Podcasts about athenian

Our choice and use of words has a profound effect on the operation of justice, and a particular legal dispute now before the United States Supreme Court hangs on the meaning of three words. In this episode, Plato's Pod host James Myers explores what eight of Plato's works have to say about the meaning of words, and the ways that words shape constitutions, justice, and governments in our time as they did in Plato's time, 24 centuries earlier. Socrates was executed because his jury judged him guilty of two words – impiety and corruption – which we now interpret very differently, and it's an ancient example of how justice and injustice can still hinge on word meanings. The justices of the Supreme Court will soon render a decision on the meaning and usage of three words that have evolved from 1789 to 1977, and from 1977 to 2025. If we wrote our laws with a lengthy preamble setting out the lawmakers' meaning and intent, as the Athenian in Plato's Laws suggests, then justice might not be as difficult to establish at later times as it now is.

About the Lecture: "Our democracy is getting self-destroyed, for it abused the rights of freedom and of equality; for it taught the citizens to regard insolence as a right, illegality as freedom, impertinence as equality, and anarchy as happiness." Isocrates, Athenian orator (436-338 BC) Democracy first emerged in ancient Athens in 507 BC following a long turbulent period of aristocracy and tyranny, when a nexus of intertwined geopolitical, sociopolitical, economic, and cultural developments led to the morphogenesis of this new political constitution. Athenian Democracy formulated the political ideology and fundamental principles that were later canonized by modern democracies, formalized defensive mechanisms against undue concentration of power and employed innovative integrative mechanisms to propagate its ideology and educate the citizens. Pathogenic traits-catalysts, however, such as the extreme polarization between mass and elite, demagogy, populism, failure of justice, apathy, and poor education caused extensive political ankylosis. Internal corrosion and changing historical conditions caused the decline and fall of Democracy three centuries later.Isocrates' aphorism, therefore, rings alarmingly all too pragmatic and relevant today, 250 years since the resurgence of Democracy in the modern era. Are we running a similar cycle, repeating old mistakes, standing at the same juncture, heading towards the same dead end? To navigate forward, find solutions, and shape our future, we need first to study our past. About the Speaker: With over 35 years of experience in archaeology, teaching, and administration, Prof. Christofilis Maggidis is a faculty member at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C., President of the Mycenaean Foundation, and Field Director of Excavations at Mycenae and Lamia. Throughout his career, Prof. Maggidis has combined academic leadership with a commitment to innovative teaching and interdisciplinary research. He earned the BA at the University of Athens, the Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral research at Brown University. Prof. Maggidis taught at Campus College and the University of Indianapolis, Athens, Greece, and held the distinguished Christopher Roberts Chair in Archaeology at Dickinson College for two decades, where he created and chaired the Department of Archaeology, designed the archaeology academic curriculum, and directed study abroad programs. In 2022 Prof. Maggidis joined the Institute of World Politics in Washington D.C. where he teaches at graduate level and directs "Hermes," the Institute's study abroad program in Greece. His research focuses on Minoan and Mycenaean archaeology, Classical Greek art and architecture, and archaeological methodology. With 40 years of field experience, Prof. Maggidis has led excavations at prominent sites in Greece, including Mycenae, Glas, and the Spercheios Valley, making significant discoveries and directing acclaimed field schools that trained over 450 students from 44 universities worldwide. Maggidis has secured substantial external and institutional funding for his research and fieldwork ($2.8million), and his findings have been widely disseminated in scholarly publications and international media. His scholarly publications comprise 26 articles, numerous field reports, one book submitted for publication and three forthcoming books. Furthermore, Prof. Maggidis has presented 45 international conference papers and delivered 42 invited lectures at prestigious universities and institutes worldwide.

"In war and battle, this is the way to do your part."Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by the Athenian Stranger and Johnathan Bi to introduce the Gorgias and discuss the first part: the dialogue of Gorgias and Socrates.What begins as a polite inquiry into the nature of rhetoric erupts into a war for the soul of Athens—and for every reader seeking the good life. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule.Visit our COLLECTION OF GUIDES to the great books. Visit Athenian Stranger.Visit Johnathan Bi.Athenian Stranger frames the conflict as two competing “technologies” of speech: Gorgias' art that grants “freedom for oneself and empire over everyone else” (452d) versus Socrates' dialectical practice that knows “the natures and causes of things” (464b–465a). The dialogue's three-part structure—shortest with reserved Gorgias, medium with spirited Polus, longest with shameless Callicles—spirals downward, exposing pleonexia (infinite grasping desire) beneath all three souls. Dcn. Harrison Garlick underscores the dialogue's raw honesty: Athenian youth, like us, faced a nihilistic void after the gods' decline, craving tyranny over truth. Philosophical gems abound—“better to be harmed than harm,” “better to be punished than escape justice”—while the pastry-baker analogy brands rhetoric without philosophy as mere flattery. The world that Socrates is engaging with is far more like our world than I think I realized… nihilism as a modern phenomenon? You see this really with the young men of Athens too.” - Dcn. Harrison Garlick“We all have erotic longings. The question is, they of the noble things that separate us from the beasts or are they of the bodily pleasures?” - Athenian StrangerNext episode: Polus defends raw power with Dr. Matthew Bianco (Circe Institute).

Acts 17:16–34: The Apostle Paul, provoked by Athenian idols, uses contextualized apologetics to establish common ground and proclaim the resurrection.For the study resources and manuscript go to messiahbible.org

When – and how – did Athenian democracy begin? There is no unambiguous answer to this question. This lecture explores one plausible origin: the popular uprising in 508 BCE overthrowing foreign invaders (who had previously expelled an Athenian-bred family of tyrants). In the aftermath of that revolution, the Athenians – led by Kleisthenes – reorganised their political system to foster new identities and interactions. As further political and social changes were made, Athenian democracy took shape in the imaginations of contemporaries and of later generations.This lecture was recorded by Professor Melissa lane on the 16th of October 2025 at Barnards Inn Hall, London.Melissa Lane is the Class of 1943 Professor of Politics, Princeton University and is also Associated Faculty in the Department of Classics and Department of Philosophy. Previously she was Senior University Lecturer at Cambridge University in the Faculty of History and Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.She studied for her first degree in Social Studies (awarded summa cum laude) at Harvard University, and then took an MPhil and PhD in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, where she was a student at King's College, supported by appointments as a Marshall Scholar, Truman Scholar, and Mary Isabel Sibley Fellow of Phi Beta Kappa.Professor Lane is an author, lecturer and broadcaster who has received major awards including being named a Guggenheim Fellow, and the Lucy Shoe Meritt Resident in Classical Studies at the American Academy in Rome. She has published widely in journals and authored or introduced nine major books including Greek and Roman Political Ideas; Eco-Republic; and most recently, Of Rule and Office: Plato's Ideas of the Political, which was awarded the 2024 Book Prize of the Journal of the History of Philosophy.Professor Lane is the only person ever to have delivered both the Carlyle Lectures and the Isaiah Berlin Lectures at the University of Oxford.The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/tyranny-democracyGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham College's mSupport the show

