Oct 25

HoP 502 United States: the Dutch Republic

The period of political turmoil and experimentation in liberty that set the stage for philosophers including Grotius and Spinoza.

22m 56s

Oct 11

HoP 501 Mara van der Lugt on Bayle and Pessimism

An interview on the surprising comforts to be found in the philosophy of pessimism, focusing on Bayle but looking all the way forward to Schopenhauer.

33m 19s

Oct 9

HoP 500e Daniel Watson on Medieval Irish Philosophy

In the last of five episodes to celebrate reaching the episode 500 mark by looking at things he skipped in earlier series, Peter talks to Daniel Watson about philosophy in early medieval Ireland.

35m 12s

Sep 2023

Oedipus Rex and Poetics

On today's episode, Junius and Wesley discuss the timeless world of Greek tragedy! They explore the profound themes and dramatic elements of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Aristotle's Poetics. Gain insights into the complexities of fate, tragedy, and catharsis in these classical wo ... Show More

1h 11m

Aug 2025

Aristotle’s Art of Self-Persuasion: How to Use Ancient Rhetoric to Change Your Life

The ancient art of rhetoric has shaped political policies, influenced social movements, structured legal arguments, and molded cultural narratives throughout history. It's been used for three thousand years to persuade other people to change their lives.But what if you could use ... Show More

51m 42s

Nov 2023

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Aristotle's ideas on what happiness means and how to live a good life. Aristotle (384-322BC) explored these almost two and a half thousand years ago in what became known as his Nicomachean Ethics. His audience then were the elite in Athens as, he a ... Show More

52m 1s

Apr 2022

Rhetoric: How persuasive are you?

We talk about an art that started with ancient Greek philosophers

6m 18s

Sep 2020

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle

He gave us biology, physics and drama... but Greek philosopher Aristotle also thought deeply about how humans can flourish and live happy lives of virtue.Yale professor Tamar Gendler tells Dr Laurie Santos about Aristotle's wellbeing insights and how he recommended taking daily " ... Show More

28m 25s

May 2021

Simon Critchley, "Tragedy, the Greeks, and Us" (Vintage, 2020)

Simon Critchley's Tragedy, the Greeks, and Us (Vintage, 2020) does not offer a comprehensive theory of tragedy. Instead, it takes issue with the bland simplifications that philosophers have offered in place of a robust engagement with tragedies, plural. Critchley examines Nietzch ... Show More

54m 18s

HoP 049 - Stage Directions - Aristotle's...