History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

HoP 098 - For a Limited Time Only - John Philoponus

14 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

John Philoponus refutes Aristotle’s and Proclus’ arguments for the eternity of the universe, and develops new ideas in physics.

HoP 097 - A Tale of Two Cities - The Last Pagan Philosophers

07 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Julian the Apostate and the philosophers of Athens and Alexandria try to keep pagan philosophy alive in the late Roman empire

HoP 096 - Dominic O'Meara on Neoplatonism

30 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dominic O'Meara speaks with Peter about political philosophy and mathematics in Neoplatonism

HoP 095 - Anne Sheppard on Ancient Aesthetics

23 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Sheppard joins Peter to discuss aesthetics from Plato to Proclus

HoP 094 - The Platonic Successor - Proclus

16 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Proclus displays late Neoplatonism in all its glory

HoP 093 - Pythagorean Theorems - Iamblichus

08 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Iamblichus fuses Platonism with pagan religious conviction and sets the agenda for Neoplatonism in generations to come.

HoP 092 - King of Animals - Porphyry

02 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Porphyry defends vegetarianism and the harmony of Plato and Aristotle

HoP 091 - James Wilberding on Nature and Neoplatonism

26 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

James Wilberding joins Peter to examine what Plotinus and Porphyry contributed to the philosophy of nature

HoP 090 - A Decorated Corpse – Plotinus on Matter and Evil

22 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Plotinus struggles to explain the presence of suffering, evil and ugliness in a world caused by purely good principles – and tells us what role we s...

HoP 089 - On the Horizon - Plotinus on the Soul

15 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

For Plotinus, Soul is on the border between the physical and intelligible realms. Can he convince us to identify ourselves with its highest part?

HoP 088 - Simplicity Itself - Plotinus on the One and Intellect

08 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Plotinus posits an absolutely transcendent first principle, the One. What is it (or isn’t it), and how does it relate to Intellect?

HoP 087 - A God is My Co-Pilot - the Life and Works of Plotinus

01 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Peter introduces Plotinus, the greatest philosopher of late antiquity and the founder of Neoplatonism

HoP 086 - Serafina Cuomo on Ancient Mathematics

24 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

How did the mathematics of figures like Euclid and Archimides relate to ancient philosophy? Peter finds out in an interview with Serafina Cuomo

HoP 085 - Sky Writing - Astronomy, Astrology, and Philosophy

17 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ptolemy uses philosophy in the service of studying the stars, while philosophers of all persuasions evaluate the widespread practice of astrology.

HoP 084 - Silver Tongues in Golden Mouths - Rhetoric and Ancient Philosophy

10 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Themistius, Quintilian, Lucian and other authors tell us about the connections between rhetoric and late ancient philosophy

HoP 083 - Not Written in Stone – Alexander of Aphrodisias

03 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alexander of Aphrodisias writes the greatest ancient commentaries on Aristotle and tries to demolish the Stoic teaching on fate

HoP 082 - Lost and Found – Aristotelianism after Aristotle

27 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Peter looks at the history of Aristotelianism up the time of the Roman Empire and the beginning of commentaries on his works

HoP 081 - Jan Opsomer on Middle Platonism

20 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Jan Opsomer helps Peter to understand principles, Plato interpretation, and Plutarch in a wide-ranging discussion of Middle Platonism

HoP 080 - Delphic Utterances - Plutarch

13 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Plutarch was a historian, a priest of Apollo, and a Platonist

HoP 079 - To the Lighthouse - Philo of Alexandria

06 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Philo of Alexandria uses Platonism to understand the Bible of Moses

HoP 078 - Middle Men - the Platonic Revival

29 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Pioneering thinkers Eudorus, Alcinous, and Numenius fuse Pythagoreanism with Platonism and pave the way for Plotinus.

HoP 077 - Caesarian Section – Philosophy in the Roman Empire

22 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In late antiquity, Aristotelianism and Platonism made a comeback, and pagan philosophy developed alongside Judaism and Christianity.

HoP 076 - R.J. Hankinson on Galen

15 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Hankinson tells Peter about the life, work and philosophical contributions of Galen

HoP 075 - The Joy of Sects - Ancient Medicine and Philosophy

08 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Hellenistic doctors discover the nerves and argue about method; Galen passes judgment

HoP 074 - Tony Long on the Self in Hellenistic Philosophy

01 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Leading Hellenistic philosophy scholar Tony Long talks to Peter about the self, ethics and politics in the Stoics, Epicureans and Skeptics

HoP 073 - Healthy Skepticism - Sextus Empiricus

25 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sextus Empiricus pushes skepticism to its limits with his uncompromising Pyrrhonism

HoP 072 - Raphael Woolf on Cicero

18 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Peter discusses Cicero's method and philosophical allegiances with Raphael Woolf

HoP 071 - Rhetorical Questions - Cicero

11 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Cicero, inspired by the skepticism of the New Academy, uses his literary talents to present the wisdom of the Greeks

HoP 070 - The Know-Nothing Party - the Skeptical Academy

04 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Skeptical Academy attacks Stoic claims that certain knowledge is possible

