The Wes Cecil Podcast

A few thoughts to take us out. Most importantly Plato provides a model - as well as a trap - for us as we pursue philosophy and thinking in general. Thanks to everyone who read along with me!Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our society's obsession with Data and Information leads to a series of systematic errors in both our understanding of the world and how we approach all kinds of problems we face. We refuse to accept that DATA and INFORMATION cannot solve what are fundamentally ethical problems. In any case, many of our challenges are not soluble but aspects of the human condition that can only be addressed in different ways depending on circumstances.Image attribution: SketchplanationsSign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to peer conversation, course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The History of Philosophy in 16 Questions - Q2: What the hell is going on?Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Other than our concept of Romantic Love, Body Soul Split, Self-Improvement and Truth, Plato really has had no influence at all . . . I mean, Plato is just everywhere - I mean EVERYWHERE!Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes and Jeremy take questions from PATRON members on Plato's Symposium Lectures 4-11Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast explores the evolution of human thought, tracing its roots from primitive tool use to the complexities of philosophical inquiry. It delves into the timeless themes found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, particularly the quest for immortality and the acceptance of life’s fleeting joys. Listeners are invited to reflect on how philosophical questions influence personal growth and civilization's development. The discussion underscores the importance of questioning existence, mortality, and what it means to be human.

The influence of Plato grows from the repeated introduction of Platonic ideas into Catholicism, Calvinism, Humanism, Romanacism, Enlightenment thought and even Scientific Rationalism. Platonic ideals surround us in so many ways it is difficult to actually narrow our focus to a few key points.Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes and Jeremy take questions from Patreon members on Plato's Symposium, Lectures 1 - 4Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore how Taoism contrasts with Western ideals, advocating for harmony with the universe instead of succumbing to stress. Discover the beauty of embracing life’s fluidity and simplicity, rather than chasing definitive answers. Learn the importance of reducing excess to truly enjoy life and redefining success as personal contentment rather than societal approval. Finally, delve into a perspective that celebrates abundance and joy, encouraging a more positive outlook amidst societal pressures.

Enter Alcibiades - seemingly disrupting the entire structure of Plato’s dialogue, he actually works to underscore the power and truth of Socrates’ argument without ever actually engaging with the claims Socrates has made. We see and hear the quality of Socrates as a person rather than engage with the rationality of his thought. A masterclass in using misdirection and action to make arguments that would be impossible to support or articulate more directly. Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.