Episode #012 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 3 - Hallmarks of Stoic Ethics
The Hellenistic Age Pt. 3 - Hallmarks of Stoic Ethics
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Stoicism, this time focusing on ethics. We learn about the three most noteworthy contributors to Stoic ethics--a crippled slave, a statesman, and the emperor of Rome--and find out how much they actually had in common. We discuss what angry sports fans and Stephen's English bulldog could learn from Stoic ethics, as well as why you should start each day expecting the worst. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
"Stoic Ethics: The Basics" by Christopher Gill and Brittany Polat (2023)
"Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom" by William O. Stephens (2007)
"Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and its Modern Significance" by Christopher Gill (2022)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #011 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 2 - The Early Stoa and the Cynics
The Hellenistic Age Pt. 2 - The Early Stoa and the Cynics
This is the first of two episodes on Stoicism; in this episode, we learn about stoic physics and logic. We learn how the Stoics would likely react if faced with a zombie apocalypse and how a shipwreck caused a guy named Zeno to start dabbling in philosophy. We also learn about Diogenes, a man who lived in a tub, urinated in public, barked at passersby, and somehow managed to be envied by Alexander the Great. Finally, we find out what John Locke, Charlie Pace and a wild boar from LOST have to do with Stoic philosophy. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Stoicism: A Very Short Introduction by Brad Inwood (2018)
The Hellenistic Philosophers by A.A. Long and D.N. Sedley (1987)
Stoicism by John Sellars (2006)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #010 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 1 - Epicurus
The Hellenistic Age Pt. 1 - Epicurus
This week on the podcast, we shift our focus back to Western philosophy. On this episode, we learn about Epicureanism—one of four schools of thought that were prevalent during the Hellenistic Age, which will be our focus for the next few episodes. We find out why Diogenes liked Epicurus’ ideas so much that he permanently graffitied them onto the walls of an ancient greek community center. We also learn why Epicurus thought that the most satisfying part of eating a half gallon of ice cream was the moment after the last spoonful, and why a jacket from Nordstrom really isn’t that much better than a jacket from Target. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Epicureanism by Tim O'Keefe (2009)
The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia by Epicurus, edited by Brad Inwood and Lloyd P. Gerson (1994)
How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well by Catherine Wilson (2019)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #009 - The Buddha
The Buddha
This episode tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama, who left behind a life of wealth after encountering suffering for the first time. Rejecting both luxury and extreme self-denial, he discovered the “middle way” through meditation and reflection, reaching enlightenment and becoming the Buddha. He taught that suffering is universal, caused by desire, and can be overcome by following the Eightfold Path—a guide to living mindfully, ethically, and wisely. Buddhism is framed not as worship, but as a practice of transforming the mind and ending suffering through personal effort.
Further Reading:
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula (1959)
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh (1999)
Buddhism for Beginners by Thubten Chodron (2001)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #008 - Confucianism
Confucianism
This episode tells the story of Confucius, who responded to the chaos of the Warring States period with a philosophy focused on personal virtue, moral leadership, and social harmony. He believed people should lead by example, improve through ritual and reflection, and pursue morality for its own sake. Though he died thinking his efforts were in vain, his teachings became the foundation of Chinese society for centuries.
Further Reading:
Confucius: A Biography by Jonathan Clements (2013)
Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction by Daniel K. Gardner (2014)
Confucianism: An Introduction by Ronnie Littlejohn (2010)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #007 - Daoism
Daoism
This episode introduces Daoism as a response to the political collapse of the Zhou dynasty, where thinkers like Laozi and Zhuangzi promoted living in harmony with nature through the Dao. Rejecting rigid control and tradition, they taught wu wei—nonaction—as a way to follow the natural flow of life. Their ideas emphasized simplicity, personal freedom, and balance, laying the foundation for a philosophy that evolved into a major world religion.
