In this episode, Dr. Andreas Bergman joins us to discuss his recent open-access article, The Maximian Perspective on Paul: A Reconstruction of the Works of the Law and Maximus the Confessor. We begin by outlining the main features of the Old and New Perspectives on Paul, particularly the contested meaning of the phrase “works of the law” in Pauline theology. From there, we explore how Maximus the Confessor’s ascetical theology complicates and enriches this debate. Dr. Bergman explains Maximus’s tripartite division of the law (natural, written, and spiritual), his understanding of motivation in relation to justification, and how Maximus can, in different respects, be seen as aligning both with and against key elements of the major interpretive traditions.

In this episode of the Dionysius Circle podcast, I explore with New Testament scholar Dr. Joshua Heavin his recent article on participation in Christ and divine and human righteousness. Drawing from both Paul’s letters and the theology of St. Gregory of Nyssa, we examine how righteousness is not merely a moral property but, at its deepest level, a person — Christ himself. We also unpack Gregory’s fourfold model of participation and how it offers a transformative vision of the Christian life.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Clelia Attanasio about her recent work on Pseudo-Dionysius and the distinction between theurgy and hierurgy. We explore how Moses, as the paradigmatic hierurgist, models the human ascent through contemplation and the use of sacred symbols in response to divine action.

In this episode of the Dionysius Circle Podcast, we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Kjetil Kringlebotten, a priest in the Church of Norway and author of Liturgy, Theurgy, and Active Participation. We talk about what it really means to participate in the liturgy, why God’s action is at the heart of worship, and how Christian Platonism can deepen our understanding of the Church’s rituals.

In this episode of The Dionysius Circle Podcast, Dr. Sam Bennett speaks with Dr. Stephanos Stephanides, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cyprus specializing in Platonic philosophy, about his article, "Reconsidering the Essential Nature and Indestructibility of the Soul in the Affinity Argument of the Phaedo." The conversation touches on the structure of Plato’s Phaedo, the Affinity Argument’s approach to the soul’s indestructibility, and the distinction between composite and incomposite entities, while reflecting on how later interpretations, including Neoplatonic perspectives, have engaged with these ideas.

Sam Bennett interviews Dr. Van Tu, a philosopher specializing in ancient philosophy, about her article, Is the Soul a Form?. The conversation examines whether the Final Argument of Plato’s Phaedo understands the soul as a transcendent form, an immanent form, or a form carrier. They also discuss the possible existence of a transcendent form of the soul within Plato’s metaphysical system, its role in the final argument for immortality, and the distinction between the immortality of the soul and personal immortality.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Suzanne Obdrzalek to discuss her fascinating interpretation of Plato’s Phaedo. Dr. Obdrzalek argues that Plato attributes spatial characteristics to the soul—such as location, extension, and the ability to causally interact with the body. We also delve into broader implications of this view, including how it sheds light on Plato’s eschatology and challenges contemporary assumptions about dualism.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Jelinek, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Christopher Newport University, shares her insights into Plato’s Phaedo. We discuss her article, “Explanation in the Phaedo: An Argument Against the Metaphysical Interpretation of the Clever Αἰτία,” diving into the relationship between forms, causality, and the relevance of sensible particulars in Platonic thought.

In this episode of The Dionysius Circle Podcast, we’re joined by renowned scholar of Plato, David Ebrey. We dive into his latest book on Plato’s Phaedo, exploring Socrates’ radical views on the immortality of the soul, the nature of the forms, and the role of philosophy as preparation for death. David sheds light on the literary structure of the dialogue, its connections to Greek tragedy, and Plato’s unique philosophical approach to ethics, metaphysics, and the natural world. 

The Dionysius Circle Podcast explores Theias Philosophias ("Divine Philosophy")—the union of theology and philosophy. Hosted by Dr. Sam Bennett, the podcast delves into the wisdom of the Eastern Christian Fathers, such as St. Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Maximus the Confessor, and St. Gregory of Nyssa. It examines their connections to Plato and Neoplatonism and their influence on later thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Gregory Palamas. The podcast also explores key philosophical and theological currents, such as mysticism and apophaticism.