This episode covers the second half of book 3 of Plato’s Republic. Glaucon and Socrates develop a completely immersive education program for the guardians that controls every aspect of their social and physical environment. Then, they tell them it never happened because actually they were sleeping underground being built by the god to defend the city. Glaucon doubts anyone would believe this “noble lie,” but Socrates isn’t too worried. Ideology finds a way. 

Credits: 

Glaucon: Zachary Amzallag

Ancient music: Michael Levy

References: Mozart-brain

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Agnes Callard is a philosophy prof, Plato expert and public philosopher. We talk about the relationship between politics and philosophy (it’s complicated), why nobody should trust philosophers (they don’t know anything), and why human beings can’t even think something without someone else telling them they’re wrong.

We mention Callard’s op-eds: “Should we cancel Aristotle?” and “How to politicize a classroom”

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgnesCallard

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This episode covers parts of books 2 and 3 of Plato’s Republic.

Adeimantus and Socrates start planning an education for the guardians. As it stands, young Athenians are fed an unhealthy banquet of lies written by the likes of Homer and Hesiod. Socrates wants new lies that set a good example for the kids. Lies with less fighting and sex and crying. Boring lies. And they might be for adults too.

Ancient music: Michael Levy 
Adeimantus: Rebecca Amzallag

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This episode covers the first part of book 2 of  Republic. Glaucon and Adeimantus take over the conversation with Socrates and challenge him to prove that it’s good to be good. Glaucon gets wild with a ring of invisibility. The gang builds a utopian city of pigs and meets an army of good-natured dogs.

Pod Art: Marijke Bouchier
Theme music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp
Ancient music: Michael Levy
Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh
Adeimantus: Rebecca Amzallag
Glaucon: Zachary Amzallag

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Paul Sagar is a lecturer in political theory at King's College London and the guy who played Thrasymachus in book 1. 

He actually doesn't like reading Plato very much. I ask him why. 

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(covers the second half of book 1 of Plato's Republic)

In this episode, Socrates goes up against his most formidable opponent yet: the sophist Thrasymachus. 

Thrasymachus leaps at Socrates “like a wild beast” and yells at him for playing dirty. Then, he tells the boys that morality is a lie and that they should do as much injustice as they can get away with. 

Socrates responds by winning the argument in the least persuasive way possible. 

Pod Art: Marijke Bouchier

Theme music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp 

Ancient lyre music: Michael Levy 

Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh

Thrasymachus: Paul Sagar

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Plato’s Republic is full of bad arguments and worse political proposals and it may still be the most influential work of political theory ever.

Book 1 sets the stage for an all-night conversation between Socrates and some friends that covers: ethics; politics; education; epistemology; psychology; and a whole lot more.

It all gets started with the question “what is justice?”
 
Pod art: Marijke Bouchier
Theme music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp
Ancient lyre music: Michael Levy on Spotify
Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh 
Cephalus: Andrew Fleming
Polemarchus: Elliott Chambers

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9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi!

The Athenians ran their government like an open mic night, pulled off one of the greatest golden ages in human history and show why true democrats hate elections.

The secret sauce of Athenian greatness? Seamen. Lots of seamen. 

Old Oligarch: Alan Mark at Tankards n Tales
Art: Marijke Bouchier
Music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp, and (new) Michael Levy on Spotify
Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh


Texts:
The Old Oligarch
Pericles’ Funeral Oration 

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The Spartans are legendary fighters and legendary patriots. They believed in equality, meritocracy, and freedom. They also ran the most brutal slave state in the ancient world.

Their secret? Institutions!

Art: Marijke Bouchier
Music: David Zikotivz, Clayton Tapp, and The Green Hornet Theme.
Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh

References:
-Plutarch Life of Lycurgus
-Plutarch The Sayings of Spartan Women
-"This is Sparta!" Techno remix
-Three: a Sparta comic from the Helot perspective

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Rebecca Goldstein wrote a book of Platonic dialogues, in which Plato is on a 21st-century book tour in America. It’s called Plato at the Googleplex.

We talk about Plato and whether you can do philosophy and politics at the same time, and the Harper’s letter in favour of “open debate” that Goldstein signed and Twitter got mad about. We discuss when, if ever, it’s a good idea to constrain free speech and inquiry. 

https://www.rebeccagoldstein.com/ 

Art: Marijke Bouchier
Music: David Zikotivz and Clayton Tapp
Editing, episode art and social: Sepideh

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