Send us a textSocrates taught his students contempt for the gods, how to defraud creditors, and useless trivialities about flea-jumping. Or at least, that's how Socrates appears in the comedy Clouds. If you want to understand something of the Athenian hostility to the great philosopher which eventually reached its climax in sentencing Socrates to death, it helps to see how he was lampooned in front of Athenian audiences by his contemporary, the comedian playwright Aristophanes. But Clouds is more than just (dirty) jokes. It is a profane and self-critical attack on educational innovation, and a call to return to the old ways, the ways which produced heroic men like Aeschylus, who with his fellows turned the Persians back at Marathon and saved Greece. The new form of education, in Aristophanes' view, threatens to reduce Athens to a pathetic bunch of weak and impious nerds. But even in his mockery of the new, Aristophanes seems well aware of the inner weakness of the old ways and the reason for their defeat. So it shouldn't be too surprising that his conclusion simply seems to be: Burn it all down.Aristophanes' Clouds trans. by Alan H. Sommerstein: https://amzn.to/4hEaykYAristophanes' Clouds trans. by Peter Meineck: https://amzn.to/4o7lr0RAristophanes' Clouds trans. by William James Hickie: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0241%3Acard%3D1Henri-Irénée Marrou's A History of Education in Antiquity: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780299088149Hesiod's Works and Days: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780674997202Herodotus' Histories: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781400031146Plato's Republic: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780465094080Leo Strauss's "The Problem of Socrates" (in The Rebirth of Classical Political Rationalism): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780226777153New Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/Links may have referral codes, which earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. We encourage you, when possible, to use Bookshop.org for your book purchases, an online bookstore which supports local bookstores.Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

"In him we live and move and have our being." When Paul quoted the Greek poet Epimenides at Mars Hill in Acts 17, the Athenian philosophers weren't confused—they knew exactly what he was referencing. Their council of gods. In this LIVE from Blurry Con preview, Dr. Joel Muddamalle explains that Greek philosophy included a divine hierarchy ruling over nations and territories, strikingly similar to what Scripture describes in Deuteronomy 32:8. When God judged humanity at Babel, He didn't just scatter the nations—He disinherited them, assigning each to divine beings called "sons of God." These weren't decorative angels; they were governing authorities with real power over territories. The Greeks called them gods. The Hebrews understood them as rebellious divine council members. Paul, standing in the intellectual epicenter of the ancient world, used their own theology against them: "That council you worship? They're defeated rebels. The 'Unknown God' you acknowledge but don't know? That's Yahweh—and His Son Jesus Christ has authority over every power you've been serving." Joel walks through how Paul's Mars Hill sermon connects to the entire biblical narrative of spiritual warfare: the serpent's Eden rebellion, Babel's cosmic judgment, Mount Hermon where divine beings (Watchers) descended and corrupted the nations they were supposed to steward, and ultimately Christ's victory reclaiming all territory and authority. This is why Paul could confidently quote Greek poets—he wasn't compromising truth, he was revealing it through a framework the Greeks already understood. Joel explains what the divine council is, why geography matters in spiritual warfare, where demons originate (not fallen angels—Scripture doesn't teach that), how territorial spirits function, and why missions and prayer look different when you understand cosmic geography. The Greeks believed in a council of gods ruling over territories. Paul said: You're right about the structure, but wrong about who's in charge. Christ has defeated them all and reclaimed His rightful dominion. This conversation bridges ancient philosophy, Hebrew theology, and practical spiritual warfare—showing they're not contradictory but complementary when understood correctly. Whether you're trying to make sense of Ephesians 6, understand missions strategy, or grasp what Christ actually accomplished, Joel provides the framework Scripture assumes but Western rationalism has stripped away. Blurry Con 3 might be sold out, but you can still join us virtually on our Livestream. Get tickets here: www.blurrycreatures.com for half the cost of last year! This episode is sponsored by:https://zocdoc.com/blurry — Find and instantly book top-rated doctors today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Peloponnesian War is considered one of the most famous wars of the ancient world not only because it was a massive and devastating conflict that reshaped the Greek world, but also because its thorough documentation by the historian Thucydides transformed how we understand history and war. On the face of it, the Peloponnesian War, fought over 2000 years ago in a corner of the Mediterranean, shouldn’t have made history. While the war was quite long, lasting 27 years, and oftentimes brutal, the two major parties, Athens and Sparta, were politically irrelevant within a century of the war’s conclusion. Plus the war’s cause is murky and takes a detailed understanding of Greek’s chaotic political history. And yet, it was this conflict which would be remembered for centuries. As the subject of a detailed history by Thucydides, an Athenian war general and historian, the story of the Peloponnesian War remains essential reading for politicians, historians, and students. Today’s guest is Polly Low, who authored part of a new translation of The History of the Peloponnesian War. The translation depicts the events of the war between Athens and Sparta that began in 431 BC and would continue until 404, a conflict that embroiled not only mainland Greece but Greek states from the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Italy and Sicily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics Emeritus Robert Garland for a spooky exploration into the history of humanity's relationship with death in this all new episode of 13. Professor Garland is an expert on Greek religion, Greek urban development, Greek society and social values, and Athenian topography. He also has an uncanny knack for finding the threads between antiquity and the modern world, and he is a well-respected scholar on the lives of everyday people in the ancient world. His most recent book, What to Expect When You're Dead: An ancient tour of death and the afterlife, was just published this year by Princeton University Press.

