Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the work of the 20th century novelist and short story writer, Franz Kafka, "The Metamorphosis" This lecture discusses the character Grete, who is Gregor's younger sister. At the beginning of the story, she is a teenager with minimal responsibilities and some musical talent. As she comes to take care of her brother after his metamorphosis, she takes on more responsibility and agency. By the end of the story, she argues that the creature is no longer her brother Gregor, and that they must get rid of it. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Franz Kafka, The Complete Stories - amzn.to/3y29u37

This lecture discusses key ideas from the work of the 20th century novelist and short story writer, Franz Kafka, "The Metamorphosis" This lecture discusses the circumstances of Gregor's family, the Samsas. Initially, they are all dependent upon Gregor for their income, paying down debts, and even the decision-making around the house. As Gregor discovers after his transformation and losing his job, his father does have some money set aside, and his family members are all capable of taking on work suited to them. By the end, they all agree that their situation presents them with certain opportunities. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Franz Kafka, The Complete Stories - amzn.to/3y29u37

This lecture discusses key ideas from the work of the 20th century novelist and short story writer, Franz Kafka, "The Metamorphosis" This lecture discusses the transformation or metamorphosis (Verwandlung) that Gregor Samsa experiences at the very beginning of the story, but also throughout the narrative. As it turns out it is not simply his physical form that is changed, but also his own capacities and possibilities, his relationships with other people, his senses and desires, and even his own viewpoint on himself. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Franz Kafka, The Complete Stories - amzn.to/3y29u37

This lecture discusses key ideas from the work of the 20th century theologian, social philosopher, and civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr.'s sermon "Unfulfilled Hopes" It discusses the analysis he provides of three different characteristic responses to the tragic element of life, that dreams remain unrealized, hopes unfulfilled, and that cries for a solution go unanswered. Two of these responses, those of bitterness and withdrawal, are negative and motivated by anger and hate. The third response is that of creative and dynamic will. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Read Martin Luther King Jr.'s sermon "Unfulfilled Hopes", here - https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/unfulfilled-hopes-0

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher Plato's dialogue, the Gorgias. This lecture focuses specifically on a set of points that Socrates makes in his conversation with Gorgias, outlining a common dynamic that tends to produce anger and even lead to abusive language between people who are discussing or exploring a subject matter together. When subject matters or topics are difficult to define, people will accuse each other of being unclear or incorrect in what they say. It is easy for interlocutors to assume that the other person is arguing their position in bad faith, out of a desire to win, to be right, to dominate, rather than a desire to seek out and articulate the truth together. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Plato's Gorgias - https://amzn.to/3yjaoMY

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher Plato's dialogue, the Gorgias. This lecture focuses specifically on a passage in the conversation between Socrates and the host of the evening's conversations, Callicles. After Callicles has told Socrates that philosophy is fine for children and young men, but that a mature man ought to leave it behind, Socrates ironically tells Callicles that he is certain to get a good assessment of his character from Callicles. Socrates claims that for a person who wants to be a good tester and judge of whether others are living their lives well, and whether their souls are well-nurtured, three characteristics are needed. These three are knowledge (epistēmē) good will (eunoia), and frankness or freedom of speech (parrhēsia). Socrates claims that Callicles has demonstrated that he possesses all three of these traits, and has displayed them towards Socrates. 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Plato's Gorgias - https://amzn.to/3yjaoMY

This lecture discusses key ideas from the work of the 20th century novelist and short story writer, Franz Kafka, "On Parables" This lecture discusses the terminology used in the story, the distinction between the words of the wise which are parables and the needs and cares of our daily lives, and a metaparable that this short story ends on. Here is the story in its entirety: Many complain that the words of the wise are always merely parables and of no use in daily life, which is the only life we have. When the sage says: ‘Go over,’ he does not mean that we should cross to some actual place, which we could do anyhow if the labor were worth it; he means some fabulous yonder, something unknown to us, something too that he cannot designate more precisely, and therefore cannot help us here in the very least. All these parables really set out to say merely that the incomprehensible is incomprehensible, and we know that already. But the cares we have to struggle with every day: that is a different matter. Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed the parables you yourselves would become parables and with that rid of all your daily cares. Another said: I bet that is also a parable. The first said: You have won. The second said: But unfortunately only in parable. The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost 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 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Franz Kafka, The Complete Stories - amzn.to/3y29u37

This lecture discusses the 20th century poet, novelist, and philosopher, Rainer Maria Rilke's work Letters to a Young Poet, and examines in particular advocation of trusting (halten) in what is difficult, and trusting in things. The range of "things" includes those of nature, even the smallest things, but also matters like love and death 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 You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Purchase Rilke's Letter to a Young Poet - amzn.to/2XCAhRA

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and biographer Plutarch's short work On Having Many Friends. This episode focuses specifically on the reasonings he provides for the impossibility or impracticability of having many friends (poluphilia) in any genuine sense of the term. Some of these stem from the difficulties involved in doing justice to all of our relationships. Others arise from the variance we are bound to encounter among the people we would like to call friends. Yet others are due to the demands that genuine friendships place upon us to support our friends. You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Having Many Friends here - https://amzn.to/48LBGZ2 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 3000 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)

This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and biographer Plutarch's short work On Having Many Friends. This episode focuses specifically on his advice that, if we want to have good friendships, we need to try and test people before becoming fully friends with them. This echoes advice given earlier by authors like Cicero, Aristotle, and Seneca. Unfortunately, Plutarch says, many people make friends first, and then come to regret their commitment to people whose characters are not particularly good. You can find the copy of the text I am using for this sequence on Plutarch's On Having Many Friends here - https://amzn.to/48LBGZ2 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 3000 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)