This lecture discusses the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle' work, the Poetics, focusing on his discussion of Epic poetry, including what elements it shares with tragedy, what makes it good, and why Homer is the paradigm for excellent epic poetry
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Jan 15
Motive, Moral Discourse, and Conflict in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire
This is the recording of my presentation at the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association 2011 conference, applying Aristotelian moral theory to reading George R.R. Martin's series Song of Ice and Fire. In it, I argue that Martin articulates a essentially neo-Aristoteli ... Show More
20m 46s
Jan 14
David Hume, The Natural History Of Religion - Comparison Of Polytheism and Monotheism
This lecture discusses key ideas from the 18th century philosopher and essayist David Hume's essay The Natural History Of Religion. It focuses specifically on sections 9-15, where Hume brings his work to a close by comparing polytheism and monotheism, as he understands them, agai ... Show More
20m 49s
Jan 12
David Hume, The Natural History Of Religion - The Development Of Monotheism
This lecture discusses key ideas from the 18th century philosopher and essayist David Hume's essay The Natural History Of Religion. It focuses specifically on sections 6-8, where he discusses the development of monotheism (which he calls "theism") out of polytheism, attempting to ... Show More
10m 26s
Oct 15
A Comprehensive Guide to Stoicism (ft. Ryan Holiday)
What does it actually mean to live like a Stoic? In this wide-ranging conversation with bestselling author and modern Stoicism evangelist Ryan Holiday, we unpack the origins of Stoic philosophy, why it exploded during turbulent times in ancient Greece and Rome, and how its princi ... Show More
2h 59m
Sep 2025
Episode #236 ... Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
Today we talk about the collection of journals known as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. We mark the differences between Stoicism, modern Stoic ethics, and the journals of Marcus Aurelius. We talk about the divine logos, indifferents, and how metaphysical assumptions ladder up int ... Show More
34m 39s
Feb 2025
Dana Gioia: Why Poetry Matters | How I Write
Dana Gioia is a poet, former Chairman of the NEA, and one of America's most insightful writers on the craft of poetry and prose. This is the deepest conversation I've ever had about writing. Dana breaks down the writing process from his first drafts to revision, and shares practi ... Show More
3h 10m
Nov 2019
Episode 68, The Abigail Thorn Interview (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion)
<p class="">Abigail Thorn is an actor and educator, best known as the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2PA-AKmVpU6NKCGtZq_rKQ">Philosophy Tube</a>. Boasting around half a million subscribers, Abigail's channel is notoriou ... Show More
41m 59s