AS: https://x.com/Athens_Stranger https://substack.com/@athenscorner J: https://findmyfrens.net/jburden/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/j.burden Substack: https://substack.com/@jburden Patreon: https://patreon.com/Jburden GUMROAD: https://radiofreechicago.gumroad.com/l/ucduc Axios: https://axios-remote-fitness-coaching.kit.com/affiliate ETH: 0xB06aF86d23B9304818729abfe02c07513e68Cb70 BTC: 33xLknSCeXFkpFsXRRMqYjGu43x14X1iEt

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Comedian George Carlin, that great court jester of empire, pierced the veil with these words. He was not joking, though it came wrapped in laughter. He was revealing the architecture of power in America, which is not democracy in the Athenian sense but plutocracy, oligarchy, and the orchestration of society by malevolent Godzillionaires who hold the levers of capital, media, and lobbying. Carlin's genius was that he could condense the unspoken reality into a phrase so sharp it cut through the fog: that the average citizen is managed, pacified, manipulated, but never truly invited into the circles where decisions are really made.Now contrast this with the comedian Joe Rogan, whose arc has been peculiar. He began as an outsider—comic, martial artist, psychonaut - someone who sat at the edges of culture, exploring taboo subjects, amplifying voices that the lamestream media ignored. In this way, he bore the spirit of initiation, cracking the seal for millions into discussions of psychedelics, UFOs, alternative histories, and human potential. But then—success, influence, and the gravitational pull of that “big club.” The very dynamic Carlin warned of began to enfold Rogan. The curiosity began to wobble. Instead of being the gadfly pricking the system, his voice increasingly became captured by the same circuits of power he once subverted. Because as wealth accumulates, and celebrity solidifies, the outsider is no longer outside and what was once disruptive becomes contained within the big club itself. Carlin never joined that club. He stayed outside, hurling his Molotov cocktails of truth wrapped in laughter. By contrast, Rogan has been drawn towards it, and Transmuted from Stoned Ape theory advocate to oligarchic ball gargler in the process. These insight sub-episodes are mirrored on our primary YouTube channel which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@NilesHeckman/videos

When it comes to the concept of The West, its scope and principles have been criticized both contemporarily and historically. How did the West emerge as a coherent concept, and what has it meant over time?Georgios Varouxakis is a Professor in the History of Political Thought at Queen Mary University of London, where he is also the Co-director of the Centre for the Study of the History of Political Thought. He is also the author of several books, and his newest book is titled The West: The History of an Idea.Greg and Georgios discuss Giorgios's new book, 'The West: The History of an Idea,' and explore the origins, evolution, and various interpretations of the concept of 'the West.' Their conversation covers some popular misconceptions about the West, reasons behind its historical development, and the roles nations like Greece, Russia, and Ukraine have played in shaping the West's identity. Giorgios emphasizes how the West has been a flexible and evolving idea, open to new members and continuously redefined through history. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:The two myths of the West's origins03:06: The popular conceptions are that the West must have always existed. People take for granted that at least since the ancient Greeks, there is a West that has resisted the invasion of Asia through the Persian Empire and that in the Battle of Marathon, the West defined itself and defeated. A projection of things that people later imagined. In this sense, ancient Greeks saw themselves as Greeks. They did not see themselves as West or Europe or anything else. The other end of the spectrum is that the West must have begun with a Cold War, that surely the West is a creation of the post–First World War situation where the United States leads a group of peoples versus the Soviet Union, and that is the West. These are the two popular extremes. Popular conceptions that I consider, the two ends of the spectrum.The West as an open-ended idea17:14: The West had inherent from its inception an open-endedness that was not based on just ethnic descent or just religion.Richard Wright: The gadfly of the West37:14: [Richard Wright] says, "I'm Western, but I now realize I'm more Western than the West. I'm more advanced than the West. I believe in the Western principles and values, and constitutional and political and other philosophical ideas. I was taught, I believe in freedom of speech, separation of, and the of. These are not necessarily practiced much of the time by Western governments and elites. So he becomes literally like Socrates was the gadfly of Athenian democracy. Richard Wright becomes the gadfly of the West, saying, 'I'm criticizing you because you're not doing the Western thing. You're not Western enough.' Literally, he says, 'The West is not Western enough.'"Why the West should be improved, not abolished47:48: My argument is peoples and their leaderships make decisions, and they may change allegiances. They may adopt institutions, alliances, and cultural references that their ancestors did not have a century or two ago, come from a country that. An experiment in that these experiments may change. You know, things may change, but I do not think anytime soon Greece will join some Eastern or whatever alliance. So to the extent that what anyone can predict, the attractiveness of the West is exactly this combination of, and an entity. As we keep saying, it should be criticized and improved. So it is not abolishing the West that I would recommend, it is improving the West and making the West live up to more of its aspirations and principles.Show Links:Recommended Resources:John Stuart MillAuguste ComteOttoman EmpirePeter the GreatCatherine the GreatGeorg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelAhmed RızaOliver GoldsmithJean-Jacques RousseauGermaine de StaëlThomas MannFrancis LieberDonald TrumpSteve BannonOswald SpenglerWestern CivilizationWalter LippmannW. E. B. Du BoisRichard WrightFrancis FukuyamaGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Queen Mary University of LondonLinkedIn ProfileGuest Work:Amazon Author PageThe West: The History of an IdeaLiberty Abroad: J. S. Mill on International RelationsMill on NationalityVictorian Political Thought on France and the FrenchPhilPapers.org Profile Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

He is mentioned in Acts 17:19-34. He was a learned Athenian, a member of the Athenian court on Mars Hill (Areos Pagos in Greek, from which the title 'Areopagite' comes). At the time of Christ's crucifixion, he was studying in Egypt and saw the sky darkened there for three hours when Christ breathed His last. He later married and had several children. When St Paul preached in Athens, Dionysius was among the first to believe, and became either the first (according to some) Bishop of Athens, or the second, succeeding St Hierotheos (commemorated tomorrow, October 4). With St Hierotheos he was present at the Dormition of the Mother of God. He received a martyr's end in his old age, possibly in Athens. Several famous works of mystical theology, including On the Divine Names, are attributed to him.

