

Sadler's Lectures
Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler
I'm that YouTube Philosophy Guy! Find more than 3,000 videos in my main channel. Support my video and podcast work! https://www.patreon.com/sadler or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
Learn more about this podcast channel - https://youtu.be/qRvL0gqlyrw and https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/p/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast
Due to popular demand - and with the work underwritten by my Patreon supporters - I have been converting my videos into MP3 files listeners can listen to anywhere they want!
I have a second podcast, Mind & Desire, publishing original episodes on a variety of topics in philosophy, which you can find here - https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/podcast
Learn more about this podcast channel - https://youtu.be/qRvL0gqlyrw and https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/p/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast
Due to popular demand - and with the work underwritten by my Patreon supporters - I have been converting my videos into MP3 files listeners can listen to anywhere they want!
I have a second podcast, Mind & Desire, publishing original episodes on a variety of topics in philosophy, which you can find here - https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 26, 2025 • 13min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Dealing With One's Own Failings - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on how we ought to deal with our own failings, mistakes, errors, and sins (hamartia), something that we will experience fairly frequently. He maintains that we ought to look at ourselves like those who are suffering from illnesses. We also ought to be willing to admit or confess our failings, rather than concealing them, or pretending they don't really matter.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 25, 2025 • 13min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Admiration and Emulation - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on emotional responses that he takes as being important signs of progress towards virtue, if these emotional responses are directed towards the right objects. These are "emulation" (zēlos) and admiration (thaumazein), directed towards people who we view as morally better than ourselves. These responses should spur us to imitation of these
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 24, 2025 • 16min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Past And Present Emotions - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his discussion of the emotions that a person feels, which they can use as an index for determining whether they are indeed making progress. Plutarch suggests that we ought to look at our past emotional responses and compare them to present emotional responses, and that we ought to do so in two manners, examining them in themselves or in relation to others
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 23, 2025 • 11min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Progress In Our Dreams - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his short but rich discussion about how we can tell whether or not we are making progress by looking at the contents of our dreams (or at what we perceive when we are ill). If we have not genuinely succeeded in making the virtues into habits, our dream lives are likely to reflect unvirtuous desires that we have been keeping in check in our waking lives.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 22, 2025 • 11min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Yearning For Philosophy - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his discussion of a yearning for philosophy, not typical academic philosophy but actual philosophy as a way of life, as an index for whether a person is making moral progress or not. He examines what this looks like in a person and how it leads them to prioritize philosophy over other matters in their lives
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 21, 2025 • 22min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Evaluation of One's Own Discourse - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his discussions bearing upon something he takes as an important index for our development, namely the changes in our discourse. He looks a number of different aspects of this, one of which is the topics that we focus on talking about with others in philosophy. He also thinks that we should avoid using philosophy for making a display in social gatherings, and that we need to curb contention, anger, arrogance, and exasperation.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 19, 2025 • 12min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Taking Minor Failings Seriously - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his discussion of why it is important not to give ourselves a pass or make excuses when we fail in minor ways, if the goal is to make moral progress. He develops an analogy to building projects. If the goal is to build rough structures, it is fine to make the foundation out of any old stuff, but if one wants to build a valuable building, more careful planning and materials are needed
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 18, 2025 • 12min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Consistency As Progress - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on how we can use consistency as a sign and also a means of making moral progress. He argues that we are either making progress or falling back, so this means that we need to keep choosing to commit to a life of virtue, and that we need to maintain discipline and training.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 17, 2025 • 14min
Plutarch, On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue - Problems With Stoic Views - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Awareness Of Progress In Virtue
This episode focuses specifically on his criticisms of the standard Stoic position on virtue and vice, which is that every person is either virtuous or vicious, with no middle state. The Stoics (with some exceptions like Epictetus) also seem to think that there is no such thing as "making progress" towards virtue and away from vice.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch'sOn Awareness Of Progress In Virtue here - https://amzn.to/4cNYknt
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Jul 16, 2025 • 20min
Francis Bacon, Novum Oraganum - The Idols Of The Theater - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the early modern philosopher Francis Bacon's work Novum Organum, specifically the section in book 1 covering the "four idols of the human mind"
This episode focuses specifically on his description of the fourth type of idol, those of the theater, which derive from either entire philosophical systems, which Bacon likens to fictions and plays, or from perverted rules of demonstration, or from too exclusive of a focus on one aspect or element of a science. Bacon divides the three kinds of philosophies he criticizes into sophistic (exemplified by Aristotle), empiric, and superstitious or theological (exemplified by Plato).
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Bacon's Novum Organum here - https://amzn.to/4jBcmui
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)