman world..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Succession is a key challenge for any empire. As Emperor Akbar aged, follow the rise of his son, Jahangir, who, once emperor, ruled with aplomb and introduced many new innovations to the subcontinent. His own son, Shah Jahan, then constructed the Peacock Throne, the Taj Mahal, and other glorious architectural triumphs.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Consider an approach to creating robots that’s inspired not by maps but by the simple sense-and-act behavior of animals. You’ll learn the benefits of behavior-based robotic architecture (including quicker reactions and stronger sensors), and see how simple animals including ants have inspired roboticists to build fascinating inventions..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Look at the portrayal of community, choice, and rules to determine when the sacrifices being made cross the threshold between a completely perfect society and a complete lack of freedom. As the genre starts to tackle "big" questions of philosophy around individual free will, the line blurs and we are left with dystopias that are dressed up to look like utopias.