The Sicilian Expedition stands as one of history's most infamous military disasters—a bold gamble that crippled Athenian power and ultimately sealed their fate in the Peloponnesian War. But what drove Athens to stake everything on this distant campaign?When Segesta, a small Sicilian city, came seeking help against their rivals, Athens faced a pivotal choice. Though initially cautious, requesting proof of Segesta's resources and sending scouts to assess the situation, the Athenian assembly's deliberations quickly spiraled beyond simple alliance politics. The real drama unfolded in the clash between two visions of Athens' future: Nicias, the cautious veteran, warning against imperial overreach, and Alcibiades, the brilliant young aristocrat, painting visions of easy conquest and unlimited wealth.What makes this moment so compelling is how Nicias' attempt to discourage the expedition by demanding excessive resources spectacularly backfired. Rather than deterring the assembly, his warnings only inflamed their ambition. The expedition ballooned from 60 ships to an unprecedented armada of 130 triremes and 5,000 hoplites—transforming a limited intervention into an all-or-nothing gamble on conquest.Thucydides frames this decision as inevitable tragedy, the product of Athens' unchecked imperial appetite. Yet other ancient writers suggest the expedition wasn't doomed from inception—its failure stemmed from divided leadership, political sabotage, and cruel twists of fortune. This tension between deterministic failure and contingent possibility makes the Sicilian debate a perfect case study in how democracies make catastrophic military decisions despite warning signs.The expedition's planning reveals deeper truths about Athenian society: their confidence after dominating the Aegean, their hunger for new conquests after the brutal subjugation of Melos, and the factional politics that would soon tear apart their command structure when religious scandals erupted on the eve of departure.Listen as we explore this pivotal moment when Athens reached beyond its grasp—a decision still studied by military strategists today for its timeless lessons about ambition, overextension, and the dangers of democratic war-making. Support the show

Xenophon was a philosophy student, a Socratic thinker, and a pampered Athenian aristocrat who signed up for a mercenary road trip into Persia and accidentally became one of the greatest battlefield leaders in Greek history. When his army's generals were betrayed and slaughtered, Xenophon—who had never commanded a single soldier—rallied 10,000 stranded warriors and led them on a 4,000-mile retreat through enemy territory, across deserts, mountains, and hostile kingdoms, surviving ambushes, starvation, and snowblindness. This is the story of how a student of Socrates marched his way into legend—and inspired everyone from Alexander the Great to the creators of cult classic movie The Warriors.  Can you dig it?!

Send us a textWe tend to think of the Athenians as philosophers, architects, and mathematicians. But their highest devotion was rather to sports and to music. These priorities are evident from their system of education, in which young Greek men were trained to compete in the Olympics as well as to sing and dance in the chorus. They were jocks. Think of the tragic playwright Aeschylus, who despite his literary accomplishments was remembered in his epitaph merely as a warrior at the Battle of Marathon. A man's man. So when Socrates and the sophists came around, the defenders of old-style musical and athletic education scoffed at the sickly, ugly, and weak men that philosophical and rhetorical training produced: in other words, a bunch of nerds. In this episode, Jonathan and Ryan discuss what the comic Athenian poet Aristophanes called ἡ ἀρχαία παιδεία, i.e. that old-time education of Athens.Henri-Irénée Marrou's A History of Education in Antiquity: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780299088149NH episode on Homeric education: https://newhumanists.buzzsprout.com/1791279/episodes/17406673-how-to-raise-an-achilles-episode-xciThucydides' The Peloponnesian War: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780684827902Aristophanes' Clouds: https://amzn.to/46GYaeKCato's De agri cultura: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Cato/De_Agricultura/A*.htmlPete Hegseth's and David Goodwin's Battle for the American Mind: https://amzn.to/4gHQEoxJacob Burckhardt's Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781617206047New Humanists episode on Alcuin and Charlemagne: https://newhumanists.buzzsprout.com/1791279/episodes/15992673-the-barren-contemplative-life-episode-lxxviiiHerodotus' Histories: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781400031146New Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/Links may have referral codes, which earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. We encourage you, when possible, to use Bookshop.org for your book purchases, an online bookstore which supports local bookstores.Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com ______Title: Tech Entrepreneur and Author's AI Prediction - The Last Book Written by a Human Interview  | A Conversation with Jeff Burningham | Redefining Society And Technology Podcast With Marco Ciappelli______Guest: Eli LopianFounder of Typemock Ltd | Author of AIcracy: Beyond Democracy | AI & Governance Thought LeaderOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elilopian/Book: https://aicracy.aiHost: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Advisor | Journalist | Writer | Podcast Host | #Technology #Cybersecurity #Society

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. In Plato: A Civic Life (Reaktion, 2025), Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now. Carol Atack teaches classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author and coauthor of two books, most recently Anachronism and Antiquity. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/a48266/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

In a time when the sun burned bright over the Aegean, a ragtag chorus of Greek city-states stood shoulder to shoulder against a vast Persian host. Our tale begins in the shadow of fear, as whispers of invasion echoed through Athens, Sparta, and the loyal yet divided Ionian cities. But from the depths of danger arose something rarer: unity. As the Persian lines stretched across the plains of Plataea, Greek leaders faced a crucible of doubt. Their strategy hinged on endurance, terrain, and the courage to trust one another beyond ancient rivalries. The Spartans brought steadiness; Athenian cunning added flexibility; remaining allies offered fierce hearts and hard-won experience. The clash was brutal and precise: hoplites locked shields, spears flashed, and the ground trembled with the march of fate. When the dust settled, the Persian army fractured. The victory was not just tactical; it carried the weight of collective dawns rising over Greek freedom. Plataea sent a clear message to the world: cooperation can turn the tide against overwhelming odds. The Persian threat receded, and with it, the whispers of empire over the Aegean began to waver. In the aftermath, heroes rose and wars shifted, but the spirit endured—an anthem of solidarity over faction, of courage over fear, of a shared homeland stronger than any single city. Plataea became a beacon: a reminder that even the mightiest force falls when united peoples choose to stand together.

In this episode of the Ascend the Great Books podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Father Justin Brophy, OP, delve into the second part of Plato's Apology, exploring Socrates' defense during his trial. They discuss the significance of Socrates' thoughts on death, virtue, and the role of philosophy in life. The conversation also touches on the influence of Saint Justin Martyr, the relationship between pagans and philosophy, and the concept of the daemon as a guiding force in Socrates' life. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and prior great books!Check out our COLLECTION of written guides on the great books.The episode emphasizes the importance of living a virtuous life and the challenges posed by political life, ultimately highlighting Socrates' role as a gadfly in Athenian society. Keywords: Plato, Socrates, Apology, philosophy, virtue, Justin Martyr, death, polis, daemon, gadfly, Socrates, philosophy, politics, virtue, democracy, Apology, death, unexamined life, hope, justiceFrom the guide: 30. What should we learn from the Apology overall?In Plato's Apology, Socrates delivers a profound defense against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, presenting himself as a divinely appointed gadfly to awaken Athens to wisdom and virtue, despite the city's resistance to his philosophical mission. He distinguishes his authentic philosophy, driven by a true eros for wisdom and obedience to the God, from sophistry and poetic inspiration, emphasizing that the unexamined life is not worth living. Facing a close guilty verdict and death sentence, Socrates refuses to grovel, asserting that a just man cannot be harmed by a worse one, as only unjust acts can scar the soul. He concludes with hope, urging the jury to trust that “a good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death, and that his affairs are not neglected by the gods,” leaving a legacy that challenges Athens and shapes Western civilization. The Apology thus portrays Socrates' trial as a defense of philosophy itself, highlighting its transformative power and inevitable tension with the democratic polis.

