The Ruby Tablet

In this episode, we explore the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)—the man who gave us the Leviathan, the social contract, and one of the most pessimistic yet influential visions of human nature in Western philosophy. It was a time of civil war, regicide, and political upheaval. It was a time when the old certainties of divine right and religious authority were crumbling. And it was a time when one man dared to ask: What is the rational basis for society?

We begin with the Age of Absolutism—the period that birthed the modern state system and the concept of the balance of power. We trace the intellectual climate of the 16th and 17th centuries, a time of transition between medieval knowledge and the new science. And we examine Hobbes's radical departure from Aristotle, his rejection of the idea that man is a "social animal," and his chilling assertion that the natural state of humanity is a war of all against all.

From the state of nature to the social contract, from the Leviathan to the right of self-preservation, from his comparison with Machiavelli to his legacy for modern political thought—we examine the philosopher who saw fear as the foundation of society. And we ask: Was Hobbes a cynical pessimist or a clear-eyed realist?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to the Philosophy of John Locke—how did Locke replace fear with reason? Why did he believe that the state of nature is governed by natural law? And what is his vision of property, liberty, and the consent of the governed? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

• Essay #11: The Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 11)
• Reading List: 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (ed. Richard Tuck)
• Thomas Hobbes, De Cive (On the Citizen)
• Quentin Skinner, Hobbes and Republican Liberty
• C.B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism
• Richard Tuck, Hobbes: A Very Short Introduction
• John Rawls, Lectures on the History of Political Philosophy
• Leo Strauss, The Political Philosophy of Hobbes
• Stephen Holmes, Passions and Constraint: On the Theory of Liberal Democracy

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Was Hobbes right about human nature? Are we truly driven by fear and self-interest, or is there a more optimistic foundation for society? Is the social contract a real agreement or just a philosophical fiction? And how does Hobbes's vision of the state compare to our modern political reality?

#ThomasHobbes #Hobbes #Leviathan #SocialContract #StateOfNature #EnglishCivilWar #Absolutism #PoliticalPhilosophy #Philosophy #NaturalLaw #PossessiveIndividualism #Machiavelli #Sovereignty #HumanNature #Enlightenment #17thCentury #ModernState #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #PoliticalTheory #PhilosophyPodcast

In this episode, we explore the Reformation—the 16th century religious movement that shattered the unity of Christendom and created the Protestant churches. It was a time of faith, conflict, and transformation. It was a time when the printing press democratized ideas and challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.

We begin with the invention of the printing press—a technology that increased the number of books in Europe from 100,000 to 9 million in just fifty years. We trace the rise of Martin Luther and John Calvin, their rejection of reason in favor of faith, and their vision of a new Christianity.

📜 Topics Covered:

• The Printing Press: How technology democratized ideas
• The Five Pillars of Protestantism: Scripture alone, faith alone, and the rejection of reason
• Martin Luther: The monk who challenged the Pope
• John Calvin: The theologian of discipline and coercion
• Total Depravity: The pessimistic view of human nature
• Salvation by Faith Alone: Why good works don't save you
• The Two Kingdoms: Spiritual vs. temporal authority
• The Support for the Reformation: Secular motives of nobles and merchants
• The Counter-Reformation: The Catholic response and the Jesuits
• Religious Warfare: The Thirty Years' War and its devastation
• The Peace of Westphalia: Exhaustion, not reconciliation
• The Legacy of the Reformation: Individualism, faith, and conflict

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET

The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to the Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes—how did the chaos of the Reformation shape his view of human nature? Why did he believe that life in a state of nature is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"? And what is his vision of the social contract? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #10: The Reformation (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 10) Reading List: 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Martin Luther, The Ninety-Five Theses (trans. various)
• Martin Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian (trans. various)
• John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (trans. Ford Lewis Battles)
• Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation: A History
• Peter Marshall, The Reformation: A Very Short Introduction
• Eamon Duffy, The Stripping of the Altars
• Lyndal Roper, Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet
• Bruce Gordon, Calvin
• Peter Burke, The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Was the Reformation a liberation from Church tyranny or a new form of religious oppression? Did the rejection of reason lead to a more authentic faith or to intellectual stagnation? And how does the Reformation's emphasis on individualism relate to the Temple of Set's path of self-deification?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Are we still living in the shadow of the Reformation?

