HOPE: What Makes Us Human

Tel Aviv University and Campus - the Israeli National Project for Digital Learning via edX

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Details

Go to class

Provider

edX
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Duration & workload

10 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

Why breathe? Why breed? Why bleed? What justifies continuing, creating, and killing lives? Seeking answers to these thorny questions, Princeton University and Tel Aviv University have joined hands to create HOPE, a unique online journey into the heart of humanity – at both its brightest and its darkest, in private and in public. Turning to existentialism for guidance, HOPE (Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism) explores a dozen themes: Human/nature, identity & authenticity, freedom & liberty, reflection, happiness, death & dread, meaning, morality, truth & trust, God & religion, alienation & love, and finally – hope.

HOPE is driven by alarm – and aspiration. Alarm about a daily crime against humanity we all commit: Seeing people as puppets, pushed and pulled by forces that leave them “no choice.” Never have we been more powerful, and more prone to lose what made us so. We are an endangered species. Pandemics, climate change, environmental degradation, AI, nuclear weapons are some of the existential risks we face. But what is the point of saving human beings if we forget and forgo what it means to be human?

HOPE is a reminder, a wake-up call, and a guide, to what sets us apart and brings us together, as humans – seeking purpose for our special species. HOPE spans 44 short talks with numerous interactive, educational, tasks. It is the most media-rich online course today, including thousands of works of art, meticulously curated and with copyrights secured, including paintings, photographs, songs, as well as brief segments from tv shows and films. HOPE further introduces original animations, music clips, and videotaped interviews and panels. HOPE is profoundly interdisciplinary and requires no previous professional or academic knowledge – just curiosity about our humanity. It is suited to all ages and levels of education, and anyone can enroll. The course is offered, free of charge, in English, with captions in English, Hebrew and Arabic, and soon French and Spanish as well.

Launched in 2018, HOPE received instant global acclaim, awarded the best online course. Since then, HOPE consistently tops rankings of online courses, worldwide; it’s an all-time #1 online course in political science and philosophy, leading the social sciences and the humanities (among over 5000 courses). Tens of thousands of daily learners, academic (including leading universities) and non-academic, spanning all ages, from over 140 countries, partake in HOPE. You are very welcome to join them and begin your own journey.

Taught by

Uriel Abulof

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 310 Class Central reviews

Start your review of HOPE: What Makes Us Human

Everaldo De Oliveira

This is a course with an innovative approach and a deep reflection. With a brilliant organization and exposition of topics, we are immersed in relevant issues of our time, analyzing concepts underlying our human existence. This course is a journey g…

This is a course with an innovative approach and a deep reflection. With a brilliant organization and exposition of topics, we are immersed in relevant issues of our time, analyzing concepts underlying our human existence. This course is a journey guided by history, where we find great names of human thought, as well as prominent names in the world political scenario. Due importance is, of course, given to the counter-current of existentialist thought which has reoriented philosophical reflection into lived experience, in contrast to rational idealism. This was, I would say, the part that was missing to indicate the horizon, even knowing the existence of the deep abyss to which we are addressing. In other words, to know the existence of both of the abyss and the horizon is to be aware of human existence itself as contingent, yet still capable of looking beyond its own finitude. Each of us, at least once in our lives, has already encountered or will encounter existential questions, and can hardly find a complete answer. Why do we exist? Why are there other people? Why are we here? Why do we die? These are just some questions about the meaning of our existence that are most often experienced within the limits of our own life or to use a term of Karl Jaspers, in ‘limit-situation’ (pain, death, ecc.).
Another great novelty of this course is to offer us historical awareness. As a social being by nature (being-with-others), the human being should find meaning for his existence already in the course of his own existence, which finds its greatest expression in political life. However, in the question of existence, there are no ready answers, and each individual in his singularity must walk the path of 'anguish' to find the sense of 'being-here'. Seen in this way, that the extensive use of Socratic maieutic was a very strong point of the course, helping us to extract from our own interiority some of the answers to existential questions that are buried in the most intimate and secret part of ourselves, making a wide revaluation of the term 'education' (educere), namely ‘lead out’ from us.
I hope that I will have a new opportunity to follow HOPE again!
Himal Kunwar @himal07

It is a time-worth course but first, you would have to have little more than basic skills (if you are from non-English speaking nation) in English, especially in the field of philosophy. Overall, you can take time and learn this. If you don't understand, then repeat it.
Carole Mulvey @Mimi0908

So much material to read and consider. I feel like I have a better understanding of humanity and life after considering the works of some of the greatest thinkers of all time!

The final chapter, Hope, was particularly relevant to me as we studied the picture of Hope and heard the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. it is true that life and people bring disappointment which can be very hard to live with, and that hope and fear are two sides of the same coin. Yet it is hope that keeps us alive, working towards doing good.
Sorcha Crowley

This course is one of the richest and most thought-provoking courses I've taken. It combines philosophy, arts and politics to challenge our notions on a variety of topics ranging from identity, love, hope to alienation, death, god and many more. The…

This course is one of the richest and most thought-provoking courses I've taken. It combines philosophy, arts and politics to challenge our notions on a variety of topics ranging from identity, love, hope to alienation, death, god and many more. The underlying philosophy is existentialist, the politics are current, and the references to music, art and film certainly add interest and spark to the course.