This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.Democracy wasn't just showing up and voting in Athens—it needed infrastructure, and that's where the Boule came in. This episode explores how 500 citizens, chosen at random, met daily to steer the Athenian state, draft proposals, and make democracy happen in real time. Sound impossible? It wasn't. And it's probably more sophisticated than you think.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part 22 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In our series finale, pastor and missionary to Peru, Nick Balcombe, teaches about the evangelist attitude all Christians should have.Mars Hill and the Unknown God.In Acts 17, Paul visits Mars Hill in Athens where he spots an altar to an "unknown god." Observing the Athenian desire to honor a god they don't know, Paul uses that very altar as a starting point for sharing about the one true God. By paying attention to the culture he was entering into, Paul was able to connect with the people he desired to reach and share the gospel in a more accessible way. By learning about the culture he was evangelizing, Paul demonstrated a deep love and care for the Athenians.Look, Listen, Love.Paul made himself aware of what was important to the Athenians and thereby showed his love for them. Christians should follow Paul's example in our own efforts to evangelize others. No matter who we are targeting with the gospel, Christians should try to understand who we are trying to reach. When we understand our audience, we can apply the gospel to their lives in an effective way and we can show them why it matters to them. The gospel is a message that everyone needs, and it is our job to help people see that need. By applying the three simple words: look, listen, and love, we become more effective evangelists. 

The aftermath of the Battle of Mantinea marks a critical turning point in the Peloponnesian War, as Sparta reasserts its dominance while Athens grapples with the moral contradictions of empire.With their decisive victory at Mantinea, the Spartans restore their reputation and secure their position as the preeminent land power in Greece. This revival allows them to reinstall oligarchic governments throughout the Peloponnese, temporarily bringing even democratic Argos under their influence. But when Sparta's attention shifts during a religious festival, Argos seizes the opportunity to overthrow its imposed oligarchy and restore democracy, demonstrating the fragility of forced political arrangements in the Greek world.Meanwhile, Athens finds itself paralyzed by competing political visions. Nicias advocates for moderation and recovery of territories in the north, while Alcibiades pushes for aggressive action against Sparta. This stalemate culminates in the final use of ostracism in Athenian history—a procedure that backfires spectacularly when both factions unite to exile the minor politician Hyperbolus instead of resolving their leadership struggle.The conquest of Melos in 416 BCE stands as perhaps the most morally complex episode of the war. When this small, neutral island refuses to submit to Athenian demands, negotiations produce what Thucydides immortalizes as the Melian Dialogue—a stark confrontation between power politics and ethical principles that continues to influence political thought today. "The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must" becomes Athens' uncompromising position as they reject appeals to justice, fairness, and divine intervention.The eventual fall of Melos and the brutal execution of its male citizens reveals the darker face of Athenian imperialism. What began as a defensive alliance against Persia has transformed into an empire maintained through fear rather than leadership. This episode of apparent success feeds a dangerous overconfidence in Athens that will soon lead them toward their greatest gamble and ultimate disaster—the Sicilian Expedition.Subscribe now to follow this epic journey through ancient Greek history and discover how the tensions between power, justice, and hubris continue to resonate in our world today. Support the show

This week, Jeff and Dave wrap up the third installment in their brief series on Plato's Apology. So what exactly is Socrates' daimon? Is it like conscience, sometimes accusing, sometimes excusing? Is it similar to what the apostle Paul describes in Romans 2.14-15? If so, how come Socrates' inner voice never motivates him toward action, but only seeks to drive him away from something? And, is Socrates really being honest when he says he is no threat to traditional Athenian religion, seeing how his definition of the divine is anything but Homeric, but rather consists in a newly strict ethical conception, wherein the gods must -- gasp -- behave at least as well as their worshippers? And finally, what's Dave got against Shawshank? Is there any way to redeem this episode? O Chalupa, just tune in to find out!

In this first of a multi-part series set in the 500s BC, we dive deep into the nuts and bolts of early Athenian democracy. Join us as we explore how Cleisthenes' radical reorganization of the people—from 4 tribes to 10, from clans to geography—laid the groundwork for a political system that still echoes today.This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“5:43. You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thyneighbour, and hate thy enemy.5:44. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hateyou: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:5:45. That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, whomaketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon thejust and the unjust.5:46. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have?do not even the publicans this?The publicans. . .These were the gatherers of the public taxes: a set ofmen, odious and “infamous among the Jews, for their extortions andinjustice.5:47. And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do notalso the heathens this?5:48. Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father isperfect.St Giles, an Athenian, fled to the south of France, where he lived as a hermit in a vast forest. Discovered by King Theodoric, he founded a renowned monastery and was so famous on account of his miracles that a great number of churches were dedicated to him. He died in the sixth century.

Aaaaaand we're back. Aristophanes, the comedian of ancient Athens, has a reputation for getting into hot water for his jibes about the demagogue Cleon (which landed him in hot water, legally) and his portrayal the philosopher Socrates (which, according to Plato, fatally damaged Socrates' image for a generation). But is this reputation deserved? This episode looks at the evidence for how much Aristophanes really influenced Athenian politics and discourse.Want to read the transcript? Click here. Don't forget to rate, review, and share us with your friends! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the speeches that became a byword for fierce attacks on political opponents. It was in the 4th century BC, in Athens, that Demosthenes delivered these speeches against the tyrant Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, when Philip appeared a growing threat to Athens and its allies and Demosthenes feared his fellow citizens were set on appeasement. In what became known as The Philippics, Demosthenes tried to persuade Athenians to act against Macedon before it was too late; eventually he succeeded in stirring them, even if the Macedonians later prevailed. For these speeches prompting resistance, Demosthenes became famous as one of the Athenian democracy's greatest freedom fighters. Later, in Rome, Cicero's attacks on Mark Antony were styled on Demosthenes and these too became known as Philippics. With Paul Cartledge A. G. Leventis Senior Research Fellow at Clare College, University of Cambridge Kathryn Tempest Reader in Latin Literature and Roman History at the University of Roehampton And Jon Hesk Reader in Greek and Classical Studies at the University of St Andrews Producer: Simon Tillotson Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the speeches that became a byword for fierce attacks on political opponents. It was in the 4th century BC, in Athens, that Demosthenes delivered these speeches against the tyrant Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, when Philip appeared a growing threat to Athens and its allies and Demosthenes feared his fellow citizens were set on appeasement. In what became known as The Philippics, Demosthenes tried to persuade Athenians to act against Macedon before it was too late; eventually he succeeded in stirring them, even if the Macedonians later prevailed. For these speeches prompting resistance, Demosthenes became famous as one of the Athenian democracy's greatest freedom fighters. Later, in Rome, Cicero's attacks on Mark Antony were styled on Demosthenes and these too became known as Philippics. With Paul Cartledge A. G. Leventis Senior Research Fellow at Clare College, University of Cambridge Kathryn Tempest Reader in Latin Literature and Roman History at the University of Roehampton And Jon Hesk Reader in Greek and Classical Studies at the University of St Andrews Producer: Simon TillotsonSpanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

A handful of videos on social media depict a recent gathering, reportedly in Georgia, where a group of people were gathered to chant “Atlanta” is “Atlantis.” Supposedly they were there to create an “energy vortex” in order to summon the spirit of Atlantis and reclaim the city for black people. What exactly is this supposed to mean?Atlanta was founded in 1837 as a railroad terminus originally named "Terminus,” because the city marked the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad. It was renamed "Marthasville" in 1843 and then changed to "Atlanta" in 1845. Some believe the city name is a shorthand for “Atlantica,” as in the Atlantic Ocean. Others believe the city was named after Atalanta, a mythologized heroin known for her speed and independence (the wild boar hunt and race against her suitors) which were qualities of the growing rail hub that is Atlanta. The mythical land and concept of Atlantis in some ways even predates Plato, though he is credited with its story. Writing in his Timaeus and Critias Plato derived the Atlantis story from Solon, an Athenian lawmaker who learned of the same from an elderly priest in the land of Egypt at the Temple of Sais. At the time, around 630-560 BC, the records were already at least 8,000 years old. Reportedly a global cataclysm destroyed Atlantis sometime between 9,600 to 11,600 years ago. Later on Francis Bacon termed his ideal city the New Atlantis or Platonopolis. The timeframe noted by Plato places the destruction within the window of the Younger Dryas, 12,900 to 11,700 years ago (10,900-9,7000 BC).It's one thing to be unaware of seemingly lost, drowned or buried history, but another to be so shockingly unaware of basic mythology and recent local history. It is understandable so many are disenfranchised by the lies and ego of mainline historical narratives, but the turn to Q-Anon, Flat Earth, Tataria, and World Fair conspiracies appears to be another layer of disinformation rather than the truth. The “Atlanta is Atlantis” video exemplifies a growing stupidity about human history. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

Friedrich Nietzsche is known as one of the most infamous critics of Christianity, but are there lessons Christians can learn from that critique? The faith is beginning to see a small but real revival in the West, but most seekers are looking for a more robust and demanding version than is currently offered in our modern world. Athenian Stranger joins me to discuss how a better understanding of Nietzsche's work can actually help Christian combat nihilism. Follow on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-auron-macintyre-show/id1657770114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S6z4LBs8Fi7COupy7YYuM?si=4d9662cb34d148af Substack: https://auronmacintyre.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuronMacintyre Gab: https://gab.com/AuronMacIntyre YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/AuronMacIntyre Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-390155 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@AuronMacIntyre:f Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auronmacintyre/ Today's sponsors: Visit: https://crockettcoffee.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The battlefield at Mantinea in 418 BC witnessed one of the most consequential clashes of the Peloponnesian War, a moment when Sparta's reputation hung in the balance. Following years of diplomatic erosion and military hesitation, King Agis led a massive Spartan force north to confront a growing coalition threatening to unravel Sparta's entire alliance system.What unfolded on that plain near Tegea wasn't merely a battle of spears and shields, but a collision of political visions for Greece. Alcibiades' ambitious strategy of isolating Sparta through diplomatic maneuvering had gained dangerous momentum. Even Tegea, Sparta's original partner in founding the Peloponnesian League, was considering changing allegiance. For Sparta, defeat would mean watching their carefully constructed hegemony crumble; victory might restore the respect their recent failures had squandered.The battle itself reveals fascinating insights into ancient warfare and leadership. As the armies advanced toward each other—Spartans moving deliberately to flute music, Argives charging with fury—King Agis attempted a complex battlefield maneuver that nearly spelled disaster. The gap that opened in the Spartan line was exploited by elite Argive troops, while some Spartan commanders refused to execute orders they deemed too risky. This moment of crisis tested not just Spartan discipline but the very nature of battlefield command.Ultimately, Sparta's victory transformed the political landscape. Argos was forced back into the Peloponnesian League, with Spartan garrisons installed and democratic institutions replaced by oligarchy. Athens saw its strategic opportunities in the Peloponnese vanish. Yet despite its immediate significance, Mantinea didn't fundamentally alter the war's trajectory—the stalemate between Athenian naval power and Spartan land dominance persisted for another decade. What the battle truly represents is Sparta's remarkable capacity to recover from adversity when its traditions and position were most threatened. Listen as we explore this pivotal moment when the fate of Greece hung in the balance. Support the show

