Open Door Philosophy

Send us a textIt's our 50th episode, and we decided to celebrate by answering your questions! Do we have free will? What's a philosophical tv show/movie we like?  What got us into philosophy, and what keeps us there? And more! Plus a little retrospective, some looking forward, and a lot of laughs!Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a text*cue dramatic music*Out of the ashes of World War II arose a philosophy based on embracing the absurdism of existence, being authentic, and enduring the existential nausea that resulted.  One of it's many champions was French  philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, who scaled the mountain of criticism to become one of the most popularly known figures of the mid-twentieth century. With his emphasis on radical freedom and responsibility, a solidified movement called Existentialism was born. Join us as we explore his life and theories as we ask, who was Jean-Paul Sartre?ResourcesNausea Being and NothingnessExistentialism Is a Humanism Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textOne of the most popular philosophers of the mid 20th century and influential member of 2nd wave feminism, Existentialist Simone de Beauvoir was a significant novelist, essayist, autobiographer, and champion of social issues. Join us as we explore and discuss the life and ideas of Simone de Beauvoir. Episode Resources:Becoming Beauvoir by Kate Kirkpatrick How To Be Authentic by Sky ClearlyAt the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah BakewellContact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textJoin us as we review our favorite books we read in 2022!Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textA staple of Alcoholics Anonymous is the surrender of agency to a providential, theistic god, but what exactly does this mean? And are there other ways to connect with our spiritual center? Peg O'Connor thinks so. Join us as Peg offers us a field guide to William James' great work The Varieties of Religious Experience through her wonderful new book on overcoming addiction and suffering: Friendlier and Higher Powers. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textIn our episode on Plato, we quoted Alfred North Whitehead as saying, “All of philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato.” For almost 1500 years, however, many philosophers and historians believed that all of knowledge, including philosophy, was a footnote to Aristotle. The Philosopher, as he is known, contributed greatly in fields of biology to rhetoric, physics to ethics. But what made Aristotle so special? And why should we care about Aristotle today after so much of his work, such as the Sun rotating around the Earth, has been disproven. Furthermore, Aristotle makes ethical claims that go against foundational points in modern society: that women are inferior to men and that some people are natural slaves. The work and influence of Aristotle is ingrained in Western society and thought, but why is this the case? Join us this week on Open Door Philosophy to learn “Who is Aristotle?”Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textThe 20th century English/American philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once famously said “All of philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato.” Though a highly contested claim, no matter where you land on it, the quote does at least cause one to consider the inescapable presence of Plato. Who was this follower of Socrates who founded a school after which schools across the globe are still named today - the academy? And why is it that he is considered amongst the trinity of foundational philosophers in the western world? Did he simply ride the coattails of his great teacher Socrates, pulling from him most of the theories he is well known for today? Or is Plato truly a giant among philosophers? Unquestionably, Plato’s influence lives on today. His great work The Republic is a master class in philosophical thinking and methodology, and one of the most widely read works of philosophy. His account of the death of Socrates preserved for us the story of the man who would be ultimately seen as the founder of western philosophy. Yet despite the acknowledgement of his influence on philosophy, some dismiss his theories as antiquated and out of touch for what our current context calls for. Join us today as we explore the question, who was Plato?Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textOne of the big three stoic sources from antiquity is Epictetus, and central to any understanding of such works is a good translation, yet the work of translation is not a straight forward task of simply taking words in another language and finding their equivalent in whatever language it is your are translating it into. Robin Waterfield is a celebrated translator of many ancient Greek and Roman texts, and here in this episode we discuss with him his latest translation, the complete works of Epictetus. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Send us a textImagine you’re in Ancient Athens, around 410 BCE, walking through the local market. There, an older man approaches you and begins to pepper you with questions. They start off simple enough, but by the end, you end up, annoyed, disagreeing with what you first claimed to be true. This man was probably Socrates, the most famous and influential philosopher of all time. But Socrates is surrounded by mystery. He never wrote anything down and we don’t even know where his beliefs stopped being documented and his student, Plato’s, started being included. Scholars don’t even agree if Socrates actually existed! Socrates' quest was a simple one: to challenge his and others beliefs to make sure his society didn’t remain complacent. And that simple goal was ultimately what led to his conviction and death. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

This episode dives into the intriguing world of the Pre-Socratic philosophers, who paved the way for modern thought. Discover their fascination with existence and the origins of reality, focusing on curious figures like Thales and Heraclitus. Explore the idea that all things possess a divine aspect, with water as a central theme of existence. The discussion hilariously connects ancient ideas with today's scientific concepts, revealing the charm and relevance of these early thinkers. Prepare for a delightful mix of philosophy, history, and humor!