A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece)
A radical new theory is challenging the traditional narrative of how democracy was born. "It wasn't Greece!" argues political scientist David Stasavage.
Anacyclosis: Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History
Polybius' theory of anacyclosis is the most sophisticated theory of political (r)evolution to have emerged from ancient Greek and Roman political thought.
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?
When a Philosopher Ruled the World w/ Donald Robertson
Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of Stoic philosophy applicable to the modern world?
Time Traveling to the Ancient World
Thirty three scholars, philosophers, and archaeologists answer the question: If you could time travel to the ancient world, who would you want to meet?
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Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt to explain knowledge.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.
The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova
For thousands of years, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were the oldest epic stories that Europeans know of. But is it possible that Homer was, in turn, influenced by the stories of other civilizations to the east of Greece?
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.
Anatomy of the Soul w/ Jonathan Lear (Republic IV)
How does Plato's theory of a tripartite soul hold up from the perspective of modern psychology?
Hogwarts and Kallipolis (Republic IV)
What do Plato's Republic, Sigmund Freud, and the Harry Potter saga have in common? Find out in this deep-dive into book 4 of the Republic.
Alexander the Great: Inherited Glory w/ Adrian Goldsworthy
Alexander's father Philip II transformed Macedonia from a backwater kingdom into a major world power and built up the army that Alexander then inherited and used to conquer Persian.
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.