History of Philosophy podcast series
Peter Adamson, Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King's College London, takes listeners through the history of philosophy, "without any gaps." Beginning with the earliest ancient thinkers, the series will look at the ideas and lives of the major philosophers (eventually covering in detail such giants as Plato, Aristotle, Avicenna, Aquinas, Descartes, and Kant) as well as the lesser-known figures of the tradition.
For more information, please visit the Department of Philosophy web pages.
In this collection
18. In Dialogue: the Life And Writings Of Plato »
In this episode, Peter Adamson of King's College London discusses the life story and writings of Plato, focusing on the question of why he wrote dialogues.
17. Raphael Woolf on Socrates »
Peter's colleague Raphael Woolf, also a member of the Department of Philosophy, joins him to discuss Socrates as he is portrayed by Plato: the gadfly of Athens. But was he an ascetic?
16. Method Man - Plato's Socrates »
The portrayal of Socrates in the early dialogues of Plato, especially the "Apology." Topics include Socratic ignorance and Socrates' claim that no one does wrong willingly.
15. Socrates without Plato: the Portrayals of Aristophanes and Xenophon »
In the first of several episodes on Socrates, Peter discusses his portrayals in "The Clouds" of Aristophanes and in the works of the historian Xenophon.
14. Making the Weaker Argument the Stronger: the Sophists »
In this episode, Peter Adamson of King's College London discusses the sophists, teachers of rhetoric in ancient Athens, looking especially at the contributions of Protagoras and Gorgias.
13. Good Humor Men - the Hippocratics »
In this episode, Peter Adamson of King's College London discusses early Greek medicine up until Hippocrates, and its relation to Pre-Socratic philosophers like Empedocles.
12. Malcolm Schofield on the Presocratics »
World-leading expert Malcolm Schofield of Cambridge University speaks to Peter about the development of Presocratic philosophy, from the Milesians to Parmenides and the reactions he provoked.
11. All You Need Is Love, and Five Other Things: Empedocles »
In this episode, Peter Adamson of King's College London discusses the Presocratic philosopher Empedocles and his principles: Love, Strife, and the four "roots," or elements.
10. Mind Over Mixture: Anaxagoras »
In this episode, Peter Adamson discusses Anaxagoras, one of the greatest Pre-Socratics, and focuses on his theory of universal mixture ("everything is in everything") and the role played by mind in Anaxagoras' cosmos.
9. The Final Cut: Democritus And Leuccipus »
In this episode, Peter discusses the Atomists Democritus and Leucippus, and how they were responding to the ideas of Parmenides and his followers.Related items
Podcast51. The Next Generation: the Followers of Plato and Aristotle »
Peter wraps up Plato and Aristotle by discussing their followers: Speusippus and Xenocrates (the "Old Academy"), and the polymath Theophrastus.
Podcast50. MM McCabe and Raphael Woolf on Aristotle on Plato »
Peter's colleagues MM McCabe and Raphael Woolf join him for a special 50th episode interview, to discuss Aristotle's reactions to his teacher Plato.
Podcast49. Stage Directions: Aristotle's Rhetoric and Poetics »
A penultimate episode on Aristotle considers his discussion of persuasive speech in the Rhetoric and his account of ancient tragedy in the Poetics.