Microdosing Philosophy

Divination

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 21:20:45 +0000

The importance of divining the will of the gods

Seers part 3

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 20:35:12 +0000

Polyidos and Asclepius

Seers of Greek myth, Part 2

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 22:04:35 +0000

Here we have the story of Melampus, the seer of the Peloponnesus.

Seers in Greek myth

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:19:50 +0000

This is an introduction to the role of Seers in Greek myth. The mythological way of looking at the world sets the stage for the contrasting philosophical views of the world.

Basic Propositional arguments

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:40:58 +0000

Let's have a quick look at arguments with an "if... then" structure.

Syllogisms

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:22:48 +0000

Here is a quick look at Syllogisms and how to apply rules to check validity.

Critcal Thinking: part2

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 21:49:07 +0000

A look at statement types A, E, I, & O with negations.

Critcial Thinking: An Introduction

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 20:12:06 +0000

Here I will review a few basic concepts and terms of logic that we will use in the following episodes. I want to clarify statements and propositions, and the difference between valid and sound arguments.

Bitzer's Idea of Constraints

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 02:53:45 +0000

Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation involves three ideas: exigence, audience, and constraints. In this episode, I discuss the importance of constraints. Constraints are an essential element of a persuasive appeal. They can make or break a rhetorical audience.

Bitzer's Rhetorical Theory: Exigence and Audience

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:47:13 +0000

Two elements that create a rhetorical situation are exigence and audience. What is a rhetorical exigence & rhetorical audience?

Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation part one

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 21:26:16 +0000

In 1968 Bitzer offers a revolutionary way of thinking about rhetoric. He points out that we use rhetoric much more often than we might expect, and that Aristotle's three modes of appeal fall short in understanding the rhetorical needs. Bitzer's theory is a Copernican revolution in rhetorical theory.

Booth's Rhetorical Stance

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 19:43:13 +0000

Booth's Rhetorical Stance develops Aristotle's rhetorical Triangle idea by stressing the importance of a flexible balance between the modes of appeal. If any mode of appeal is pushed too far and given too much weight, we have a corruption of communication.

A quick look at Aristotle's Modes of Appeal

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 03:51:52 +0000

Here is a quick summary and review of the Modes of Appeal. These modes are the basic tools we use for persuasion.

Rhetoric: an introduction

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 20:50:10 +0000

What is rhetoric? Aristotle provides us with a basic framework for approaching the art of persuasion. Let's have a quick look at his rhetorical triangle and how it might be applied to a job interview.

Plotinus

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 20:53:16 +0000

A quick look at the rational mysticism of Plotinus

Lucretius and Epicureanism

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 20:18:40 +0000

A quick look at Epicureanism and the poetry of Lucretius.

Stoic Philosophy

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 18:42:48 +0000

Stoicism was one of the most influential schools of philosophy in Rome. I will outline some of its main features.

Plato's Phaedo: Part Two

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 04:32:14 +0000

Plato now explores two important themes. First, we see the role of Ideas or Forms taking shape. The answer to ethical relativism will require some metaphysical work. Second, we see a Platonic notion of the psyche or soul take shape.

Plato's Phaedo: Part One

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:00:39 +0000

Plato's Phaedo is one of his most famous dialogues. It features Socrates in his prison cell on his day of execution. I will mention some of the important friends who were visiting Socrates that day, and I will explore some of the issues raised. Part two will look at how the theory of Forms is developed.

Plato's Euthyphro

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:00:42 +0000

Socrates meets Euthyphro by the archon office, the archon in charge of the courts. Socrates is facing charges of impiety and Euthyphro is charging his father with impiety. Socrates suggests that Euthyphro must know what piety is if he is going to bring such serious charges against his father. In a good aporetic fashion, Socrates will reveal that Euthyphro does not know what he thinks he knows. This dialogue also demonstrates important points of logic.

Plato: a basic introduction

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:15:56 +0000

I will say just a few words about Plato's life and the influences on his writing. His first calling in life was dramatic poetry, and this background follows through into his dialogues.

Socrates

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 02:30:33 +0000

Socrates influenced many great thinkers. I offer just a few highlights of his life and thought which completely altered the development of philosophy.

Arsitotle on the Soul (De Anima)

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:17:10 +0000

Here are some thoughts on Aristotle's approach to the idea of soul or psyche. It explains our unity, but also touches on our nous/intellect and how we grasp the world.

Substance in Aristotle's Meatphysics VII

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 19:14:25 +0000

Aristotle floated a preliminary idea about a primary substance in the Categories. He suggested the primary substance could be the individual such as Socrates because all the other categories depend on that individual thing for their existence. But after introducing the idea of matter and the other causes, he sees a problem. The individual thing cannot be the primary substance. It must be the species-form.

Aristotle: Accounting for change in the world

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 03:24:52 +0000

Aristotle introduces four causes (explanations) for change: material, formal, efficient, and final. These are easy to understand when applied to material constructions, but it is essential to understand how he applies them to living things.

Kant's Groundwork on a Metaphysics of Morals: Section 2

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 04:11:49 +0000

In section 2 of his Grioundwork, Kant expands on some earlier themes, and introduces the idea of the Categorical Imperative.

Kant's Groundwork on Morals, Part one

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 03:48:03 +0000

Kant takes the discussion of morality in a new direction, and challenges some central ideas of the Utilitarians. Happiness cannot be a guide to moral action. The only purely good thing in the world is a good will.

The background to Kant's Ethics

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 04:20:02 +0000

David Hume's empiricism rattled the bones of Kant. Hume's attack on causality and ethics pushed Kant to respond with two books: A Critique of Pure Reason & A Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals.

A quick note on ethical relativism

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:44:53 +0000

Ethical relativism seems to pop up regularly in classes on ethical topics. It can become a huge distraction or digression from the topics at hand. I think it is ultimately a waste of time. If you are interested in following some of the arguments about relativism I suggest a look at these two short books:

A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreeft

Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Simon Blackburn

Mill's Eudaimonistic Utilitarianism

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:11:02 +0000

Bentham's Hedonic Utilitarianism did not distinguish types of pleasures, and so faced an attack that it was a pig's philosophy. A pig would be happier than Socrates. Mill suggests an answer to this attack: Eudiamonia. We need to aspire to higher pleasures for a good life.

Bentham's Hedonic Calculus

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:49:59 +0000

Bentham explains why we need to consider the consequences of our actions, and offers a tool for making dicisions. The estimation of pleasures and pains is called Hedonic calculus.He outlines 7 features, such as intensity, duration, and extent, which can affect the calculations.

Bentham and Utilitarianism

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 03:50:34 +0000

18th C. Britain had a very brutal and unjust legal code. Bentham thought that the people who created laws and punishments needed to be guided by a rational principle, not by personal whims or biases. He proposed that we consider the utility of the laws and punishments for creating the greatest happiness and least pain for the community and its members. The principle of Utilitarianism should be the basis of our ethical, moral, and legal systems.

An Introduction to Ethics

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 05:21:40 +0000

Episode One: Here is a quick view of the topics that will be covered in this course of lectures. I will touch on three major approaches to ethics: Utilitarianism, Deontologicalism, and Virtue Ethics.

Welcome to Philosophy

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 03:31:12 +0000

This podacst series will examine various philosophers and philosophic theories primarily on questions of ethics and metaphysics. Plato and Aristotle will be the initial focus, but Bentham, Mill, Kant, and many others will appear as well.