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
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
The beginnings of the end of Eastern European communism came with the firing of a shipyard worker in Gdansk, which led to a workers uprising and the founding of the Solidarity political movement. Dive into these exciting events, from rebellion to state crackdown, and meet some of the key players who altered the course of history..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Focusing on Trouble on Triton, explore the ways Delany introduces readers to ambiguous heterotopia through a society where your identity (such as sex, race, religion, and sexual preference) can easily be changed. Investigate whether this abundance of individual freedom results in utopia or dystopia.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2013.
Language
English
Description
Finish the course with a capstone look at how one can live creatively as well as think creatively. Some of the inspirational principles of a creative life that you'll look at include reclaiming your creativity, going big or going home, creating multiple options for yourself, and suspending disbelief in order to live and practice a more creative approach to every aspect of your life.
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
2013.
Language
English
Description
Learn explicitly about creative problem solving, a research-based process that can help close the gap between what you have and what you want. There are four stages: clarify (identifying the challenge), ideate (generating tentative solutions), develop (turning good ideas into great solutions), and implement (moving your solutions from your head to reality).
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Continue working with vocabulary related to clothing, and practice describing clothing. Then study Spanish indirect object pronouns—pronouns that replace indirect objects—and learn verbs that commonly use them. Last, explore some additional strategies for learning and remembering new vocabulary..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Step into the work boots of a highway engineer, tasked with designing a freeway across hilly terrain to connect two other highways. Discover that features of a safe road that you take for granted—constant-radius curves, gentle grade, sturdy construction, and a well-drained surface—require detailed planning..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Many political and cultural events sent shockwaves through the Irish world in the 19th and early 20th centuries as Ireland gradually shook off the shackles of British rule. Alongside a long and painful political process arose one of the greatest flourishings of literature in modern times. The Irish Revival that occurred around the turn of the 20th century fused and elevated aesthetic and civic ambitions, fueling a cultural climate of masterful artistic...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Learn how Georg Cantor tamed infinity and astonished the mathematical world by showing that some infinite sets are larger than others. Then use a matching game inspired by dodge ball to prove that the set of real numbers is infinitely larger than the set of natural numbers, which is also infinite.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
Start your tour of the geological wonders of North America’s national parks with Yellowstone, where the breathtaking landscape inspired the idea of a national park. Focus on the processes that produce Yellowstone’s many geothermal formations, particularly its geysers..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Language
English
Description
Explore three theories on the proper size of government, focusing on economic regulation and delivery of services. Adam Smith saw a minimal role, Karl Marx envisioned total control, and John Maynard Keynes believed that major government intervention was necessary under certain conditions.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Language
English
Description
No one wants to go to an emergency department. While you can never protect yourself 100%, there are ways to help avoid having to make a trip there. Here, learn about the importance of cancer screenings, vaccinations, and taking medication. A little prevention, it turns out, makes a big difference..
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.