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Philosophy by the Book

by Connor Clerkin

Each week we read through, summarize, and explain a different text in Philosophy.

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Episodes

  1. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 9: Philosophy by the Book Episode 70

    The nature of friendship continued. What should we do if we become much more virtuous than our friends? What if one of our friends goes down a bad path? How many friends can we reasonably have? Can we be friends with ourselves? Should we care for ourselves more than we care for others?

  2. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 8: Philosophy by the Book Episode 69

    What is friendship? Are there different sorts of friendship? What sorts of people are attracted to each other? How does friendship relate to civic relationships? Can we be friends with those much better or worse than us?

  3. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 7: Philosophy by the Book Episode 68

    How can we resist our desires in order to act in accordance with reason? Are different sorts of desires different? Is avoiding a pleasure the same as resisting a pain?

  4. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 6: Philosophy by the Book episode 67

    What is wisdom? How does it help us in our day to day lives?

  5. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 5: Philosophy by the Book Episode 66

    What is Aristotle's conception of Justice? How should goods be distributed among people? What role does money play in the establishment of just states? How important is Justice? If we commit injustices are we unjust people?

  6. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 4: Philosophy by the Book Episode 65

    What is pride? What is liberality? Are their virtues associated with just hanging out with friends?

  7. Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics Book 3: Philosophy by the Book Episode 65

    What is courage? Are there things that seem like courage but which aren't courage? How can we determine what actions are truly voluntary?

  8. Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics Book 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 64

    How does one become excellent? Is one good because he does good things? Or does one do good things because he is good? Can someone do good but not be good?

  9. Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics Book 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 63

    What is the purpose of life and how can we achieve it? How is our current state of mind affected by our past actions? What is the nature of happiness?

  10. Mill's On Liberty Part 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 62

    To what extent can the state interfere justly with the actions of an individual? Why is individuality important in the first place?

  11. Mill's On Liberty Part 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 61

    Why is it important to allow others to voice their ideas? Is societal suppression of speech even worse than formal legal oppression? When can we be sure that our ideas are correct?

  12. Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Part 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 60

    Do miracles occur? Do animals use reason to learn? Where do we get our idea of necessary connections? Can we draw proof of God's existence from the world around us?

  13. Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding part 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 59

    Where do our ideas come from? Why study philosophy? What do we have a reasonable chance of being able to understand?

  14. Descartes' Meditations Part 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 58

    The physical world exists! How does the mind communicate with the body? How do we commit errors? Is free will real?

  15. Descartes' Meditations 1-3: Philosophy by the Book Episode 57

    Can we be sure of anything? Do we exist? Does God exist?

  16. Plato's Critias: Philosophy by the Book Episode 56

    The final episode on Plato, see previous episodes for his complete work. The unfinished story of Atlantis.

  17. Plato's Timaeus: Philosophy by the Book Episode 55

    How was the universe created? What is everything made of? Are the things we see real?

  18. Plato's Laws Book 12 (final): Philosophy by the Book Episode 54

    Who watches the watchmen? And who watches them? How do we protect our constitution once our city is set up? The end of Laws. facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  19. Plato's Laws Book 11: Philosophy by the Book Episode 53

    How are we to regulate property? What happens in the event of a citizens death? How are wills to be handled? In a state that values the military so much, how should we treat deserters? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  20. Plato's Laws Book 10: Philosophy by the Book Episode 52

    Does god exist? And if so, is he good? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  21. Plato's Laws Book 9: Philosophy by the Book Episode 51

    How should we legislate against crime? What sort of punishments are useful to a perfect society? Are we to focus on retribution or rehabilitation? And what's the goal of all these laws anyway? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  22. Plato's Laws Book 8: Philosophy by the Book Episode 50

    How often should our city celebrate festivals? What sort of relationships are to be encouraged among citizens? Are we going to allow foreigners to live in our city? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  23. Plato's Laws Book 7: Philosophy by the Book Episode 49

    How are children to be educated? Should they learn music? Literature? Should men and women be educated equally? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  24. Plato's Laws Book 6: Philosophy by the Book Episode 48

    How are officers to be appointed in an ideal state? Will slavery be instituted? How is marriage to be regulated? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  25. Plato's Laws Book 5: Philosophy by the Book Episode 47

    Now that we know how to frame a law, we start to actually lay some down. What should laws be established for? Who should institute them? Who should rule before rulers are chosen? How do we choose those rulers?

  26. Plato's Laws Book 4: Philosophy by the Book Episode 46

    How should laws be written? Should we accept foreigners into our ideal city? What would government be like if men were ruled by angels? Installment 4 in the Laws.

  27. Plato's Laws 3: Philosophy By The Book Episode 45

    What is the main goal of the statesman in his creation of laws? Which ancient state best represents monarchy and which democracy?

  28. Plato's Laws 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 44

    Did you know drinking parties are actually educational?

  29. Plato's Laws Book 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 43

    If the Republic cannot be followed, how are we to form our laws? What role does drinking have in the public good?

  30. Plato's Philebus Part 3: Philosophy by the Book Episode 42

    Which is closer to the good? Pleasure? Or Reason? facebook: http://facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  31. Plato's Philebus Part 2 Philosophy by the Book Episode 41

    What are the greatest pleasures? Is a life of knowledge or a life of pleasure the greatest good? Can a life without pain be also free of pleasure?

  32. Philebus Part 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 40

    What's better, pleasure or knowledge? Or maybe a mix of both? Are things in the world limited, or unlimited? Or maybe a mix of both? And what does this second set of questions have to do with the first.

  33. Statesman Part 2: Philosophy by the Book Episode 39

    What exactly does it mean to be a king? And more importantly, what if we can't find a good one? Does it make sense to create laws? And if someone comes along that seems better than the laws, should we follow him? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  34. Plato's Statesman part 1: Philosophy by the Book Episode 38

    How is a king like a weaver? Are comparisons and simplifications even helpful? And what exactly does a king do?

  35. Plato's Sophist part 2 Philosophy by the Book Episode 37

    Finally we demonstrate if its possible to lie. Turns out that it is. We give a final definition of a sophist as well.

  36. Philosophy by the Book Episode 36: Plato's Sophist Part 1

    What exactly is a Sophist? And how do we go about defining anything for that matter? Facebook: www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  37. Philosophy by the Book episode 35: Plato's Theaetetus part 3

    Is knowledge Justified True Belief? How can we know that we know what knowledge is? Plato's Theaetetus part 3, final. facebook : https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  38. Philosophy by the Book Episode 34: Plato's Theaetetus part 2

    Is knowledge true judgement? Or is there still a little something missing? Is your soul more of a block of wax or an aviary full of birds? facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  39. Philosophy by the Book Episode 33: Plato's Theaetetus Part 1

    This week we begin an examination of epistemology as it found its roots in Plato's Theaetetus. This part one episode focuses on the first definition of knowledge found in the Theaetetus, that knowledge is perception. facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  40. Philosophy by the Book Episode 32: Plato's Parmenides

    This week we examine problems in the theory of forms in Plato's Parmenides.

  41. Philosophy by the Book Episode 31: Plato's Republic Book 10

    We finish the republic with a discussion of imitative poetry and the myth of Er.

  42. Philosophy by the Book Episode 30: Plato's Republic book 9

    We explore the tyrannical man, the nature of desire, the benefits of justice and the nature of the soul.

  43. Philosophy by the Book Episode 29: Plato's Republic book 8

    We tackle the cycle of constitutions and their corresponding individuals in Plato's Republic book 8.

  44. Philosophy by the Book Episode 28: Plato's Republic Book7

    The cave! facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  45. Philosophy by the Book Episode 27: Plato's Republic Book 6

    This week we explore the famous divided line and simile of the ship in Plato's Republic book 6. facebook: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy_of_the_divided_line

  46. Philosophy by the Book Episode 26: Plato's Republic Book 5

    This week we tackle Plato's Republic book 5, which deals with the role of women in an ideal society and begins a discussion on philosopher kings. facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  47. Philosophy by the Book Episode 25: Plato's Republic Book 4

    This week we finish fleshing out our ideal city and finally figure out just what justice is.

  48. Philosophy by the Book Episode 24: Plato's Republic Book 3

    This week we finish up our discussion on best education for a city's rulers in Plato's Republic Book 3 and start to examine some of the structures of our perfect city. facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophybythebook

  49. Philosophy by the Book Episode 23: Plato's Republic Book 2

    This week we discuss the ring of Gyges, the origin of war and the foundation of cities in Plato's Republic Book 2.

  50. Philosophy by the Book Episode 22: Plato's Republic Book 1

    Today we begin our examination of Plato's Republic starting with book 1 considering the nature and worth of justice.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Each week we read through, summarize, and explain a different text in Philosophy.

HOSTED BY

Connor Clerkin

CATEGORIES

education arts books

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Philosophy by the Book have?

Philosophy by the Book currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Philosophy by the Book about?

Each week we read through, summarize, and explain a different text in Philosophy.

How often does Philosophy by the Book release new episodes?

Philosophy by the Book has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Philosophy by the Book?

You can listen to Philosophy by the Book on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Philosophy by the Book?

Philosophy by the Book is created and hosted by Connor Clerkin.
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