Two Guys Searching For Truth On The Road That Never Ends...

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality - Dante Alighieri In our forth episode on the Stoics, we enter into the world of Marcus Aurelius. A name that many have undoubtedly heard of, but can sometimes be misunderstood or overlooked amidst a packed Roman Emperor pool. But Marcus was different. He was a rare breed of Philosopher-Emperor and someone who, in the face of constant change, uncertainty, and restraint found freedom, happiness, and peace. He documented his inner thoughts in a journal that would later be called his Meditations, which unlike many of the works we have looked at thus far, was not intended for publication. In it, he speaks of those he is grateful for, those who have taught him so much, and those who allowed him to be the person he was. Marcus also clearly spells out his version of Stoicism and builds on Seneca and Epictetus, as well as many others. He talks of our interconnectedness with the universe and the rational order of things. At length, he speaks of the temporary nature of fame and how little honor is in such a pursuit. He zooms in on everyday life, while also backing up and viewing ages, decades, centuries, and beyond all at once and tries to find the meaning of our existence and how to best live one's life. Lastly, we wrap up by contrasting his ideas with those of Plato's and Eastern Philosophy's Virtuous Ruler. From here, we will have a two-episode series on AI, robotics, and philosophy and then begin our way working towards Contemporary Philosophy. We thank you all for your input in the polls, we will keep this in mind as we plan our episodes. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Metaphysics is a dark ocean without shores or lighthouse, strewn with many a philosophic wreck - Immanuel Kant In this episode we begin discussing the first part, in a two part series, Plato's Symposium. The Symposium consists of a gathering of people, including Socrates in this instance, who took turns giving speeches devoted to the God of Love, Eros. Each person would go around giving their own take on what they believe love is and how that relates to the God of Love, with each similar, but importantly different from the speech before it. We discuss issues of love, sexuality, cultural influence on love, and even Socrates' practice of standing meditation. We will finish this discussion in the next episode and speak more to the piece as a whole. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence - Aristotle In this episode we continue our discussion the trial and death of Socrates. We pick up from the Apology of Socrates and discuss the Crito. Crito was a wealthy friend of Socrates who sought to help him escape from prison. This dialogue is a well-written exchange between the two over the moral implications of escaping and the role of the individual within the state. There is a brief discussion on whether or not the Crito is compatible with the Apology of Socrates and why more checks and balances were not argued for in the Republic. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening and we'll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Space and time are the framework within which the mind is constrained to construct its experience of reality - Immanuel Kant In this episode we begin discussing the trial and death of Socrates. It begins with the Euthyphro, which we have previously addressed, and then picks up with the Apology of Socrates. It is better understood as Socrates's legal defense to the two charges of impiety and corruption of the youth, rather than Socrates apologizing. We talk about some of the arguments put forward by Socrates, in response to the charges, as well as Socrates's view of himself and his role within society. Also, we briefly touch on the impact that the trial itself had on the observers, such as Plato, as well as the many generations of philosophers who came after Socrates. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening and we'll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity. - Baruch Spinoza In this episode we speak about Voltaire and specifically his satirical literary work "Candide," as a response to our previous episode on Leibniz. We start off with an overview of Candide, and from there we discuss themes of the work, its applicability in other areas we have discussed on the podcast, and also how Leibniz might respond to this critique. We also discuss some of the critiques of Candide, and whether or not those critiques hold up. Voltaire is an important figure, both in literature and philosophy, and he provides an interesting point of view and insight into the culture he lived in by the way he critiques Leibniz. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening and we'll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Happiness is not the reward of virtue, but is virtue itself; nor do we delight in happiness because we restrain from our lusts; but on the contrary, because we delight in it, therefore we are able to restrain them - Baruch Spinoza In this third episode of our Descartes series, we take a close look at his third meditation, and in this Meditation Descartes presents his cosmological, rational existence of God. This argument is of particular importance to Descartes and to his Meditations as he is presenting the answer to the previous two Meditations that caused so much doubt. Descartes argues that something cannot arise from nothing and that something less real cannot give rise to something more real. We also briefly touch on ontological arguments for the existence of God, which will be an upcoming episode, as Descartes's argument is a form of an ontological argument. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening and we'll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

In practical life we are compelled to follow what is most probable; in speculative thought we are compelled to follow truth - Baruch Spinoza In this second episode of our Descartes series, we take a close look at his second meditation, which builds off of, and tries to answer to, the first meditation. We pick the story back up where Descartes does not know anything for certain, and he begins seeking for something he can unequivocally know for sure. He then concludes that as a thinking being, his existence is necessary; in other words, to think, one must exist. Cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am. We also briefly touch on Simulation Theory and how Descartes inspired many works after him. We also lead into the next episode with a consideration of the existence of God, which will be discussed at length in Meditation Three. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you!

If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things - Rene Descartes In this first episode of our Descartes series, we take a close look at his first meditation. We also look at his dedicatory letter to the Sorbonne, as it provides both questions and insights into possible motives behind the meditations. We consider as Descartes uses his method of doubt to begin to question categories of things, including the senses, which deceive, whether or not we can know we are dreaming, and even basic foundational principles. We will discuss possible solutions to some of the problems he mentions here in future episodes, but his argument is compelling and gave rise to centuries of philosophers, skeptics, and thinkers who took the tools he gave them and constructed ideas we often see around us today. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you!

I think, therefore I am - Rene Descartes This is our fourth episode in a series of four taking a look at Plato's best-known work, The Republic. We discuss Book Two specifically in this episode, looking at the continued argument for justice, but with a specific focus on the state. Plato responds to the argument put forth in last episode by Glaucon and Adeimantus by drawing parallels between the state and the individual with regards to justice. In many ways, to Plato, the state was a representation of the individual, and it is by looking there, that we can more easily see justice - and more importantly, how to be just in an unhealthy state. We discuss the role of censorship, the division of labor, a standing army, and political metaphors that still apply to the present day. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you!

Man is the measure of all things - Protagoras This is our third episode in a series of four (we recently decided to make Book Two into two episodes) where we will be taking a look at Plato's best-known work, The Republic. We discuss Book Two specifically in this episode, looking at the continued argument for justice, beginning in Book One with Thrasymachus. We start off briefly by discussing the divided line, and knowledge, before moving into The Ring of Gyges - or the ring of invisibility. We discuss how that influences the just and unjust person, and whether or not the just or unjust is happier. We also talk about how this information is applicable in looking back, as well as looking forward. Always feel free to let us know what you think, or any episode requests. We would love to hear from you!