Podcast appearances and mentions of david sedley

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Plato's Crito and Phaedo, his accounts of the last days of Socrates in prison in 399 BC as he waited to be executed by drinking hemlock. Both works show Socrates preparing to die in the way he had lived: doing philosophy. In the Crito, Plato shows Socrates arguing that he is duty bound not to escape from prison even though a bribe would open the door, while in the Phaedo his argument is for the immortality of the soul which, at the point of death, might leave uncorrupted from the 'prison' of his body, the one escape that truly mattered to Socrates. His example in his last days has proved an inspiration to thinkers over the centuries and in no small way has helped ensure the strength of his reputation.WithAngie Hobbs Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of SheffieldFiona Leigh Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at University College LondonAnd James Warren Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Corpus Christi College, CambridgeProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:David Ebrey, Plato's Phaedo: Forms, Death and the Philosophical Life (Cambridge University Press, 2023)Dorothea Frede, ‘The Final Proof of the Immortality of the Soul in Plato's Phaedo 102a-107a' (Phronesis 23, 1978)W. K. C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, vol. 4, Plato: The Man and his Dialogues, Earlier Period (Cambridge University Press, 2008) Verity Harte, ‘Conflicting Values in Plato's Crito' (Archiv. für Geschichte der Philosophie 81, 1999)Angie Hobbs, Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury, forthcoming 2025), especially chapter 5 Rachana Kamtekar (ed.), Plato's Euthyphro, Apology and Crito: Critical Essays (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004)Richard Kraut, Socrates and the State (Princeton University Press, 1984)Melissa Lane, ‘Argument and Agreement in Plato's Crito' (History of Political Thought 19, 1998) Plato (trans. Chris Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy), Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo and Phaedrus (Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 2017)Plato (trans. G. M. A. Grube and John Cooper), The Trial and Death of Socrates: Euthyphro Apology, Crito, Phaedo (Hackett, 2001) Plato (trans. Christopher Rowe), The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo (Penguin, 2010)Donald R. Robinson (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Socrates (Cambridge University Press, 2011)David Sedley and Alex Long (eds.), Plato: Meno and Phaedo (Cambridge University Press, 2010)James Warren, ‘Forms of Agreement in Plato's Crito' (Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Volume 123, Issue 1, April 2023)Robin Waterfield, Why Socrates Died: Dispelling the Myths (Faber and Faber, 2010)In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production

Blessing of Peace: This class is about the final blessing of the Amida, the blessing of peace.Why are there two forms of this blessing, “Sim Shalom” and “Shalom Rav”?Why does it follow Birkat Cohanim?Why is this the last blessing?Why do we say “peace on us” even when praying alone?For the original course page please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Birkat Cohanim part 2: This is the second shiur on Birkat Cohanim. In it, I address:How do the Cohanim give the blessing?Why do Levi'im wash the hands of the Cohanim?What does the Shaliach Tzibbur do?What does the congregation do?How sure does he have to be that he is a Cohen?Can non-Cohanim give the blessing?When do we recite the Priestly Blessing — daily? On festivals?Other uses of the Priestly BlessingFor the original course page please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Birkat Cohanim part 1: This is the first of a two-part shiur on the Priestly Blessing, Birkat Cohanim. In it, we look at: The importance of Birkat Cohanim The verses relating to the Priestly Blessing The reason this blessing comes between thanksgiving and peace Who is blessed in this blessing How should the cohanim conduct themselves while giving the blessing For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Al Hanisim: In a pre-Chanukah special, this class will look at the Al Hanisim prayer, added on Chanukah and Purim (but we will focus on the Chanukah one this time and leave the Purim one for a few months) Who was “the Hasmonean”? How did the Greeks make the Jews “forget Your Torah”? I understand why it is miraculous to deliver the strong into the hand of the week, and the numerous into the hands of the few, but why does purity, righteous or diligent students affect success in war? Why does the prayer not mention that the menorah burned for eight days? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Hoda'ah (Thanksgiving)-In this class we will look at the 18th blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amida). We will answer some of these questions: What is the connection between sacrifice and thanksgiving? What does “Modim” mean? Why do we bow during Modim? Why does the congregation recite something different only for this blessing? Why is that called Modim d'Rabbanan? Why do we thank God for being able to thank God? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Tefillah and Avoda-In this class we will look at the 16th and 17th blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amida). I investigate the relationship between prayer and sacrifices and also answer the following questions (and more) Why do we need a prayer about prayer? Isn't it redundant? Did they pray for the sacrifices when the Temple stood? Did they pray when the Temple stood? Why do we end the prayer “Return the Shechina to Zion” if the Divine Presence never left the Western Wall? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Jerusalem/Mashiach-n this class we will look at the 14th and 15th blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amida). I answer these questions and more: Both blessings refer to Mashiach. Why are they two separate berachot? Why were the Men of the Great Assembly praying for Jerusalem if they had just returned to Jerusalem? Are we supposed to act on this prayer and rebuild Jerusalem ourselves? Who is the Messiah? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Tzadikim (‘the righteous')-Some of the questions we will consider as we learn about the 13th blessing of the Amida (Shemoneh Esrei): What is the difference between the pious, the elders and the remnant of the scholars? Why are converts explicitly mentioned – are they not included in the other categories of righteous? If we are praying for the righteous, why do we include ourselves? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Against Heretics: In this class the blessing which begins Velamalshinim… Some of the questions I'll attempt to answer: * Why was there a need for this extra blessing?* Who was Shmuel Hakatan and why was he the only one who could write this text?* When we say this prayer nowadays, who are we talking about? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Ingathering and Justice: In this class we cover the next two blessings of the Amida — ingathering of the exiles and establishing courts and justice We attempt to answer these and other questions: * If the prayers were established by the Men of the Great Assembly at the beginning of the Second Temple period, why did they ask for ingathering of exiles?* We already asked for redemption in an earlier blessing. Why do we repeat it?* Why do we ask for God to rule over us alone? Do we not want a king or mashiach?* If we want God to rule over us, why do we need judges?* Why does the prayer say, “Remove sorrow and sighing from us”? For the original course page please visit ⁠⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Prosperity: In this class we discuss the following issues:* Why our prayers for rain are based on the agricultural cycle of ancient Iraq.* How we ended up with December 5th outside Israel.* What do people in the southern hemisphere do?* Why do people in Israel still wait two weeks, when there are no longer thousands of people who have to return on foot to Babylon after visiting the Temple for the festival?* And what should we do it we do not need rain from December 5 until Pesach? For the original course page please visit ⁠https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Refuah: This class is about the blessing of healing, in the Shemoneh Esrei (Amida). In it, I attempt to answer some of the following questions: * If it is God's will that someone should be ill, why pray for God to heal them?* Is this prayer for everyone, for myself or for specific people?* Why do we mention the mother's name when praying for the sick?* How sick must someone be before we should pray for them?* Should we pray for someone on their deathbed to recover? What if they signed a DNR?* If we believe that prayer is effective, is there any need to go to a doctor?* If prayer is effective, why did the Talmud give cures for certain diseases? For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Geulah: In this episode the prayer for redemption is not for the ultimate messianic redemption — because we pray for that later in the amida. Rather it is for personal redemption and national redemption while in exile. In this class we look at some examples of suffering and redemption from suffering, to gain a deeper understanding of the blessing of redemption — geulah For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Selichah: In this episode the sixth blessing of the Amida is for atonement. We ask “Selach Lanu” — forgive us our Father. In this class I ask the following questions, and answer some of them: Why do we switch between “Our Father” and “Our King”? What is the difference between “sinned” and “transgressed”? Repentance on Yom Kippur takes a whole month and an entire day. How can we sincerely ask for repentance three times a day?Why do we recite this prayer even in maariv immediately after Yom Kippur? Why is it in the plural? How can I atone for someone else's sins? For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Teshuvah: In this episode the fifth blessing is for repentance. However, the blessing raises several deep theological questions.In this class, we will attempt to answer some of the following questions: Why does the blessing say “cause us to return” to the Torah, rather than “come to the Torah”? Why does it say “bring us near” and not bring us all the way? And most fundamentally, Repentance is up to us, not God. Doesn't this entire blessing contradict the concept of free will? For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Da'at: In this episode we move from sacred to profane (in the words of Rav Kook, based on the Talmud), from kedusha to chol. We look at the importance of knowledge to distinguish between holy and profane, between Shabbat and weekday. The Talmud connects knowledge to the creation of fire (reminiscent of Prometheus, the fire-giver who's name means “forethought.”) Knowledge means morality, knowing right from wrong. And it leads to the ultimate knowledge of Gd. For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Kedushat ha-Shem: In this episode when reciting the kedusha prayer, should we look upwards or downwards? Eyes open or closed? Where is G-d's “place”? And what is holiness anyway? For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Gevurot: In this episode the second blessing describes God as God of nature and the One who resurrects the dead. In this class we look at the relationship between rain (nature) and resurrection. And consider whether the prime focus of this prayer was initially against the belief of the Sadducees. For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

 Avot: In this episode focuses on Avot, the first blessing of the Amida. We look at why we begin with the patriarchs, how they received blessings from God, and how each of them perceived God in his own way. For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Why do we stand for the Amida? What is the order of the 18 blessings? In this episode Why do we stand for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer (which is called “Amida” — standing prayer)? When do we bow? How do we bow? For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

Introduction to Jewish prayer and shemoneh esrei: In this episode we look at the origins of set prayer and the history and evolution of the text of the Amida, or Shemoneh Esrei. We trace the history of a set text from the Men of the Great Assembly to Rabban Gamliel and Yavneh, and look at sources that state there were 17, 18 or 19 blessings in the Amida. For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-shemoneh-esrei-in-depth/

The Amida prayer for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are very different from the regular weekday or Shabbat prayer during the year. Join Rabbi David Sedley as he explores important highlights from each, including the congregation's participation in the Chazan's repetition. For the original course page please visit https://webyeshiva.org/course/the-high-holiday-amida/

When we say Hallel on a regular morning during shacharit, it's always completed as a unit from start to finish. Join Rabbi David Sedley and discover why on Seder night it starts in one place, is paused, and completed later. Access our full pre-Pesach Seder 2024 special program schedule HERE.

Why are numbers and counting so prominent during the Pesach Seder? Some customs even sing a song at the end of the night counting elements of our tradition. Join ⁠Rabbi David Sedley⁠ as he explores the relationship between the Seder and numbers and how all this counting enhances the main mitzvah of telling the Pesach story. Access our full pre-Pesach Seder 2024 special program schedule ⁠HERE⁠.

Why are numbers and counting so prominent during the Pesach Seder? Some customs even sing a song at the end of the night counting elements of our tradition. Join Rabbi David Sedley as he explores the relationship between the Seder and numbers and how all this counting enhances the main mitzvah of telling the Pesach story. Access our full pre-Pesach Seder 2024 special program schedule HERE.

The popular view of an Epicurean is that of somebody who focuses on pleasure as our guiding principle, indulging in the finer things of life to achieve happiness. And yet what the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus understood by pleasure was far more nuanced. In fact, Epicurus and his followers advocated a simple lifestyle, withdrawn from society, where we are content with little. What is perhaps less known is how Epicurean writings on physics foreshadowed some of the most significant developments in early modern science – including Darwin's theory of evolution and even Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Joining Bridget Kendall is Catherine Wilson, visiting Professor at the Graduate Centre of the City University of New York, and the author of various works on Epicureanism, including How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well; Dr Sonya Wurster, Honorary Fellow at La Trobe University in Australia who's working on a book about the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus; and philosopher and historian David Sedley, Emeritus Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and the author of numerous publications on Greek and Roman thought. (Image: Bust of Epicurus. Photo: DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images)

Since this is the inaugural episode of Stoicism On Fire it would be natural for you the listener to wonder what this podcast is about. Obviously, it’s about Stoicism, but What is Stoicism on Fire? As the introduction states, this podcast is about Stoicism as a philosophical way of life, which includes a rational form of spirituality. That form of Stoicism has become known as traditional Stoicism in modern times. Ancient Stoicism: 300 BCE – 200 CE Many credible sources are available to explore the doctrines of Stoicism. Both of these trusted sources provide accurate explanations of Stoic doctrines and contrast that with modern or contemporary versions of Stoicism: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Stoicism Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Stoicism Neo-Stoicism: 16th and 17th centuries Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Neo-Stoicism Modern Stoicism Has its roots in Lawrence Becker’s book A New Stoicism in 1998 – an attempt to revive Stoicism in a secular form. Modern Stoicism Blog Traditional Stoicism Grew out of Erik Wiegardt’s creation of the New Stoa in 1996. Traditional Stoicism is an attempt to make sense of the ancient Stoic way of life in light of what we have learned about human nature and the cosmos over the last two thousand years while remaining true to the deeply religious nature of Stoicism. Traditional Stoicism Blog The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy at the LMU in Munich and at King's College London, takes listeners through the history of philosophy, "without any gaps." The series looks at the ideas, lives and historical context of the major philosophers as well as the lesser-known figures of the tradition. Lectures 60 through 68 address Stoicism; they can be found here: 60 – Walking on Eggshells: the Stoics on Logic 61 – Nobody’s Perfect: the Stoic on Knowledge 62 – We Didn’t Start the Fire: the Stoics on Nature 63 – Like a Rolling Stone: Stoic Ethics 64 – David Sedley on Stoicism 65 – Anger Management: Seneca 66 – You Can Chain My Leg: Epictetus 67 – The Philosopher King: Marcus Aurelius 68 – John Sellars on the Roman Stoics John Cooper John Cooper, of Princeton University, also provides a great one-hour long lecture on ‘The Stoic Way of Life’ as part of the 2011 John Locke lecture series produced by University of Oxford. Some key points of interest for traditional Stoics: @ 6:29 – The coherence of the Stoic philosophical system @ 6:48 – John Cooper argues: “In order to understand properly the Stoic way of life and its philosophical basis, we’re going to have to learn a great deal about their metaphysical and physical theory into which, as I have said, their ethical theory is set as the centerpiece of their whole philosophical system. @ 13:55 – The human relationship to the divine mind The full lecture can be found here: John Cooper Lecture A Box of my favorite things Kevin Patrick Jr wrote a blog post in November of 2015 that has remained quite relevant as the modern Stoic movement grows. He asks, How many of us have a box of our favorite things which we’ve haphazardly scrawled “STOICISM” across the side?  Inside this box of decades’, generations’ worth of baggage, is there much room leftover for the ideas of Epictetus? Kevin's post is worth reading; he blogs as Mountain Stoic and this post can be found here: A box of my favorite things, with “STOICISM” scrawled on the side Pierre Hadot Maybe more than any other modern philosopher, Pierre Hadot reintroduced moderns to the concept of philosophy as a way of life. His books emphasize the deeply spiritual nature of Stoicism. In his book on the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, he wrote in the conclusion: All the dogmas of Stoicism derive from this existential choice. It is impossible that the universe could produce human rationality, unless the latter were already in some way present within th...

The first of the 2015 Gray Lectures, given by Professor Malcolm Schofield on Tuesday 19 May 2015. Introduction by James Clackson; concluding remarks by David Sedley.

Godlikeness - a Valedictory Lecture by David Sedley, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy.

Angie Hobbs, David Sedley and James Warren join Melvyn Bragg to discuss Epicureanism, the system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus and founded in Athens in the fourth century BC. Epicurus outlined a comprehensive philosophical system based on the idea that everything in the Universe is constructed from two phenomena: atoms and void. At the centre of his philosophy is the idea that the goal of human life is pleasure, by which he meant not luxury but the avoidance of pain. His followers were suspicious of marriage and politics but placed great emphasis on friendship. Epicureanism became influential in the Roman world, particularly through Lucretius's great poem De Rerum Natura, which was rediscovered and widely admired in the Renaissance.With:Angie Hobbs Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of SheffieldDavid Sedley Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of CambridgeJames Warren Reader in Ancient Philosophy at the University of CambridgeProducer: Thomas Morris.

Angie Hobbs, David Sedley and James Warren join Melvyn Bragg to discuss Epicureanism, the system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus and founded in Athens in the fourth century BC. Epicurus outlined a comprehensive philosophical system based on the idea that everything in the Universe is constructed from two phenomena: atoms and void. At the centre of his philosophy is the idea that the goal of human life is pleasure, by which he meant not luxury but the avoidance of pain. His followers were suspicious of marriage and politics but placed great emphasis on friendship. Epicureanism became influential in the Roman world, particularly through Lucretius's great poem De Rerum Natura, which was rediscovered and widely admired in the Renaissance. With: Angie Hobbs Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield David Sedley Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge James Warren Reader in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge Producer: Thomas Morris.

David Sedley discusses the Stoic school and its evolution

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Greek philosopher Socrates, acknowledged as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Born in 469 BC into the golden age of the city of Athens, he has profoundly influenced philosophy ever since. In fact, his impact is so profound that all the thinkers who went before are simply known as pre-Socratic.In person Socrates was deliberately irritating, he was funny and he was rude; he didn't like democracy very much and spent quite a lot of time in shoe shops. He claimed he was on a mission from God to educate his fellow Athenians but has left us nothing in his own hand because he refused to write anything down. With Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Warwick University; David Sedley, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University; Paul Millett, Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Greek philosopher Socrates, acknowledged as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Born in 469 BC into the golden age of the city of Athens, he has profoundly influenced philosophy ever since. In fact, his impact is so profound that all the thinkers who went before are simply known as pre-Socratic.In person Socrates was deliberately irritating, he was funny and he was rude; he didn’t like democracy very much and spent quite a lot of time in shoe shops. He claimed he was on a mission from God to educate his fellow Athenians but has left us nothing in his own hand because he refused to write anything down. With Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Warwick University; David Sedley, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University; Paul Millett, Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Stoicism, the third great philosophy of the Ancient World. It was founded by Zeno in the fourth century BC and flourished in Greece and then in Rome. Its ideals of inner solitude, forbearance in adversity and the acceptance of fate won many brilliant adherents and made it the dominant philosophy across the whole of the Ancient World. The ex-slave Epictetus said "Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives them". Seneca, the politician, declared that "Life without the courage for death is slavery". The stoic thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher emperor, provided a rallying point for empire builders into the modern age.Stoicism influenced the Christian church, had a big effect on Shakespeare and Renaissance drama and may even have given the British their 'stiff upper lip', but it's a philosophy that was almost forgotten in the 20th century. Does it still have a legacy for us today?With Angie Hobbs, Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Warwick; Jonathan Rée, philosopher and historian; David Sedley, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Stoicism, the third great philosophy of the Ancient World. It was founded by Zeno in the fourth century BC and flourished in Greece and then in Rome. Its ideals of inner solitude, forbearance in adversity and the acceptance of fate won many brilliant adherents and made it the dominant philosophy across the whole of the Ancient World. The ex-slave Epictetus said "Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives them". Seneca, the politician, declared that "Life without the courage for death is slavery". The stoic thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher emperor, provided a rallying point for empire builders into the modern age.Stoicism influenced the Christian church, had a big effect on Shakespeare and Renaissance drama and may even have given the British their 'stiff upper lip', but it's a philosophy that was almost forgotten in the 20th century. Does it still have a legacy for us today?With Angie Hobbs, Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Warwick; Jonathan Rée, philosopher and historian; David Sedley, Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge.