History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

Mara van der Lugt, a University of St Andrews philosopher specializing in early modern thought and pessimism, explores Pierre Bayle’s life and labyrinthine dictionary. They discuss suffering, compassion, Manichaeism, the possibility that nonexistence is preferable, and Bayle’s uneasy appeal to revelation. The conversation also traces his influence from Voltaire and Hume to Byron and Schopenhauer.

Daniel Watson, a Bergen Fellow specializing in early and medieval Irish texts, explores the philosophical world of medieval Ireland. They discuss Hiberno-Latin sources, computus, the prestige of Old Irish, and Ireland’s links with European learning. The conversation also covers pre-Christian traditions, natural and scriptural law, kingship, prophetic origins, and why Irish thought deserves a larger place in medieval philosophy.

Ted Good, a postdoctoral fellow at Ruhr University Bochum, researches Zoroastrianism and Persian philosophy. He explores its cosmic dualism, competing explanations of evil, the soul’s relationship to the body, and limits on divine power. The discussion also traces philosophical exchanges with Greek, Indian, Manichaean, and Islamic traditions, revealing a lively world of rational debate across religions.

Troels Engberg-Pedersen, Emeritus Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the University of Copenhagen, explores Paul’s dialogue with Stoicism. They discuss Paul between Judaism and Hellenism, Stoic influences on law, sin, and transformation, Christian communities as alternative polises, altruism and happiness, moral progress, worldly “indifferents,” and pneuma as material spirit. A lively portrait of Paul as both theologian and philosopher.

Melissa Lane, Princeton scholar of ancient Greek political thought, explores Herodotus and Thucydides as historians, thinkers, and political commentators. Their methods, sources, reconstructed speeches, and competing visions of objectivity take center stage. The discussion ranges from freedom and cultural diversity to the Melian Dialogue, democracy, Pericles, mixed government, and how both historians illuminate Plato’s critique of Athens.

Marguerite Johnson, a classics professor and leading scholar of Sappho, explores the poet’s life in archaic Lesvos and the fragile recovery of her surviving work. They discuss newly discovered poems, Sappho’s bittersweet vision of desire, Aphrodite and erotic power, beauty and relativism, her links to Socrates, and the changing ways later cultures have imagined her.

Pierre Bayle’s radical case for religious toleration meets the era’s boldest atheist writings. Explore Jean Meslier’s explosive critique of Christianity, early atheist manuscripts, the possibility of morality without faith, and the painful problem of evil. The discussion also probes whether conscience can ever justify persecuting others for their beliefs.

A lively conversation about how people tried to predict the twentieth century and the shifting models they used. They trace revelatory visions, mechanistic Futurama-style designs, and organic garden metaphors. Topics include trend forecasting, simulation labs, countercultural time practices, and the late-century flood of data and complexity.

A deep dive into Pierre Bayle’s massive Historical and Critical Dictionary and how it was conceived and published. The podcast traces the Dictionary’s maze-like structure of entries, remarks and cross-references. It explores contemporary shock at obscenity and skepticism, Bayle’s defenses and role in the Republic of Letters, and debates over whether he promotes fideism or secretly undermines religion.

Discussion of 17th-century Quietism and its claim that self-love can be overcome by cultivating pure love for God. Exploration of Jeanne Guyon and François Fénelon, their practices of inner stillness and contemplative prayer. Examination of church opposition and heated debates with figures like Bossuet and Malebranche. Consideration of educational views and wider philosophical stakes about motivation and free will.