#Reformation #MartinLuther #JohnCalvin #ProtestantReformation #CatholicChurch #SolaScriptura #SolaFide #TotalDepravity #TwoKingdoms #CounterReformation #CouncilOfTrent #Jesuits #ThirtyYearsWar #PeaceOfWestphalia #PrintingPress #Gutenberg #Individualism #FaithVsReason #ChurchAndState #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #ReligiousHistory #PhilosophyPodcast

In this episode, we explore Machiavellianism—the political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli, the Renaissance thinker whose name became synonymous with the Devil himself. Machiavelli is one of the most controversial figures in the history of philosophy. He is the man who said the ends justify the means. He is the man who separated politics from religion. He is the man who gave us a realistic view of power.

From the first political scientist to the separation of politics and religion, from the beast and the man to the breaking down of religious authority—we examine the system that challenged the medieval worldview. And we ask: Was Machiavelli a champion of the good, or an advocate of evil?

📜 Topics Covered:

• The Renaissance: Secular education, Classical revival, and artistic genius
• Machiavelli's Reputation: Why "Old Nick" became the Devil
• The Separation of Politics and Religion: Politics belongs to the world of reason
• William of Occam: Faith as pure belief, not reason
• Fortuna and Virtu: Chance and will in history
• The First Political Scientist: Studying the beginnings of states
• Force and Law: The beast and the man
• The Ends Justify the Means: Pragmatism and the common good
• Realism and Human Dignity: Taking responsibility for yourself
• The First Natural Philosopher of Politics: Basing philosophy on mankind alone
• Is Machiavelli a Political Scientist? The problem of selective evidence
• The Breaking Down of Religion: Ignoring as a threat
• The Nature of Machiavelli's Philosophy: Pragmatism, not malice
• The Legacy of Machiavelli: How his ideas shaped modern politics
• Machiavelli and the Temple of Set: Ancestor or cautionary tale?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to the Reformation—how did the religious revolution of the 16th century challenge the authority of the Catholic Church? How did Martin Luther and John Calvin create a new vision of Christianity? And how did the Reformation shape the modern world? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #9: Machiavellianism (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 9) Reading List: 16A, 23E, 23F

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (trans. Harvey Mansfield)
• Niccolo Machiavelli, The Discourses on Livy (trans. Harvey Mansfield)
• Niccolo Machiavelli, The Art of War (trans. Christopher Lynch)
• Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction
• Isaiah Berlin, "The Originality of Machiavelli" (essay)
• Sebastian de Grazia, Machiavelli in Hell
• John M. Najemy, Between Friends: Discourses of Power and Desire in the Machiavelli-Vettori Letters
• J.G.A. Pocock, The Machiavellian Moment

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Are we all Machiavellians now?

#Machiavelli #Machiavellianism #ThePrince #Renaissance #PoliticalPhilosophy #PoliticalScience #Realism #Pragmatism #EndsJustifyTheMeans #Fortuna #Virtu #OccamsRazor #SeparationOfChurchAndState #Secularism #Humanism #Medici #Florence #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #RenaissancePhilosophy #PoliticalTheory #Realpolitik #PhilosophyPodcast

What happens when the philosophy of a pagan Greek is used to defend the dogma of the Catholic Church?

In this episode, we explore the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas—the medieval theologian who synthesized Aristotle with Christianity and created the official philosophy of the Catholic Church. Aquinas is one of the most important philosophers in Western history. Was Aquinas a great philosopher, or a clever apologist who used reason to justify dogma?

