Creative Retrieval

In this episode I discuss the notion of liberal education, and why this is something of a redundancy for Socrates since all education is liberating.  I also show why without 'summoners' (a perception that strikes the relevant sense at the same time as its opposite) education would be impossible; hence, perplexity is a grace of Truth, since it awakens the soul to itself.

In this episode, I discuss Plato's allegory of the cave at length, show its significance as an allegory of education as freedom.  I compare the Platonic notion of education (which leads to a type of blindness) with St. John of the Cross's "Dark Night of the Soul" and show their similarities.    

We discuss the analogy of the sun and the way it is an image of the Good by being what gives knowables to knowers, and existence to "exist-ables."  Moreover, the way the sun is beyond sight is also analogous to the way the Good is beyond knowledge and being.

In this episode we talk about how - in one way - philosophy is powerless over sophistry, in that it cannot overpower and convince the sophist (on his own terms) about the value of philosophy and why the ruler should be philosophical.

In this episode we talk about what the philosopher is, and why the philosopher must be the ruler of a just polis.  We also talk about the fact that the philosopher is the one who can properly see the world they live in, because they are open to loving "the whole" and not just a part.  This will play a key role in understanding Plato's allegory of the cave later in the dialogue.  I finish by discussing the fact that belief is an icon/sign/sacramental of knowledge in that is shares in truth, but not fully - it's object is and is not...just like a sign communicates something that it isn't.

Please subscribe and like to get notifications about future episodes in this series!  Comments and questions below in the comment section!  In this episode I discuss why the role of reproduction and the need for the many to share everything they have in order to share a single life...this is basically the description of polis as a political marriage bond.    Questions and objections and thoughts welcomed (put them in the comments section)!

In this episode I discuss why justice requires a common good, which entails that there must be a common happiness.  To live in a polis is to share a single life - and hence a single happiness - with the other members of the polis.    

Questions and objections and thoughts welcome!

In this episode I discuss how physical education (or training) is an image of and participation in musical education...both of which are about the harmonizing (or the making good) of that which would otherwise be discordant.  This ultimately leads one to see that the body is an icon of the soul, and thereby they must be intrinsically (rather than extrinsically) related.  

In this episode I discuss what I call "Platonic Hylomorphism."  Often Plato is thought to be a substance dualist, however, I argue that this is not the case.  Rather, he should be thought to be in line with hylomorphism.  Many know hylomorphism from Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas's works; however, I believe the basic idea of hylomorphism (the unity of two - body and soul - into a one - substance) can be found to underlie Plato's views on the diversity yet unity of education which he offers in book 3 of the Republic.

I discuss the second half of book 2 of Plato's Republic.  We will get into the question of the relationship between the individual and the city as images of each other - man is a microcosm of creation.  I also discuss the often misunderstood passage about the noble lie and the role it plays in the education of the guardians.