HoP 069 - Beyond Belief - Pyrrho and Skepticism

26 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Peter begins to examine ancient Skepticism, beginning with Pyrrho's life and doctrines, or lack thereof

HoP 068 - John Sellars on the Roman Stoics

19 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

John Sellars joins Peter to discuss the Roman Stoics and their "art of living"

HoP 067 - The Philosopher King - Marcus Aurelius

12 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Marcus Aurelius' Meditations are a classic of Stoicism written by the most powerful philosopher who ever lived

HoP 066 - You Can Chain My Leg - Epictetus

05 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Epictetus, greatest of the Roman Stoics, tells you how to set yourself free

HoP 065 - Anger Management - Seneca

29 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Seneca wields his rhetorically charged Latin to advance Stoic ethical theory

HoP 064 - David Sedley on Stoicism

22 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

David Sedley discusses the Stoic school and its evolution

HoP 063 - Like a Rolling Stone - Stoic Ethics

15 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Stoic ethical theory insists that perfection is possible, and that moral responsibility is compatible with determinism

HoP 062 - We Didn’t Start the Fire - the Stoics on Nature

08 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Stoic cosmos: suffused with divinity, surrounded by void, and endlessly repeating

HoP 061 - Nobody’s Perfect - the Stoics on Knowledge

01 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Stoics set out and defend an ambitious theory of knowledge, where it is possible to avoid all error

HoP 060 - Walking on Eggshells - the Stoics on Logic

25 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing the early Stoics, Zeno, Cleanthes and Chrysippus, and their innovations in logic

HoP 059 - James Warren on Epicureanism

18 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Warren chats with Peter about the pleasures of Epicureanism

HoP 058 - Reaping the Harvest - Lucretius

11 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In "On the Nature of Things" Lucretius sets Epicureanism into Latin poetic verse

HoP 057 - Nothing to Fear - Epicureans on Death and the Gods

04 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Epicureans reassure us against the terrors of death and punishment by the gods

HoP 056 - Am I Bothered? - Epicurean Ethics

27 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Pleasure is the good, according to Epicurus. But how do we live most pleasantly?

HoP 055 - The Constant Gardener - Epicurus and his Principles

20 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Epicurus sets out an empiricist theory of knowledge and atomist physics, in support of hedonism

HoP 054 - Instant Gratification - the Cyrenaics

13 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Cyrenaics, the ultimate pleasure seekers of ancient philosophy

Filling the Gaps - a Brief History of Nothing

09 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A recording of Peter's lecture delivered on Oct 25, 2011, at the Arts and Humanities festival on "The Power of Stories" at King's College London.

HoP 053 - Beware of the Philosopher - the Cynics

06 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Diogenes and the other Cynics “deface the currency” by exposing the hypocrisy of Greek society.

HoP 052 - Fighting Over Socrates - the Hellenistic Schools

30 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing the Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans and Cynics, the schools of the Hellenistic age

HoP 051 - The Next Generation - the Followers of Plato and Aristotle

23 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Old Academy and Theophrastus carry on the legacy of Plato and Aristotle

HoP 050 - MM McCabe and Raphael Woolf on Aristotle on Plato

16 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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

HoP 049 - Stage Directions - Aristotle's Rhetoric and Poetics

09 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the Rhetoric and Poetics, Aristotle explores persuasive speech and engages with ancient tragedy

HoP 048 - Constitutional Conventions - Aristotle's Political Philosophy

02 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's Politics responds to Plato's Republic and sets out its own ideas about the ideal state, the types of political constitution, and the role ...

HoP 047 God Only Knows: Aristotle on Mind and God

25 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Drawing on the De Anima, On the Heavens, Physics and Metaphysics, Peter tackles Aristotle’s theory of mind and its relation to his theology.

HoP 046 - Dominic Scott on Aristotle's Ethics

18 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Dominic Scott discusses Aristotle's method in his Nicomachean Ethics

HoP 045 - The Second Self - Aristotle On Pleasure And Friendship

11 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What place does Aristotle leave for pleasure and friendship in his vision of the good life?

HoP 044 - The Goldilocks Theory - Aristotle's Ethics

03 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics on happiness and virtue

HoP 043 - Classified Information - Aristotle's Biology

24 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In his zoology, Aristotle divides and defines all kinds of animals, and so invents the science of biology

HoP 042 - Soul Power - Aristotle's De Anima

17 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's theory of soul: its functions and how it relates to the body

HoP 041 - Richard Sorabji on Time and Eternity in Aristotle

10 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Sorabji discusses time, eternity and mosquitos in Aristotle's Physics

HoP 040 - Let's Get Physical - Aristotle's Natural Philosophy

03 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's Physics explains change, time and place with the help of his actuality/potentiality distinction

HoP 039 - Form and Function - Aristotle's Four Causes

26 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The four types of explanation: formal, material, efficient and final cause

HoP 038 - Down To Earth - Aristotle on Substance

19 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's critique of Platonic Forms and defense of his own metaphysics