📜 Topics Covered:

• The High Middle Ages: Gothic cathedrals, epic poetry, and intellectual ferment
• The Rediscovery of Aristotle: Why "the philosopher" challenged Christian theology
• The Scholastic Method: Reasoning towards a pre-determined conclusion
• Thomism: The synthesis of faith and reason
• The Cosmological Foundation: Why worldview matters
• The Five Ways: Proving God's existence through reason
• The Unmoved Mover: Aristotle's argument and its critics (Hume and Kant)
• Teleology: The purpose of human life as the vision of God
• The Hierarchy of Laws: Eternal, Natural, Divine, and Human Law
• The Three Virtues: Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience
• The Three Drives: Wealth, Carnal Pleasure, and Honor/Status
• The Challenge of Islam: Why Aquinas needed to respond
• The Aristotelian Connection: Baptizing a pagan philosopher
• The Legacy of Aquinas: Genius or apologist?
• Aquinas and the Temple of Set: Ancestor or problem?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to Machiavellianism—how did the political philosophy of the Renaissance challenge the medieval worldview? How did Machiavelli separate politics from religion? And why did his name become synonymous with the Devil? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #8: The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 8) Reading List: 3L, 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province)
• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles (trans. Anton C. Pegis)
• Etienne Gilson, The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas
• F.C. Copleston, Aquinas (Penguin Philosophy Series)
• Anthony Kenny, Aquinas on Mind
• Jean-Pierre Torrell, Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Person and His Work
• G.K. Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox
• Josef Pieper, The Silence of St. Thomas

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Was Aquinas a great philosopher who reconciled faith and reason, or a clever apologist who used logic to justify dogma? Can a pagan philosopher be made compatible with Christian theology? And how does Aquinas's synthesis relate to the Temple of Set's own efforts to blend traditions?

#ThomasAquinas #Aquinas #Thomism #Scholasticism #MedievalPhilosophy #Aristotle #FaithAndReason #NaturalLaw #SummaTheologica #FiveWays #UnmovedMover #Teleology #CatholicPhilosophy #ChristianTheology #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #MedievalHistory #PhilosophyPodcast #PhilosophyOfReligion #Virtue #DivineLaw #Cosmology #Apologetics #BaptizedAristotle

What happens when a culture of warriors, administrators, and empire-builders absorbs the philosophy of the Greeks?

In this episode, we explore Pre-Christian Rome—a civilization that transformed Greek philosophy into a practical tool for governing an empire. Roman philosophy was not about contemplation. It was about duty. It was about service. It was about building and maintaining the state.

From the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, from the Twelve Tables to natural law, from Cicero to Marcus Aurelius—we trace the philosophical currents that shaped Roman civilization. We explore the mystery cults that flourished alongside Roman civic religion. We examine the practical philosophy that held an empire together. And we ask: What can we learn from Rome today?

This is the era of Cicero, Lucretius, and Marcus Aurelius. It's the era of Roman Stoicism, Roman law, and the Orientalization of the European soul. It's the era that bridges the Hellenistic world and the rise of Christianity. And it's an era that has shaped the modern world.

📜 Topics Covered:

• The Roman Republic: Mixed constitution, checks and balances, and political decay
• Roman Law: Civil law, the law of the people, and natural law
• The Practical Nature of Roman Philosophy: Duty, service, and the state
• Cicero: Wisdom, justice, and the conflict between the two
• Lucretius: Epicureanism, atomism, and freedom from fear
• Roman Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius, resilience, and the philosophy of acceptance
• The Mystery Cults: Mithras, Magna Mater, Osiris/Serapis in Rome
• The Transition from Republic to Empire: The fall of the Republic
• The Conflict Between Wisdom and Justice: Ideals vs. reality
• The Legacy of Pre-Christian Rome and the Temple of Set

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas—how did Aristotle's philosophy become the foundation of Christian theology? How did Aquinas synthesize faith and reason? And how did his ideas shape the medieval world? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #7: Pre-Christian Rome (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 7) Reading List: 3L, 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Marcus Tullius Cicero, On the Republic and On the Laws
• Lucretius, De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things)
• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (trans. Gregory Hays)
• Seneca, Letters from a Stoic (trans. Robin Campbell)
• Epictetus, The Discourses (trans. Robin Hard)
• The Twelve Tables (trans. Ancient Roman sources)
• Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
• Tom Holland, Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic
• Anthony Everitt, Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician

#PreChristianRome #RomanPhilosophy #RomanRepublic #RomanEmpire #Cicero #MarcusAurelius #Lucretius #Stoicism #Epicureanism #RomanLaw #NaturalLaw #TwelveTables #MysteryCults #Mithras #JuliusCaesar #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #AncientPhilosophy #RomanHistory #PaxRomana #Virtue #Duty #Justice #Wisdom #PracticalPhilosophy

What happens when old certainties crumble and people are left searching for meaning in a chaotic world?