Further Reading:
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, translated by Stephen Mitchell (1988)
The Essential Tao: An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu by Thomas Cleary (1993)
Zhuangzi: A New Translation of the Sayings of Master Zhuang as Interpreted by Guo Xiang by Richard John Lynn (2022)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #006 - Aristotle Part 2
Aristotle Part 2
This episode introduces Aristotle as a key figure in Western philosophy, known for grounding knowledge in observation rather than abstract ideals. It covers his major contributions—like formal logic, the four causes, and biological classification—and contrasts his views with Plato’s. While acknowledging his outdated beliefs about women and slavery, the episode focuses on how Aristotle’s methods shaped science, ethics, and the search for purpose in nature.
Further Reading:
Aristotle for Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy – Mortimer J. Adler (1978)
Aristotle – Christopher Shields (2nd ed., 2014)
Aristotle: The Desire to Understand – Jonathan Lear (1988)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #005 - Aristotle Part 1
Aristotle Part 1
This episode explains Aristotle’s idea that the ultimate goal of life is to live well, or be truly happy. He believed happiness comes from fulfilling our natural needs—like health, knowledge, and friendship—through consistent, virtuous habits such as courage and moderation. While everyone’s path looks different, Aristotle argued that the real goods we need are the same for all humans. Living well requires planning, practice, and some luck, but it’s shaped most by what we do every day, not just what we believe.
Further Reading:
Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, translated by Robert C. Bartlett and Susan D. Collins (2011)
Happiness: A Guide to a Good Life, Aristotle for the New Century by Jean Vanier (2008)
Aristotle on Happiness, Virtue, and Wisdom by Bryan Reece (2023)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #004 - Plato
Plato
This episode covers Plato’s most important ideas—his Theory of Forms, the Allegory of the Cave, and the concept of platonic love. It explains how Plato preserved Socrates’ legacy through dialogues and founded the Academy to train future philosophers. It also explores his vision of a just society led by philosopher-kings and how his ideas shaped centuries of thought in philosophy, politics, and knowledge.
Further Reading:
The Republic by Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett (2014)
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett (2016)
Philosopher-Kings: The Argument of Plato’s Republic by C. D. C. Reeve (2006)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #003 - Socrates and the Sophists
Socrates and the Sophists
This episode talks about how, in ancient Athens, teachers called sophists taught people how to argue well, even if they weren’t right. They believed truth was different for everyone. Socrates disagreed—he thought there were real answers about right and wrong. He spent his life asking people tough questions to help them think more clearly. People didn’t always like this, and eventually he was put on trial and sentenced to death. But his way of thinking inspired philosophy for generations.
Further Reading:
Socrates and the Sophists, Plato (2011)
The Dream of Reason, Anthony Gottlieb (2000)
Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher, Gregory Vlastos (1991)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #002 - Italian Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Italian Pre-Socratic Philosophy
This episode introduces the beginnings of Western philosophy through the lives and ideas of Pythagoras, Parmenides, and Empedocles. Pythagoras believed numbers revealed the universe’s structure and led a strict spiritual community. Parmenides used logic to argue that change is impossible, while Empedocles offered a middle ground, saying all things are made of four elements shaped by love and strife. Together, their ideas helped move human thought from myth to reason.
Further Reading:
The Presocratic Philosophers: A Critical History with a Selection of Texts by G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven, and M. Schofield (1983)
Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Osborne (2004)
The Illustrated To Think Like God: Pythagoras and Parmenides—The Origins of Philosophy by Arnold Hermann (2004)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #001 - Ionian Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Ionian Pre-Socratic Philosophy
This episode traces the roots of philosophy back to early human migration, showing how stable communities made space for reflection beyond survival. It introduces the first philosophers, like Thales, who believed everything was made of water, Heraclitus, who saw the world in constant change, and Democritus, who imagined all matter as tiny, invisible atoms. While their ideas were often wrong, they marked a shift from myth to reason and laid the groundwork for philosophical thought.
Further Reading:
Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes (2001)
The Presocratic Philosophers by G.S. Kirk, J.E. Raven, and M. Schofield (1983)
Presocratics: Natural Philosophers before Socrates by James Warren (2007)
See the full transcript here.
Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast a possibility in the future.
I could never do this without your support! :)