Sadler's Lectures

Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler
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Jan 2, 2026 • 13min

Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue - Emotivist Culture & Characters - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th and 21st century philosopher and moral theorist, Alasdair MacIntyre's work After Virtue It focuses upon chapter 3, specifically on his discussion of on the types of "characters" - social roles emblematic of a culture -- typical of late modern Emotivist culture. These are the rich aesthete, the manager, and the therapist. 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 3,500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler You can get MacIntyre's After Virtue here - amzn.to/2RiplGT
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Jan 1, 2026 • 13min

Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue - Emotivism as a Moral Theory - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th and 21st century philosopher and moral theorist, Alasdair MacIntyre's work After Virtue It focuses upon chapter 3, specifically on his discussion of MacIntyre's analysis of the key and distinctive aspects of Emotivism as a moral theory. Emotivism was presented originally as a meta-ethical theory, but as MacIntyre notes, it develops into its own ethical stance that rules out the possibility of rational inquiry into and agreement upon moral matters. 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 3,500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler You can get MacIntyre's After Virtue here - amzn.to/2RiplGT
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Dec 30, 2025 • 6min

Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue - Meaning and Use of Language - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th and 21st century philosopher and moral theorist, Alasdair MacIntyre's work After Virtue It focuses upon chapter 2, specifically on his discussion of the distinction between the meaning and the use of moral language, using several examples. This will become particularly important in his analysis of Emotivism as a moral theory in the following chapter. 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 3,500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler You can get MacIntyre's After Virtue here - amzn.to/2RiplGT
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Dec 27, 2025 • 20min

Martin Luther King, Letter From A Birmingham Jail - Racial Justice As An End

Delve into Martin Luther King Jr.'s profound insights in a thoughtful discussion. Explore how he sees racial justice as the ultimate goal of non-violent action. Discover why he believes equality of treatment alone fails to transform society. The metaphor of 'cashing a check' ties racial justice to America's foundational promises. King advocates for integration over segregation, emphasizing dignity and respect for all. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of communities, showing that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
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Dec 26, 2025 • 26min

Martin Luther King, Letter From A Birmingham Jail - Non-Violent Action As A Means

Explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s perspective on nonviolent resistance as a strategic, methodical approach rather than spontaneous action. Delve into the four vital steps of a nonviolent campaign that include fact-finding and self-purification. Discover King's powerful notion of meeting physical force with 'soul force' to provoke a moral awakening in society. The importance of creating constructive tension is also highlighted, alongside King's critique of the white moderate who resists necessary change.
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Dec 23, 2025 • 28min

Martin Luther King, Letter From A Birmingham Jail - Just And Unjust Laws

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th century African-American philosopher, theologian, and civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.'s work "Letter From A Birmingham Jail". This episode examines King's discussion and reinterpretation of the classical distinction between just and unjust laws. 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 You can find the Letter From A Birmingham Jail here - https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
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Dec 22, 2025 • 19min

Martin Luther King, Letter From A Birmingham Jail - Racism, Inequality, and Segregation

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th century African-American philosopher, theologian, and civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.'s work "Letter From A Birmingham Jail" This episode examines King's depiction and analysis of racism and segregation as fundamentally wrong and illegitimate forms of inequality in America 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 You can find the Letter From A Birmingham Jail here - https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
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Dec 21, 2025 • 17min

3 Philosophers Walk Into A Bar Fight: Understanding & Managing Anger Using Ideas From Philosophy

This is the recording from my invited talk on philosophical resources for understanding and managing anger, which was part of my alma mater Lakeland University's Thinkhaus talk series, given up at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, WI. The original recording from 2017 was made by a local high school AV club, which unfortunately didn't do a great job with sound, lighting, video, or editing, so I didn't release it at the time, but I've subsequently remastered it to improve all of those. In the talk, I discuss how ideas drawn from Plato, Aristotle, and Epictetus can help us to deal productively with the anger that we inevitably encounter or experience. Specifically, from Plato we learn how to identify the sorts of conflicts that are likely to lead to anger, from Aristotle how to assess our own anger responses, and from Epictetus how to shift our feeling of anger into a different feeling by reminding ourselves of why people do things that we take as wrong or offensive.
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Dec 19, 2025 • 19min

How Difficult Is It To Find An Aristotelian Friend? - Sadler's Lectures

Explore the intricate world of Aristotelian friendship and discover the three types: utility, pleasure, and the good. Understand how each type shapes our relationships and the challenges in achieving true friendship. Delve into Aristotle's views on virtue and the realistic path to nurturing genuine connections, emphasizing mutual growth and commitment. Insights from thinkers like Cicero, Seneca, and Plutarch add layers to this discussion, revealing timeless wisdom on trust and the essence of true companionship.
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Dec 17, 2025 • 20min

What Is Aristotelian Prohairesis? - Sadler's Lectures

Dive into the fascinating world of Aristotelian prohairesis, or moral choice, as explored through multiple layers in Aristotle's works. Discover how this concept ties into deliberation and the complexities that define human responsibility. Learn why Aristotle believed animals and children lack prohairesis and how it connects to virtue and self-control. The interplay between reason and desire reveals the essential nature of practical wisdom, ultimately expanding prohairesis into a rich tapestry of moral understanding.

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