In this episode, we explore the Hellenistic Era—a time of transition, synthesis, and transformation that followed the death of Alexander the Great. It was a world of global trade, economic inequality, urbanization, and cultural exchange. It was also a world of disillusionment, where people turned to new philosophies and new religions to find peace and purpose.

From the Great Library of Alexandria to the mystery cults of Isis, Orpheus, Mithras, and Gnosticism—from Skepticism to Epicureanism to Stoicism to Cynicism—we trace the philosophies that helped people navigate an age of uncertainty.

This is the era of Pyrrho, Epicurus, Zeno, and Diogenes. It's the era when the individual became the focus of philosophy. It's the era when the East influenced the West. And it's an era that, in many ways, mirrors our own.

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to Pre-Christian Rome—how did the Romans absorb Greek philosophy and make it practical? How did Stoicism become the philosophy of emperors? And how did the mystery cults shape the rise of Christianity? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #6: The Hellenistic Era (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 6) Reading List: 1C, 3L, 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Will Durant, The Life of Greece (for the Orientalization quote)
• Epicurus, The Essential Epicurus (trans. Eugene O'Connor)
• Epictetus, The Discourses (trans. Robin Hard)
• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (trans. Gregory Hays)
• Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
• A.A. Long, Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics
• John Sellars, Stoicism
• Peter Green, Alexander of Macedon and The Hellenistic Age

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Which Hellenistic philosophy speaks most to you—Skepticism, Epicureanism, Stoicism, or Cynicism? Are we living in a new Hellenistic Era? And how does the Temple of Set continue the traditions of the mystery cults?

📺 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the hidden currents of philosophy, history, and the occult tradition.

Hellenistic Era, Hellenistic Philosophy, Skepticism, Epicureanism, Stoicism, Cynicism, Pyrrho, Epicurus, Zeno, Diogenes, Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great, Library of Alexandria, Mystery Cults, Isis, Orpheus, Mithras, Gnosticism, Orientalization, European Soul, Will Durant, Temple of Set, Left-Hand Path, Michael Aquino, The Ruby Tablet, Greek Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy, Hellenistic Age, Epictetus, Seneca, Chrysippus, Logos Spermatikos, Cosmopolis, Apatheia, Ataraxia, Hedonism, Virtue, Natural Law, Personal Salvation, Hellenization, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Seleucid Empire

What if the philosopher who shaped Western thought for over 2,000 years also defended the enslavement of other human beings?

In this episode, we explore the philosophy of Aristotle—the systematizer, the logician, the father of empiricism, and one of the most influential thinkers in history. But we also confront the darker aspects of his legacy: his defense of natural slavery, his rejection of the immortal soul, and his problematic politics.

We begin with Aristotle's dramatic life—tutor to Alexander the Great, student of Plato for twenty years, founder of the Lyceum, and a man driven from Athens on charges of impiety. We trace his ideas from the Unmoved Mover to the Golden Mean, from the Politeia to natural slavery.

Should we celebrate Aristotle or condemn him?

📜 Topics Covered:

• Aristotle's life: tutor to Alexander, founder of the Lyceum, exile and death
• Aristotle vs. Plato: The great rivalry and who was right
• The Unmoved Mover: An impersonal God or a philosophical principle?
• The mortal soul: Why Aristotle rejected individual immortality
• Form and matter: Aristotle's redefinition of Plato's Forms
• Natural slavery: The most controversial aspect of Aristotle's philosophy
• The Politeia: Aristotle's ideal constitution
• The Golden Mean: Wisdom or compromise?
• Crowley's critique: Why the Golden Mean leads to "flabbiness"
• The loss and rediscovery of Aristotle's works
• How Aristotle's philosophy became Catholic dogma
• Aristotle and the Temple of Set: Ancestor or problem?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET

The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to the Hellenistic Era—the time of Skepticism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism. How did Greek philosophy change after Aristotle? How did the mystery cults and the Orientalization of the European soul shape Western thought? The story continues.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #5: The Philosophy of Aristotle (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 5) Reading List: #16

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics (trans. W.D. Ross)
• Aristotle, The Politics (trans. Benjamin Jowett)
• Aristotle, Metaphysics (trans. W.D. Ross)
• Jonathan Barnes, Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction
• W.K.C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 6
• Aleister Crowley, Magick Without Tears (for the critique of the Golden Mean)

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Was Aristotle a genius who transformed philosophy, or a deeply flawed thinker whose ideas were used to justify oppression? Can we separate his politics from his metaphysics? And does the Temple of Set have the right to claim Aristotle as an ancestor?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Which philosopher speaks more to you—Plato or Aristotle?

📺 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the hidden currents of philosophy, history, and the occult tradition.

#Aristotle #Philosophy #Plato #GreekPhilosophy #TheNicomacheanEthics #ThePolitics #Metaphysics #UnmovedMover #NaturalSlavery #GoldenMean #AleisterCrowley #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #ClassicalPhilosophy #AncientWisdom #PhilosophyPodcast #Ethics #Virtue #Eudaimonia #Logos #Lyceum #Aquinas #CatholicPhilosophy

In this episode, we journey from the shadows of the cave to the blinding light of the Forms. We explore how Plato—student of Socrates, founder of the Academy, and heir to the Egyptian mysteries—created a philosophical system that would define the soul, the state, and the divine for millennia.

We begin with fourth-century Athens: a world of rationalism, humanism, and idealized perfection. We trace Plato's influences—from the Egyptian neteru to the Pythagorean obsession with number—and we ask: Was Plato the greatest synthesizer of ancient wisdom, or did he fundamentally misunderstand the traditions he inherited?

From the Theory of Forms to the Allegory of the Cave, from the tripartite soul to the philosopher-king, from the Republic to the Laws—we trace the profound legacy of Platonic thought and ask: Are we living in Plato's cave, or have we escaped?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET

The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔮 In Our Next Episode:

We turn to Aristotle—Plato's star pupil who rejected the Forms and built his own empire of logic, ethics, and science. How did the "mind of the Academy" become the father of empiricism? And why did his philosophy become the foundation of medieval theology?

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #4: The Philosophy of Plato (Aquino VI°, V2 - 102 - 4) Reading List: #5, #12, #16

📚 Recommended Reading:

• Plato, The Republic (trans. Allan Bloom or G.M.A. Grube)
• Plato, The Dialogues (especially Phaedo, Meno, Symposium)
• Plato, The Laws
• A.E. Taylor, Plato: The Man and His Work
• W.K.C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, Volumes 4-5
• Francis Cornford, Plato's Theory of Knowledge

💬 Join the Discussion:

What do you think? Is the physical world a shadow, or is it real in its own right? Would you want to live in Plato's Republic? And does the Temple of Set have the right to claim Plato as an ancestor?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Which philosophy speaks more to you—the cave or the light?

📺 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the hidden currents of philosophy, history, and the occult tradition.

🔔 Hit the bell to be notified when Episode #5 drops: The Philosophy of Aristotle.

#Plato #Philosophy #TheRepublic #TheoryOfForms #AllegoryOfTheCave #TempleOfSet #LeftHandPath #TheRubyTablet #GreekPhilosophy #Socrates #SelfDeification #OccultPhilosophy #EsotericWisdom #Academy #Justinian #PhilosopherKing #Teleology #ImmortalSoul #Set #Xeper #WisdomTraditions #ClassicalPhilosophy #AncientWisdom #PhilosophyPodcast #TheForms #TheCave #Virtue #Justice #PlatonicAcademy #EgyptianWisdom #Pythagorean #Neoplatonism #Hermeticism

In this deep dive, we explore the revolutionary thinkers who changed everything—the Pre-Socratic philosophers. Before Socrates, before Plato, before Aristotle, there was a group of radical minds who dared to ask the forbidden questions: What is reality made of? Is there a soul? Is the universe alive or dead? Is truth absolute or just opinion? We trace the journey from the mythical world of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the birth of reason, logic, and science in ancient Greece. From Thales' water to Pythagoras' numbers, from Heraclitus' river to Parmenides' timeless Being—this is the story of how humanity learned to think.