One of my favorite things about this course is that it requires participation and interaction between the learners, something I often find lacking in other courses. Each topic requires participation in the discussion forum and a brief contribution to the gallery (well, it doesn't actually require this, since progress is self recorded, however I highly recommend participating as this does lead to some very interesting discussion).

The instructor, a non-native English speaker, is compelling and holds your interest effortlessly, and it is clear that he is as enamored with the topics of discussion, as I - and many of the other learners (judging by the discussion forums) have become.

I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in humanism, existentialism, philosophy, political-science and arts.
Anonymous

אחד הקורסים הכי חווייתיים ומעשירים שיצא לי לקחת! אני מרגיש שהוא תרם לי מאוד ברמה האישית.
נקודה שחשוב לי לציין היא לצערי מכיוון שאני נאלץ לקחת את הקורס הזה במסגרת כלים שלובים, אני עמוס נורא במחויבויות של התואר עצמו ויצא מצב שעודף המחויבויות של הקורס זה (הגשת הבחנים והגשות של myhope והמטלה המסכמת + המבחן) לאט לאט עם העומס התחלתי להתייחס אליו יותר כעוד נטל וזה הקשה עליי להוציא את המיטב מהמסע שהקורס הזה מוציא אותך אליו.
אני חושב שאפשר היה לוותר על מעט ממחויבויות הקורס כדי להקל על הסטודנטים ולאפשר למידה אפקטיבית וחוויתית יותר עבורנו (בייחוד עבור סטודנטים כמוני ממקצועות ההנדסה והמדעים המדויקים שקורס כמו זה מהווה אתנחתא ממסלול הלימודים הרגיל).
תודה על הקורס, היה מעולה!
Zsoro @zsoro

Very intriguing and entertaining course weaving the viewer through the realms of philosophy, politics, art, literature, cinema, and music. Enjoyed the ideas and questions presented and the ways that they were. The primary purpose of this *odyssey* is to get you to think - to introspect and reflect upon your life and our world. And in that regard, it succeeds entirely.
Anonymous

The course "HOPE: What Makes Us Human" was a meaningful and enriching experience that inspired deep thought and emotion around fundamental aspects of humanity. It combined scientific, philosophical, and personal content, leading me to explore the meanings of hope, resilience, and human connections on a profound level. The mix of personal stories with insights from psychology and history created a powerful bond to the topics and emotions the course evoked. Additionally, interacting with participants from diverse backgrounds added an essential social dimension, emphasizing both our uniqueness and commonality as humans while encouraging self-reflection and inner exploration.
Anonymous

The course provides a comprehensive and informative overview across diverse subjects like psychology, philosophy, and politics. The content leaves a positive impression overall. However, to enhance the learning experience, it may be beneficial to shorten the video lengths. It is hard for me to maintain focused all the time for 20 minutes videos * 3. Condensing the video durations could help keep the material engaging and easier to digest. This would likely create an even more effective learning environment for me and the others. I can learn better with shortened and condensed videos. (maybe shorten some of the clips or reduce some clips)
Anonymous

I thoroughly enjoyed this course; it was engaging and interactive. The videos were diverse, offering a rich blend of content that kept me interested throughout. I particularly loved the combination of paintings, movies, and songs, which provided a multi-dimensional approach to the topics. This mix not only made the material more relatable and memorable but also enriched the learning experience by connecting various forms of art and media to the course themes. The use of different artistic expressions helped illustrate complex concepts in a more accessible and captivating manner, making the entire course a truly enlightening experience.
Anonymous

a few years ago I took a course in philosophy, because I had always been attracted to philosophical thought and ideas. Unfortunately, the course was a disaster, it was numbingly boring, impossibly difficult, and the writings of different philosophers were so hard to understand, that I simply felt stupid. Certainly my affection and interest in philosophy was gone, and I hadn't thought about it since. Until I saw this course, five years later, and thought it sounded interesting. All I have to say is, this course brought back the love I had for philosophy. So interesting, thought provoking, interactive, and just fun. Thank you.
Donny Astor

I finished the course HOPE, offered by Princeton (Edx). I completed 30 other MOOC before taking this one. This was the Captsone of the previous 30 MOOC. The title of the course itself draws you in like a magnet. It has 2 Names ! 1.) HOPE. 2.)…

I finished the course HOPE, offered by Princeton (Edx). I completed 30 other MOOC before taking this one. This was the Captsone of the previous 30 MOOC. The title of the course itself draws you in like a magnet. It has 2 Names ! 1.) HOPE. 2.) Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism. As we age, we often wonder about what sets us apart as Humans, and brings us together is times of trial and suffering ?

