Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Do you need help understanding the great books of philosophy? In his podcasts, Professor Laurence Houlgate reads and discusses the classic works of Plato, Thomas Hobbes, Rene Descartes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and David Hume. His short readings are based on his acclaimed Smart Student's Guides to Philosophical Classics series (learn more at www.houlgatebooks.com). The episodes begin with the dialogues of Plato and will continue week by week through each chapter of Understanding Plato. For those who want to read along, a digital or print copy of the book can be purchased at Amazon.com at this address: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I5GAIJIThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Discussions on classic philosophy • Plato's Republic analysis • Socratic dialogues exploration • Justice and virtue themes • Allegories and analogies • Philosophical methods and theoriesThis podcast, titled "Understanding Plato," features discussions led by Professor Laurence Houlgate, focusing on classic philosophical texts. The podcast serves as an accessible guide to understanding philosophical works, particularly those of Plato, but also touches upon the writings of other philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, Rene Descartes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and David Hume. A consistent theme across episodes is the exploration of Plato's "Republic" and other Socratic dialogues, wherein Socrates is a central figure engaging with various interlocutors on foundational philosophical questions.
Throughout the episodes, the content primarily revolves around themes of justice, virtue, and governance. For example, the podcast delves into Socrates' arguments about justice in both the individual soul and the city-state, drawing analogies between political constitutions and moral psychology. The episodes cover significant philosophical thought experiments like the Allegory of the Cave and the Analogy of the Sun, which serve as tools for exploring deeper metaphysical questions about knowledge and the nature of reality. The episodes also examine Socratic dialogues such as "Meno," where concepts like virtue and knowledge are interrogated, and "Apology" and "Crito," where themes of moral duty and justice in the face of legal adversity are discussed.
The podcast focuses on examining these philosophical themes through the lens of Socratic dialogue, employing methods of logical reasoning and analysis typical of Plato's style. Furthermore, it addresses intricate philosophical problems and theories, such as the tripartite theory of the soul and Meno's Paradox. Overall, the podcast provides a structured exploration of philosophical ideas, aiming to make them comprehensible for listeners who wish to engage with these enduring questions.