KNOW THYSELF. Today, we have the second part of the excellent conversation on First Alcibiades with Dcn. Garlick, Alec Bianco, and Athenian Stranger. The conversation starts at 124(b)!First Alcibiades is one of the BEST PLACES you could start with Plato. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and more!Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to First Alcibiades.From the guide:14. What does Socrates teach Alcibiades about the body (129b)?Plato teaches that the body is subordinate to the soul, viewing it as a possession rather than the essence of man. If one is to “know thyself” then one must know what the “self” is. Dcn. Garlick contrasts this with the Christian tradition's composite view of man as body and soul, influenced by Aristotle and Aquinas, yet argues Plato's stance merits seriously consideration. Dcn. Garlick argues that Plato seems to intuit the Christian teaching of man in his glorified state. For example, in the Christian tradition, there is never a time you are just a body—but there will be a time you are just a soul (after death and before the general resurrection). Moreover, even after you are united with your body for all eternity in heaven, the body, in Catholic thought, does not mediate the glory of God to the soul; rather, the soul receives God directly—not only does glorified man not use a body to know God but his body would be a hinderance, as he would then hold in his soul his thought of God and not God himself. In contrast, Aristotle seems right that our knowledge in this life comes through our senses, but this is not true in heaven—the latter is much more Platonic.As such, though Plato does not see man as essentially soul and body, his philosophical insights into who man is and why he is a soul should be taken seriously by any Christian who wants to understand his or her own tradition better. Alec stresses that Socrates downplaying the body here also has a pedagogical purpose in humbling Alcibiades' pride, which is very much rooted in his body and appearance. Athenian Stranger comments that First Alcibiades is the first discovering of “the self,” the soul; and, moreover, that an antecedent to this discovery is seen in Odysseus speaking to his own thumos in the Odyssey. Moreover, Athenian Stranger offers the trenchant observation that while a person may never be a body without a soul, that is how many people live—a life dedicated to the lower appetites, the pleasure of the body.15. What is the mirror of the soul (132d)?The eyes of lover are a mirror for the soul. The idea that we must look into the eyes of one who loves us to see ourselves is presented by Socrates as a profound method for self-knowledge. Dcn. Garlick explains: “if the body is going to know itself, what do you do? Well, I look into a mirror… clearly what we need then is a mirror to our soul… the first… mirror of the soul is the eyes of the lover, the one who loves you.” As Dcn. Garlick suggests, the dynamic goes beyond that of student-teacher and extends to other relations, like husband-wife and parent-child. Another profound aspect of this Platonic teacher is that it makes the pursuit of virtue, wisdom, and the good life a communal one. It is a stark contrast from Descartes' solitary introspection. We are social creatures—even in our pursuit of wisdom and ultimately of the divine.Athenian Stranger comments on the role of eros in philosophy and how it works on two planes: the eros between lovers, and...

In ancient Athens, citizens would gather at the Agora, or marketplace, for a specific purpose: to vote people off the island – er, out of the city. 

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: From Rivalry to Unity: A Pottery Tale in Ancient Athens Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-08-11-22-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A tűző nap már reggel is melegen sütötte az utcákat Athénban.En: The scorching sun was already warmly heating the streets of Athén in the morning.Hu: A piacon minden élénk volt, mintha maga az élet Práxitelész kézzel festett vázái közül lépett volna ki.En: The market was lively, as if life itself had stepped out of the hand-painted vases of Práxitelész.Hu: Bence, fiatal fazekas, áhítattal nézte a különböző színek kavalkádját, amint az árusok hangosan kínálták portékáikat.En: Bence, a young potter, watched the kaleidoscope of colors with reverence as the vendors loudly offered their wares.Hu: A zsibongás közepette Bence valami különlegeset keresett: egy amforát, amely megihletné őt.En: Amidst the hustle and bustle, Bence was searching for something special: an amphora to inspire him.Hu: Bence mentorának, Istvánnak akart bizonyítani.En: Bence wanted to prove himself to his mentor, István.Hu: Egyedi formát, klasszikus görög stílust szeretett volna megalkotni, ami lenyűgözi a mestert.En: He wished to create a unique form, a classic Greek style that would impress the master.Hu: Ahogy egyre mélyebben merült a piac forgatagába, megpillantott egy különleges amforát.En: As he delved deeper into the whirlwind of the market, he spotted a remarkable amphora.Hu: A díszítése sejtelmes történeteket mesélt az ókorról.En: Its decorations told mysterious stories of ancient times.Hu: Bence szíve gyorsabban vert.En: Bence's heart beat faster.Hu: Ez volt az, amit keresett.En: This was what he had been looking for.Hu: Azonban nem volt egyedül.En: However, he was not alone.Hu: Zsófia, egy másik fiatal művész, akit jól ismert, szintén ott állt.En: Zsófia, another young artist whom he knew well, was also there.Hu: Mindketten vágytak az amforára.En: They both desired the amphora.Hu: Az edény iránti érdeklődésük hamar versengésbe fordult.En: Their interest in the vessel quickly turned into a rivalry.Hu: Az árus mosolyogva nézte, ahogy Bence és Zsófia egymásra licitáltak.En: The vendor smiled as Bence and Zsófia bid against each other.Hu: Az ár egyre magasabbra szökött, a két fiatal minden energiáját összeszedve küzdött a kincsért.En: The price kept rising, with the two young people mustering all their energy in their struggle for the treasure.Hu: Bence zihálva próbált megnyugodni.En: Panting, Bence tried to calm down.Hu: Felmerült benne a kérdés: mi lenne, ha inkább együttműködne Zsófiával?En: A question arose in his mind: what if he worked together with Zsófia instead?Hu: Hiszen közös céljuk volt: tanulni és fejlődni.En: After all, they had a common goal: to learn and grow.Hu: Mély levegőt vett, és Zsófiához fordult.En: He took a deep breath and turned to Zsófia.Hu: "Mi lenne, ha közösen vennénk meg?En: "What if we bought it together?Hu: Megoszthatnánk az inspirációt és a költségeket.En: We could share the inspiration and the cost."Hu: "Zsófia meglepetten nézett, aztán elmosolyodott.En: Zsófia looked surprised, then smiled.Hu: "Ez remek ötlet, Bence!En: "That's a brilliant idea, Bence!Hu: Együtt többre megyünk.En: Together, we can achieve more."Hu: " Az árus beleegyezően bólintott, boldog volt, hogy sikerült eladnia a különleges darabot.En: The vendor nodded in agreement, happy to have sold the special piece.Hu: Kéz a kézben néztek körül a piacon, új ötleteket gyűjtve, és megbeszélték, hogyan használják fel majd a megvásárolt amforát.En: Hand in hand, they looked around the market, gathering new ideas and discussing how they would use the purchased amphora.Hu: Bence lelkében béke volt.En: Bence felt peace in his soul.Hu: Megtanulta, hogy a közös munka néha kifizetődőbb, és a versengés helyett a barátság is szép műalkotásokat hozhat létre.En: He learned that sometimes collaboration is more rewarding, and friendship can create beautiful artworks instead of competition.Hu: Az ősi athéni piacon a nap lassan leereszkedett, és borostyán színnel aranyozta be a várost.En: In the ancient Athenian market, the sun slowly descended, gilding the city with an amber hue. Vocabulary Words:scorching: tűzőlively: élénkkaleidoscope: kavalkádvendors: árusokhustle: zsibongásbustle: forgatagamphora: amforainspire: meghletmentor: mentorprove: bizonyítanidive: merültremarkable: különlegesdecorations: díszítésemysterious: sejtelmesstories: történetekrivalry: versengésvendors: áruspanting: zihálvacalm: megnyugodnicooperation: együttműködnegoal: célachieve: elérpeace: békecollaboration: közös munkarewarding: kifizetődőbbcreate: létrehozcompetition: versengésfriendship: barátságancient: ősidescending: leereszkedett

