

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 14, 2025 • 15min
Francis Bacon, Novum Oraganum - The Idols Of The Market - 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 third type of idol, those of the market, which derive from our use of language to communicate our thoughts and to engage in inquiry. Bacon examines what distinctive sorts of errors of these types we can fall into and how they can arise.
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)

Jul 13, 2025 • 13min
Francis Bacon, Novum Oraganum - The Idols Of The Cave - 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 second type of idol, those of the cave or den, which have to do with human individuals. Bacon examines what distinctive sorts of errors of these types we can fall into and how they can arise.
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)

Jul 12, 2025 • 16min
Francis Bacon, Novum Oraganum - The Idols Of The Tribe - 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 first type of idol, those of the tribe, which have to do with our shared human nature, as members of the same human race. Bacon examines what distinctive sorts of errors of these types we can fall into and how they can arise.
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)

Jul 10, 2025 • 18min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Comparing Ourselves With Others - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on the topic of whether it is good or bad for us to compare ourselves and our lives with other people, particularly with those who are superior to us in some ways. He suggests that if we do need to compare ourselves to others, we be very realistic about how well off we typically are.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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 9, 2025 • 15min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Dealing With Other's Emotions - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on an important component of having a tranquil life, which is dealing with the emotional states that other people have, display, talk about, and act upon. We will do well not to be too concerned with other people's negative emotions, like envy, anger, malevolence, or jealousy.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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 8, 2025 • 16min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Desiring Or Trying To Do Everything - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on his discussion of one mistake that many people make that gets in the way of their enjoying their lives, namely desiring or attempting to do every kind of activity they consider important or valuable in their one life. Many activities are incompatible with each other, so selecting one means selecting against the others that incompatible. Plutarch advises us to follow the Delphic maxim "know yourself".
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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 7, 2025 • 16min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Focusing On Past, Present, and Future - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on our relation to time and the times of past, present, and future. Foolish people don't appreciate the present, because they focus too much on the future that may never come about. They also don't make good use of their memory of the past to continue enjoying things and experiences that are no longer here, Alternately, they ruminate on bad things from the past, keeping them moored in bad memories. The wise live a life that integrates past and present productively as they move into the future.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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 5, 2025 • 14min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Focusing On What's Good In Our Lives - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on his advice that we ought to direct our focus to what is actually good in our lives, and respond to those things with a sense of joy and appreciation (kharis). If we look at our lives, we actually have a number of good things either in the present or even in the past
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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 3, 2025 • 16min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Life As Mixed Good And Bad - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer Plutarch's essay On Tranquility
This episode focuses specifically on the importance of recognizing that life will be a mix of good and bad things, rather than primarily good things, as some people unrealistically desire, hope, or expect it to be. He advocates for harmonizing the two together into an overall good life, and discusses each person as having not just one but two spirits or fates.
You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Tranquility here - https://amzn.to/3GkzgYS
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)

17 snips
Jul 2, 2025 • 13min
Plutarch, On Tranquility - Making Use Of Things And Circumstances - Sadler's Lectures
Dive into Plutarch's insights on achieving inner peace by embracing life's uncertainties. Discover the clever metaphor of life as a game of dice, emphasizing adaptability and wise engagement with circumstances. Explore the bee analogy, showcasing how we can extract sweetness from adversity, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Reflect on Stoic philosophies that encourage resilience, urging listeners to view obstacles as stepping stones to a more fulfilling life.