HoP 037 - Hugh Benson on Aristotelian Method

12 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Benson discusses Aristotle's ideas about arriving at knowledge

HoP 036 - A Principled Stand - Aristotle's Epistemology

07 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Knowledge according to Aristotle's Posterior Analytics

HoP 035 - The Philosopher's Toolkit - Aristotle's Logical Works

30 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's invention of logic in the Organon (especially Categories, On Interpretation, Prior Analytics)

HoP 034 - Mr. Know It All - Aristotle's Life And Works

23 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Aristotle's career, corpus and unparalleled influence

HoP 033 - Last Judgments - Plato, Poetry and Myth

16 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Plato's attack on the poets and his own use of myth in the Republic and other dialogues

HoP 032 - Frisbee Sheffield on Platonic Love

09 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Frisbee Sheffield discusses Plato's erotic dialogues, including the Symposium

HoP 031 - Wings of Desire - Plato's Erotic Dialogues

02 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Love, friendship and philosophy in the Symposium, Phaedrus and Lysis

HoP 030 - A Likely Story - Plato's Timaeus

25 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A divine craftsman makes the cosmos from triangles in Plato's Timaeus

HoP 029 - What's in a Name? - Plato's Cratylus

18 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Philosophy of language and Heraclitean flux in Plato's Cratylus

HoP 028 - Fiona Leigh on Plato's Sophist

11 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Fiona Leigh discusses Plato's revised theory of Forms in the Sophist

HoP 027 - Second Thoughts - Plato's Parmenides and the Forms

04 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Third Man Argument and other criticisms of Forms in the Parmenides

HoP 026 - Ain't No Sunshine - The Cave Allegory of Plato's Republic

28 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Divided Line, Form of the Good, and Cave in Plato's Republic

HoP 025 - Soul and The City - Plato's Political Philosophy

20 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Plato's Republic defends and defines justice at the level of the ideal city and the person

HoP 024 - Famous Last Words - Plato's Phaedo

14 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Forms and the immortality of the soul in the Phaedo

HoP 023 - MM McCabe on Knowledge in Plato

07 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

MM McCabe discusses epistemology and virtue in Plato

HoP 022 - I Know Because The Caged Bird Sings - Plato's Theaetetus

28 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Knowledge, relativism, and memory in the Theaetetus

HoP 021 - We Don't Need No Education - Plato's Meno

21 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Meno and Plato's theory of recollection

HoP 020 - Virtue Meets Its Match - Plato's Gorgias

14 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Ethics against immoralism in a Socratic masterpiece.

HoP 019 - Know Thyself - Two Unloved Platonic Dialogues

07 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Virtue and knowledge in Plato's Charmides and Euthydemus

HoP 018 - In Dialogue - The Life And Writings Of Plato

31 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The life, times and dialogues of Plato

HoP 017 - Raphael Woolf on Socrates

24 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Raphael Woolf discusses Socrates as presented by Plato

HoP 016 - Method Man - Plato's Socrates

17 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Socratic virtue, ignorance and irony in the Platonic dialogues Socrates' claim that no one does wrong willingly

HoP 015 - Socrates without Plato - the Portrayals of Aristophanes and Xenophon

10 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Socrates according to the comic poet Aristophanes and the historian Xenophon

HoP 014 - Making the Weaker Argument the Stronger - the Sophists

03 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Rhetoric and relativism in Protagoras, Gorgias and other sophists

HoP 013 - Good Humor Men - the Hippocratics

27 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Hippocrates and the relation between early Greek medicine and philosophy

HoP 012 - Malcolm Schofield on the Presocratics

20 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Malcolm Schofield on Heraclitus, Parmenides and other early Greek philosophers

HoP 011 - All You Need Is Love, and Five Other Things - Empedocles

13 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Love, Strife and the four elements in Empedocles

HoP 010 - Mind Over Mixture - Anaxagoras

06 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Is everything mixed with everything? Anaxagoras on Mind and the cosmos

HoP 009 - The Final Cut - Democritus And Leuccipus

25 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Ancient atomism as a response to Parmenides

HoP 008 - You Can't Get There From Here - Zeno And Melissus

22 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Zeno's paradoxes and Melissus develop the Eleatic philosophy

HoP 007 - The Road Less Traveled - Parmenides

15 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The father of metaphysics, Parmenides of Elea

HoP 006 - MM McCabe on Heraclitus

08 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

MM McCabe of King's discusses the fragments of Heraclitus

HoP 005 - Old Man River - Heraclitus

01 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Everything changes in the riddling philosophy of Heraclitus

HoP 004 - The Man With The Golden Thigh - Pythagoras

25 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Pythagoras and mathematics in ancient philosophy

HoP 003 - Created In Our Image - Xenophanes Against Greek Religion

25 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The gods in Homer and Hesiod, and the critique of Xenophanes

HoP 002 - Infinity and Beyond - Anaximander and Anaximenes

25 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Two early Pre-Socratics claim that the world is made of air, and the infinite

HoP 001 - Everything is Full of Gods - Thales

25 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode, Peter discusses the goals of the series and Thales, the first Greek philosopher.