The Philosophy of Pythagoras: From Music to Soul

In this episode we discuss the teachings of Pythagoras, a major figure in ancient philosophy. The conversation covers his influence, particularly in mathematics, music, and his lasting impact on Western thought and Christian theology. Pythagoras's notion of the soul, especially the concept of the soul's transmigration and its contrast with Hebraic understanding, is explored in depth. The episode delves deeply into the philosophical and religious ideas that shaped Pythagoras’s theories and their implications.

00:29 Pythagoras and his 1,000 year influence

02:21 Historical Context and Influence

06:01 Philosophical and Religious Ideas

14:24 The Concept of Transmigration of the Soul

23:08 The Eternal and the Temporal: A Philosophical Dichotomy

23:30 The Soul's Imprisonment in the Body: Pythagoras to Plato

23:59 Christian Theology and the Body-Soul Dualism

24:34 Translating 'Soul': From Hebrew 'Nephesh' to Greek 'Psyche'

25:45 The Evolution of Language and Meaning

26:45 Theological Implications of Translation Choices

28:23 Understanding 'Nefesh' in the Hebrew Bible

31:20 The Greek 'Psyche' and Its Philosophical Baggage

34:00 Christianity's Fusion of Greek and Hebrew Thought

35:42 Practical Implications of Body-Soul Dualism

40:40 Concluding Thoughts on Body and Soul

In this episode, we delve into the life and philosophy of Xenophanes, an early Greek thinker who significantly advanced philosophical thought. Beginning with a review of previous episodes' discussions on early Greek philosophy and the pre-Socratic thinkers like Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, the conversation shifts to focus on Xenophanes' unique contributions. Notably, Xenophanes was the first to reject the traditional portrayal of Greek gods by Homer and Hesiod, arguing instead for a singular, morally superior deity. His work also laid foundational ideas in epistemology, questioning the nature of human knowledge and the possibility of true belief.

Also highlighted are Xenophanes' influence on later philosophical discourse, particularly his introduction of distinguishing knowledge from mere belief.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:34 Setting the Context: Greek Philosophy

03:10 Early Greek Philosophers: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes

06:50 Introducing Xenophanes

07:59 Xenophanes' Critique of Greek Gods

14:50 Xenophanes' Concept of God

18:34 Xenophanes and Epistemology

23:51 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

In this episode, we delve into the early history of Greek philosophy, focusing on the Milesian school. The discussion covers Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, examining their metaphysical inquiries about the fundamental nature of reality. We also discuss the broader implications of their thinking, such as assumptions about the eternity of matter, the rational comprehensibility of the universe, and the capacity of the human mind to understand it. These foundational ideas are tied to later philosophical developments and contemporary thought.

00:00 Introduction to the Malaysian School of Philosophy

01:08 Thales: The First Philosopher

03:41 Anaximander and the Concept of the Boundless

09:13 Anaximenes: Air as the Fundamental Principle

15:49 Early Greek Philosophers: Common Assumptions and Analysis

19:39 Metaphysics and Ethics: The Foundational Question

20:11 Plato's Creation Story: The Demiurge

21:00 Greek Philosophy: Rational Understanding of Reality

21:55 The Assumption of Rational Reality

22:23 Illustrating Rational Assumptions

27:17 Human Mind's Capability to Understand Reality

30:15 Philosophical Presuppositions and Worldviews

31:56 The Desire for Intellectual Simplicity

36:50 Conclusion: Analyzing Ancient and Modern Thought

Exploring the Foundations: The Role of Thales in the Birth of Greek Philosophy

In this episode, we delve into the history and philosophy, focusing on Thales of Miletus, who is often considered the first philosopher. We review the importance of understanding historical and intellectual contexts and explore Thales' groundbreaking idea that water is the fundamental substance of everything. The discussion touches on critical concepts such as the shapeless stream, fate, and the significance of autonomous human reasoning in the development of philosophy. The episode also examines skepticism and its recurring role in philosophical discourse, setting the stage for future explorations of early Greek philosophers.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

01:16 The Shapeless Dream: A Fundamental Concept

03:26 Greek Philosophy: Rational or Not?

04:31 The Dual Nature of Humans

06:25 The One and the Many

07:22 The First Philosophers

10:08 The Presupposition of Autonomous Human Reasoning

11:52 Skepticism and Its Implications

13:31 Revelation vs. Reason in Greek Philosophy

13:55 Philosophy in a Polytheistic Culture

14:11 Introduction to Early Philosophers

14:28 Thales of Miletus: Background and Contributions

15:47 Thales' Philosophical Ideas

17:28 The Concept of Arche

18:39 Thales' Famous Assertions

19:36 Philosophical Implications and Critiques

24:19 Concluding Thoughts and Next Episodes

"We study history not to remember the past but to understand the present". That is the reason for this series.

In this episode we discuss the intellectual seed-bed of the ancient world, especially that of Greece. We begin in Crete, whose Minoan civilization predated and heavily influenced the Grecian culture on the mainland. More specifically we talk about:

1. Who "counts" as philosophers
2. The philosophy and thought of the Minoan civilization
3. The meaning of monism
4. Mysticism in the ancient world
5. The mystery religions and their connection with philosophy
6. How the earliest Greek thought influences our thinking today

What does our notions of right and wrong tell us about the existence of God?

In this episode Dr. Justin Gash of Franklin College joins us to tackle this fascinating question. We discuss the moral argument for God's existence, describe how it is usually countered, and then analyze those counter-arguments.

In the end we each give our take on how effective this argument is in achieving various goals.

Today we have our first guest: Dr. Justin Gash of Franklin College.

Justin is a professor in the math department, and also assistant Dean of the college. He occasionally teaches a class on Reasonable Faith, as well as guiding independent studies of that material.

Our conversation is about his own intellectual/spiritual journey, what he has learned from teaching these classes, and what he thinks about the arguments for God's existence.

In our next episode, Dr. Gash will walk us through his favorite argument for the existence of God: the moral argument.

Can we prove God's existence by the fact or features of the universe? To tackle this issue we will discuss:

1. The difference between proofs and signs
2. The meaning of the cosmological argument, and its various forms
3. The meaning of the argument from design (also known as the teleological argument)
4. The resurrection of the argument from design in the last 50 years
5. The curious case of Anthony Flew

If love is the meaning of creation, then how exactly does that play out in our individual lives? What is MY purpose? What will my future life be like?

That is what we tackle in this episode.

The great philosopher Martin Heidegger said the most fundamental question in philosophy is this: Why is there something rather than nothing?

Christianity, unlike naturalism, gives an answer to the question, and it is both satisfying and stimulating.