189. David Talcott on Plato

In this episode, we welcome Dr. David Talcott to discuss his book Plato. Who was Plato (427-347 BC), and why does he matter? From his “theory of Forms”, to his “Divided Line” and even his famous Allegory of the Cave – Plato has been one of the most influential thinkers and writers in Western Civilization. British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead famously stated that the “safest generalization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of footnotes to Plato”, and yet many today would not even know how to approach reading a Platonic dialogue. Listen in as Dr. Talcott helps us learn some of the basic themes and structures of Plato’s thought – why they mattered in ancient Greece, and why they matter now. A pupil to Socrates, as Dr. Talcott writes the “most fundamental commitment of Platonism is an unrelentingly spiritual orientation to the world”. Perhaps there are reasons why so many Christians in history have seen much wisdom, insight and usefulness to this ancient Greek philosopher.

Book: Plato

Some other resources by Dr. Talcott:

“Plato and Aristotle: Enemies or Partners?”

A Christian Appraisal of Plato: Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four

“Hey Republicans: Stop Dissing Philosophy” (also here)

Plato:

- The Apology (also here)

- The Republic

- The Symposium

- The Laws

Other resources:

Plato and the Socratic Dialogue; Plato and the Post-Socratic Dialogue: The Return to the Philosophy of Nature by Charles Kahn

Plato of Athens by Robin Waterfield

“The Death of Socrates: How To Read A Painting”

US Supreme Court: Obergefell v. Hodges (see Oral Argument: April 28, 2015, Part One, Justice Alito)

For Music, credit and thanks to Atmospherious.