In this bonus episode, Dr. Christian Körner takes us into the world of Iron Age Cyprus and its city-kingdoms, exploring the foundation myths that shaped their identities. With legendary figures like Pygmalion, who fashioned a statue that came to life; Myrrha, the tragic mother of Adonis; and Teucer, the exiled half-brother of Ajax who is said to have founded Salamis. Other examples include Acamas, son of Theseus, who was linked to the founding of Soli; Agapenor, the Arcadian king who settled in Paphos after the Trojan War; and Kinyras, the mythical king of Cyprus associated with Aphrodite's cult and with musical and priestly traditions that echo Greek heroic ideals. Körner explains how these myths should be seen as intentional histories, crafted to serve political, cultural, or even propagandistic purposes at the time they were written down. While many stories link Cypriot origins to Athenian or Homeric heroes, others, like those of Amathus and Paphos, emphasize local roots. He also highlights how these myths often aimed to explain place names, assert legitimacy, or reinforce alliances—effectively serving as ancient “branding campaigns” for the cities, reinforcing cultural ties while also asserting the island's unique local identity.

Move aside Sparta, there's a new power in town!'Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy' by John R. Hale is a historical book that recounts the period from 483-322 BC of Ancient Greece and in particular the navy armada of Athens. We witness the rise and fall of Athenian power via not only sea battles with other empires but the decisions made by it's democratic governments as well as influential politicians, generals, philosophers & artists. If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:48) Themes/Questions(00:19:29) Author & Extras(00:25:12) Summary(00:27:33) Value 4 Value(00:28:58) Coming Up/Join Live! Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

PLATO IS PHILOSOPHY - and there is no better place to start with Plato than First Alcibiades. Today, we are discussing First Alcibiades with Alec Bianco of the Circe Institute and with the Athenian Stranger. Go check out their X accounts. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule.Check out our PATREON for written guides on the great books!We also have a NEW COMMUNITY CHAT on Plato to discuss with other people reading along.First Alcibiades is both the beginning and a summation of Platonic philosophy. The dialogue “held pride of place in later antiquity as the ideal work with which to begin the study of Platonic philosophy.”[1] Its traditional subtitle was "on the nature of man,” and it was said First Alcibiades “contains the whole philosophy of Plato, as in a seed.”[2] The Islamic commentator, Al-Farabi, said that in First Alcibiades “all the Platonic questions are raised as if for the first time.”At the heart of the dialogue is the maxim “know thyself,” which is in turn at the heart of the philosophic life. Plato uses a dialogue between a young Alcibiades, age twenty, and an older Socrates, age forty, to explore the Delphic maxim within the context of a teacher and student.[3] The relationship of the teacher as a lover of the soul of the student gave rise to the term "Platonic love," an intense, but non-sexual love in pursuit of excellence.[4]The dramatic date of the dialogue is approximately 433 BC.[5] The composition date is a complicated question. First Alcibiades is considered by many to be a spurious dialogue or rather a dialogue written later by Platonists and not Plato. The dialogue sometimes has an earlier date around 390s BC and a later date in the 350s BC.[6] Some also hold the dialogue is a composite text with some being written by Plato and some being written by a later Platonist.It should be noted, however, that antiquity held that the dialogue was written by Plato, and the idea that it was not originated recently in nineteenth century German scholarship.[7] For our purposes, we will side with antiquity and default to Plato as the authentic author.CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO FIRST ALCIBIADES.CHECK OUT OUR COMMUNITY CHAT ON PLATO.Keywords: Plato, First Alcibiades, Socratic Method, Philosophy, Education, Rhetoric, Classical Education, Moral Formation, Athenian...

It's the original psychological thriller, a 2,500-year-old detective story where the hero, in a desperate search for a killer, discovers the criminal is himself. It's Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, and it's one of the most powerful plays ever written. In this episode of English Plus, we unpack the ultimate tragedy: We walk through the suspenseful, masterfully crafted plot. We tackle the big philosophical question: Is our life governed by fate or by free will? We explore key literary concepts like dramatic irony, hubris, and catharsis. We ask why this ancient story of a doomed king still has the power to shock and fascinate us today. This episode is also your guide to more powerful English. We break down 10 essential, advanced vocabulary words and concepts like "paradox," "existential," and "a cautionary tale." Plus, you'll get a practical speaking lesson on the art of "concession" to make your arguments more persuasive. Join us for a deep dive into a cornerstone of literature. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don't forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!

Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus' promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, we see God's heart for all people, even the "upper class". Paul preaches the gospel to the polytheistic, Athenian rulers, and his resurrection from the dead.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are continuing our study of Plato by diving into the Life of Alcibiades by Plutarch with Alex from the Cost of Glory podcast.Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more resources!Visit our PATREON page for written guides and to chat with others!Alex is fantastic. Alex and Dcn. Garlick discuss a few preliminaries on why you should read about Alcibiades before studying Plato and why you should read Plutarch in general.If you are not familiar with the life of Alcibiades, you are in for a treat. This man is a real-life Odysseus with all the twists and turns and unbelievable plots to merit that title. Alex will help us navigate Alcibiades' life and pull out some important lessons, like the inherent dangers of democracy.Also, THANK YOU for such a successful launch into Plato. We really appreciate it. Go check out our Patreon page for written guides on the great books AND a new community chat for all those who are reading Plato with us.So join us as we prepare for our Platonic studies by examining the life of Alcibiades by Plutarch.KeywordsAlcibiades, Plutarch, Socrates, Classics, Ancient Greece, Democracy, Philosophy, Cost of Glory, Antigone Journal, Human Nature, Alcibiades, Plutarch, Athenian politics, democracy, betrayal, piety, Spartan war, Socrates, ancient history, political strategy#Plato #greatbooks #philosophy #christian #catholic #classics #ancientgreece #Socrates

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Shakespeare's tragedy about a wealthy Athenian who thinks money can buy him friends. Translated into modern English verse by Kenneth Cavander and directed by Andy Wolk, with original music composition by Lawrence Shragge and Sound Design by Lindsay Jones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices