The Ancient Philosophy Podcast

On November 7, 2026, I gave this free lecture here on Substack. It was entitled “Why Plato Believed in Reincarnation.” I explained the intellectual commitments that led Plato to believe in reincarnation. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss inclusive care, a famous doctrine held by the Mohists, and its opposition to some major ideas in Confucianism. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss the basics of Cynicism, an ancient philosophical school or way of life. I provide an overview of the views and central figures, especially Antisthenes and Diogenes. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss Xenophanes, an early Greek philosopher, and his criticisms of traditional religious myths about the gods. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss the famous Pythagorean doctrine of the music of the heavenly spheres: what our source is for this doctrine, what the view is, and why Aristotle disagreed with it. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I consider whether Plato wrote an earlier version of his masterpiece, the Republic, which is sometimes called the Ideal City or the Proto-Republic. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I speak with Ermioni Prokopaki about Plato's Theaetetus. We discuss the central problem that animates the dialogue as well as how it fits into Plato's overall philosophy, but the largest part of our interview, just like the largest part of the Theaetetus, is concerned with whether knowledge is perception.  Host: Doug Campbell, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College. Interviewee: Ermioni Prokpaki, who completed her PhD in 2023 at the University of Chicago. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss and reflect on Marguerite Deslauriers’ article, "Sexual Difference in Aristotle’s Politics and His Biology," which was published in Classical World in 2009. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I speak with Justin Vlasits about Aristotle's criticisms of Plato's theory of Forms. We begin with a brief summary of Plato's theory of Forms for those who might benefit from an introduction to it. Host: Doug Campbell, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College. Interviewee: Justin Vlasits, an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Illinois, Chicago. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast. There is a YouTube channel available with video episodes. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase: An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1

In this episode, I discuss the basics of legalism, from ancient China, with particular attention paid to the Han Feizi. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College. You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube. I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com. You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy I also have a book available for purchase, An Introduction to the Ethics of Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ethics-Social-Media/dp/1647922356/ref=sr_1_1?nsdOptOutParam=true&sr=8-1