The Platonic Tradition

By: Professor Peter Kreeft

Narrated by: Professor Peter Kreeft

Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

This engaging course of lectures begins by providing a detailed and accurate overview of Plato's philosophy and it's central idea - the idea of a transcendent reality that has popularly become known as the theory of the Forms. Professor Kreeft then takes us on a concise journey through Western Philosophical history to show how that central idea - the theory of forms - has either been built upon or reacted to by philosophers ever since. We explore not only the work of Plato, but also that of several other great voices in the Western Philosophical tradition - Aristotle, Plotinus, and Augustine - each of whom gave the forms a new metaphysical address. Later lectures explore both Christian Platonists and philosophical movements such as Positivism and Nihilism which have been anti-Platonist in their outlook. In the end we are left with a richer appreciation for Plato's work and its enduring legacy.

©2012 Crescite Group (P)2012 Recorded Books

Excellent introduction!

Would you listen to The Platonic Tradition again? Why?

This is a clear, insightful and sometimes even inspiring presentation of the Platonic tradition. I would certainly recommend listening to this lecture series. I listened to these lectures twiice and plan to listen again. However, please be aware that Professor Kreeft is a conservative Roman Catholic. Augustine as well as Socrates and Plato are the heroes here. There is no focus on Plato's Pythagorianism, sacred geometry, or the Platonic solids; not a word about Iamblichus or Proclus or Ficino. Having said that, Professor Kreeft does make a compelling case against the anti-Platonic view (both in ancient times and in modern times), a view stating there is no objective truth and even if there were an objective truth we couldn't know it or communicate it to others. Thank you, Professor Kreeft!

Exactly what I was looking for.

I am surprised that this is exactly what I was looking for, because although I chose it, the form of title does not literally explain what in it I wanted. This is a good introduction to Platonism, and from a Thomistic perspective.

I did not get as much value from the last chapter personally, but I think the whole was well done and informative.

Excellent content and delivery

Thank you prof. Kreeft for these lectures. I recommend them to everyone interested in philosophy. What I appreciated most was the value judgement from the Christian point of view on different philosophical schools and trends.

Very clarifying and encouraging

Prof. Kreeft has managed to explain an intricate matter in a succinct way without leaving aside his enthusiasm for the topic. This book will undoubtedly encourage listeners to read more on Platonism and Neo-Platonism.

Philosophy Like You Have Never Heard

This is philosophy at its finest. It's filled full of wonder and excitement. It asks more questions than it answers but it continually pushes you onward to discover the truth about our lives. This book will be some of the best time you'll ever spend and you will go back to it over and over again to find out what you have missed. You are in for a great intellectual journey.

Great Lectures

I really enjoyed listening to these lectures on Platonic ideas and how they can change your life. The professor is easy to listen to and pretty funny. Well organized.

Good intro to philosophy

Kreeft does a good job of introducing Platonic thought, and comparing it through the ages.

Moving and informative

Who would have thought that a course on philosophy would be so edifying. Well, apparently a lot of people.

intellectual dynamite

There are great philosophers and then there are great teachers of philosophy. Kreeft is the latter. He is a great teacher, and this is a prime example of it. He makes a very compelling case for the Platonic Tradition and it's centrality, not just as a given of Western culture, but as THE correct approach to truth. Kreeft, taking up Whitehead's oft-quoted aphorism about all Western philosophy being a footnote to Plato, demonstrates why this is so. He demonstrates how most of the rest of ancient and medieval philosophy has been an attempt to add to and/or incorporate Plato into a larger milieu. He also demonstrates how all modern philosophy, beginning with Occam (pre-Descartes even) until today consists of various attempts to subtract from Plato with disastrous results. I found it so utterly convincing that, once I had finished, I restarted it. To me it was that good.

If you decide you cannot agree with Kreeft's view point, you would still benefit greatly from arguing with his case.

The one downside is that Recorded books has not provided a guidebook and their website does not even have the course listed, which means no final exam. That's sad.

This will change your life!

This makes you want to step out of the cave of shadow and into the light! Not too difficult to follow either. As usual Kreeft is witty, clear and profound in this course.