🏛️ PHILOSOPHERS COVERED

Thales of Miletus - The first philosopher

Anaximander - The infinite (apeiron)

Anaximenes - Air as the fundamental substance

Leucippus & Democritus - The atomists

Protagoras - "Man is the measure of all things"

Pythagoras - Number as the essence of reality

Heraclitus - The river of change

Parmenides - The eternal, unchanging Being Zeno - The paradoxes of motion

Empedocles - Love and Strife

Anaxagoras - Mind (nous) as the ordering principle

🧠 KEY QUESTIONS EXPLORED

-Did the Greeks truly invent philosophy, or were they building on Egyptian foundations?

-Is justice a human invention or a universal law?

-Can you be both a materialist and a mystic?

-Is the universe a machine or a living being?

-Was Pythagoras a mathematician, a mystic, or both?

-Does change or permanence define reality?

-Were the Sophists heroes or villains?

-Is the idea of the immortal soul obsolete in a scientific age?

🔮 THE BIG QUESTIONS WE LEAVE YOU WITH

What does it mean to live as if the soul is real?

In a universe of atoms and void, can there still be meaning?

Are we living in a mathematical reality?

What would it take to be a philosopher today?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET

The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame. Theme: Philosophy, History of Ideas, Esoteric Traditions, Western Philosophy, Ancient Greece

📚 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING

"Pre-Socratic Greek Philosophy" - Michael A. Aquino, Classification V2 - 102 - 3

The Fragments of the Pre-Socratics - Diels-Kranz

Early Greek Philosophy - Jonathan Barnes

The Dream of Reason - Anthony Gottlieb

Greek Religion - Walter Burkert

The Presocratic Philosophers - G.S. Kirk, J.E. Raven, M. Schofield

A History of Greek Philosophy - W.K.C. Guthrie

🏷️ HASHTAGS

#PreSocratics #GreekPhilosophy #Philosophy #AncientGreece #Pythagoras #Heraclitus #Parmenides #Thales #Democritus #Sophists #Plato #Socrates #HistoryOfIdeas #TempleOfSet #TheRubyTablet #PhilosophyPodcast #AncientWisdom #GreekHistory #WesternPhilosophy #Metaphysics #Ethics #Epistemology #PhilosophyOfMind

In this episode, we journey from the serene, predictable banks of the Nile to the violent, unpredictable lands between the Tigris and Euphrates. We explore how environment shaped two radically different visions of the divine, the state, and the human condition. Trace the profound legacy of Mesopotamian thought with us and ask yourself: Are we more Egyptian, or more Mesopotamian?

🎧 ABOUT THE RUBY TABLET

The Ruby Tablet Podcast is a philosophical and spiritual journey through the essays of the Temple of Set, exploring the great traditions of human thought—from ancient Egypt to the present day. Each episode is a deep dive into the ideas that help shape the Self and fan the Black Flame.

🔗 Sources & Reading List:

Essay #1: Ancient Egyptian Philosophy (Aquino VI°)

Essay #2: Mesopotamian Philosophy (Aquino VI°)

Reading List: #1, #2, 3A, 16A, 16L, 16M

📚 Recommended Reading:

The Epic of Gilgamesh (trans. Andrew George)

The Code of Hammurabi (trans. Martha Roth)

The History of the Ancient World – Susan Wise Bauer

The Origins of Biblical Monotheism – Mark S. Smith

💬 Join the Discussion: What do you think? Are we more Egyptian or more Mesopotamian? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Which ancient philosophy speaks more to you?

#AncientPhilosophy #Mesopotamia #Egypt #Podcast #History #Philosophy #TheRubyTabletOfSet #Maat #Gilgamesh #Babylon #TenCommandments #Occult #Esoteric

This episode is intended for educational and philosophical discussion. All views expressed are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of any institution or organization.