Why Platonism & Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke As our world becomes increasingly hi-tech, more and more people have been turning to ancient wisdom traditions in search of meaning. There are two schools of ancient philosophy in particular that have seen a meteoric revival in recent years: Platonism and Stoicism. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke joins us to explore why this is happening. *** Join the upcoming AGD Tour in Greece: greecepodcast.com/tour *** Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a
Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? (Rep. VIII) Plato argued that the inevitable next step in political evolution after democracy is tyranny. Many political thinkers throughout history agreed with him. Were they right?
The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke (Rep. VII) Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt to explain knowledge. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke offers a radically different take on Plato's theory.
Plato's Cave w/ Ben Morison (Republic VII) Plato's cave may be the most famous allegory in all of western philosophy. In this episode, we are joined by philosopher Ben Morison to dive deep into the cave and unpack its various levels of meaning.
Why People Hate Plato (Republic VI) Plato is at once the most loved and possibly the most hated philosopher of all time. This episode explores why.
The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful w/ Gabriel R. Lear (Rep. VI) Book 6 of the Republic is the work’s core section where Plato lays out his metaphysics. Appealing to his signature Theory of Forms, Plato offers a transcendent vision of the Good as the ultimate source of human knowledge.
Philosopher Queens w/ Mary Townsend (Republic V) The most controversial part of Plato's Republic is its fifth book, wherein Socrates argues for the political equality of men and women and the idea that philosopher kings and queens should rule.
Food for the Soul w/ Angie Hobbs (Republic III) In the second half of book 3 of the Republic, Plato lays out the controversial theory of mimesis, which states that all art, man-made objects, and cultural products in our environment have profound effects on the health of our souls.
Who Guards the Guardians? w/ Angie Hobbs (Republic III) Following Socrates' claim that the ideal republic should be ruled by a class of 'guardians,' the question arises: Who or what will keep these guardians in check?
The Justice Loophole w/ Rachel Barney (Republic II) Our exploration of Plato's Republic continues with this discussion of book 2 with philosopher Rachel Barney. Is the fear of God necessary for morality? How can you educate people so that they value and practice justice?
All Men Would Be Tyrants (Plato’s Republic II) If you gave people the power to do anything they wanted and never face any consequences for their actions, would they inevitably turn into monsters? Or are there reasons why we should be motivated to behave morally and justly even when all external constraints on our behavior are lifted?
The Hunt for Justice (Plato’s Republic I) Our series on Plato’s Republic continues with this deep dive into book 1. What makes it good philosophy? What makes it fine literature? And what does book 1 accomplish in the context of the entire Republic?
Plato's Republic, or: How to Stop a Civil War A foundational text in both ethics and political thought, the Republic was born out of Plato's traumatic experiences as a young man witnessing factional violence and civil war.
Oligarchy, Part 2: Nemesis w/ Matt Simonto What institutions do oligarchic regimes use to maintain power? How do they fend off the threat of democratic revolution? What happened to the many oligarchies of the ancient Mediterranean?
Oligarchy, Part 1: Genesis w/ Matt Simonton What defines an oligarchy? Is the United States one? How do ancient oligarchies compare with modern authoritarian regimes?