Prof Uriel Abulof ("Uriel") is the front man of this talented team. They explore not only “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but also “death, freedom, and the pursuit of meaning." This introductory class covers a large amount and wide variety of material. The course is broken down into Byte-size portions, to keep the student engaged. The lectures are sheer joy, and Uriel asks many dark Questions, only to answer them with the blazing noonday sun of truth with logic. He teaches us to Question and probe every age, stage, and phase of our life. He leaves no stone unturned. His lifetime of study is divided across every aspect of our life. His questions provoke the student to reflect deeply, to promote a better life.

This course uses many aspects of Multi-media, and is a rich buffet of new ideas. There are many new terms, concepts, definitions, and ideas introduced to challenge students, to seek out a true answer. Every aspect of the course is integrated, finely woven together. Lectures are reinforced with Music, songs, poetry, Essays, and quizzes. In the past, I often studied and prepared to Pass a Quiz. In this class, I just gave it my best shot. He doesn’t need a chalk board or Power Point slides to present his ideas. He delivers probing questions that make us reason, and see the light of day by contrast. This course is recommended to students of all ages. Each lesson is easy to digest, since you are learning about yourself. Fantastic !
Anonymous

נהניתי מאוד מהקורס, הוא היה מרתק ומעניין לכל אורכו וגרם לי להרחיב אופקים, להכיר אינספור הוגים חדשים, תובנות מעמיקות ופרספקטיבות נוספות שגרמו לי להסתכל באופן שונה על כל מיני נושאים ותחומים. אהבתי במיוחד את השילוב האיכותי של דוגמאות מסרטים וסדרות בעלי מסרים עמוקים ומטלטלים.

תודה רבה לכל צוות הקורס.
Yoav Peled

I approached this course with a touch of skepticism, but it quickly turned into a source of endless fascination. Many of the topics resonate deeply with my daily reflections, offering perspectives that feel both profoundly relevant and intellectually stimulating. The videos and materials strike a perfect balance—engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone who sees themselves as a thoughtful, open-minded individual eager to explore and reflect on life’s deeper questions.
Anonymous

This course was super interesting and insightful! I learned so many things about the world and so many different takes on how and why humans do what they do. The lesson about love and alienation. Love is one of my favorite topics to delve into and really pick apart and analyze. I thought the musical outros were a really fun and creative way to tie in the topics in a more engaging manner. Overall the entire course was fun and unique and i really enjoyed it.
Anonymous

Overall, I liked this course, the way the course was split up made sense, and our information kept building up until the last lesson. The work is manageable, however, it allows us as students to dig deeper into the meanings of our lives, and learn more about the existentialist theories/concepts of the world, and how they're very applicable to the political world.
Anonymous

a great course. combines a vast amoubt of thinkers and ideas, succesfully tying them all together through the most fundamental philosophical questions in our lives. connects all of this idea to our everyday life in o concise and efficient way, while integrating great works of arts from all fields to keep things light, exciting and enriching. 100/100.
Anonymous

While I enjoyed the material greatly, and I loved learning about morality and important philosophical topics, the course was not organized enough. I would have liked to learn this course in person as opposed to online, and furthermore I wish we met online virtually more often, as it helped my understanding of the course in general.
Anonymous

The course was very well done-
The professor did an excellent in the presentation of the topic in each video
The resources were great and related well to each topic
I audited the class so I cannot comment on the exercises and assignments
I did do the quizzes and I found them very helpful in ascertaining if I was understanding
the subject matter of each lesson.

While the course was well done , I however found it extremely depressing and will not
be taking any other classes on Existentialism
Anonymous

מעולה
יצירתי ושונה מכל יתר הקורסים באוניברסיטה
מאוד אהבתי את השילוב של אמנות, ספרות, מוזיקה וקולנוע בתוך הקורס עצמו. מטלות הגלריה היו מעניינות ועירבו חשיבה יצירתית.
Maria Ortiz

This course HOPE: Human Odyssey To Political Existentialism has ignited my interest in philosophy and political science. It has lead a path to self-discovery as well. Existentialism is finding meaning and purpose in this imperfect world. It is a phi…

This course HOPE: Human Odyssey To Political Existentialism has ignited my interest in philosophy and political science. It has lead a path to self-discovery as well. Existentialism is finding meaning and purpose in this imperfect world. It is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the freedom of choice of an individual to find his xpurpose and create his own destiny. Through this course, I was introduced to great thinkers like Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Friedrich Nietzche among others. This very intensive course has related existentialism to freedom, love, death, faith and other concepts. This has made me realized that I am a human being who is capable of making my own choice in all aspects of life. This is a philosophy course and yet this is very practical. In the discussions and assignments, I was able to share my personal experiences as an educator, as a daughter, as a believer in God, as a member of a nation and as a human being.
The lectures by Prof. Uriel were so fascinating. I was looking forward to every lesson. The way he handled the course was so engaging.
I commend Princeton University for designing this course. It is my first time to enroll in an online course and among the many courses in EDX, HOPE was the one which caught my attention. I felt fulfilled that I was able to finish this course in spite of some personal concerns and limitations. Thank you so much, Princeton University and EDX for the intellectual engagement. To Prof. Uriel, I hope to meet you in person in the near future. God bless!