Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Explore the esoteric afterlife of Aristotle, Plato's greatest student, and his significant influence on Western esotericism. Delve into Aristotle's multifaceted character, his association with esotericism, and his dichotomy of exoteric and esoteric knowledge. Discover the absorption of Aristotle's work by late antiquity Platonists and the esoteric approach to reading Aristotle's writings, aiming to conceal the mysteries of higher philosophy from the general public.

Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy, discusses the diverse interpretations of Plato's work, delving into his role as an esoteric writer and the contrasting writing styles of Plato and Aristotle. They explore the authenticity of Plato's letters, the irony in his writing, and his use of myths and cosmological accounts.

Explore the significance of Plato's Parmenides in western esotericism, its challenging metaphysics, and interrelationships between higher levels of reality. Delve into the structure of the dialogue and the concept of 'the one' in Parmenides, discussing its metaphysical implications and its relationship with time, existence, and knowledge.

Explore Plato's dialogue 'Phædo' and its discussion on initiation, mystic knowledge, and the influence of Pythagorean philosophy. Discover Plato's famous arguments for the immortality of the soul and his views on death and the afterlife. Delve into themes of exclusion, purification, and the fate of the soul. Discuss Socrates' knowledge of the earth's true form and size, and unravel Plato's description of a dodecahedral utopia.

Tracing the origins of initiation in Greek and Roman special rites, this chapter explores the concept of initiation in Western Esotericism. It discusses secret wisdom and initiation in ancient mystery traditions, as well as Plato's use of mystery imagery and his incorporation of mystic terminology and concepts. The chapter also delves into Socrates' inner ascent and the concept of anagoge.

This podcast delves into Plato's concept of ascent narratives and the journey to the world of eternal truths. It explores the idea of a fork in the path in the underworld, the concept of eros in Plato's philosophy, and the theme of ascent in Hellenistic religions. It also discusses the profound influence of Plato's ascent accounts on Western esoteric currents, cautioning against interpreting it as a physical journey through the cosmos.

Maya Alapin, scholar on mathematical structures in Plato's Republic, discusses how harmonic theory, music, ratios, and proportions intertwine with textual meaning in the Republic. They explore the claims of scholars John Bremer and J Kennedy about mathematical structures in Plato's Republic and their philosophical and artistic significance. They also delve into the challenges of interpreting ancient texts and the use of software to analyze key points in Plato's Republic.

Explore the rich esoteric content in Plato's Republic, focusing on the concept of transcendent truth accessed through the human mind. Delve into the idea of the good as transcendent and its influence on later philosophers. Examine Plato's divided line as a map of human cognition and the challenges in comprehending the form of the good. Discover Plato's use of the golden ratio and explore the famous Allegory of the Cave and its implications in philosophy.

This podcast explores the complex and sly masterpiece, Plato's Republic, discussing the dialogue's structure, the concept of the soul and the ideal city, the myth of Ur and the journey to the other world, encountering a vast shaft of light and exploring the celestial cosmos, revealing the heavenly order and the music of the spheres, and the concept of reincarnation and the journey of souls.

This podcast explores the concept of utopia and other invisible worlds in western esotericism, including the hierarchical structure of Plato's perfect state, reflections of our society in utopias and dystopias, and the depiction of other worlds throughout history. It also delves into the concept of inner worlds in Western esotericism and how they differ from modern western societies' views of consciousness.