Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners

Dante: Divine Comedy & Beyond

What can poetry teach us about philosophy? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we turn to Dante Alighieri, the Florentine poet whose Divine Comedy is both a masterpiece of literature and a map of the human soul.

Guided by reason and faith, Dante journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, weaving together classical philosophy and Christian theology into a vision of justice, morality, and...

eraclitus on Change and the Search for Balance

What if the very thing that unsettles you—change—is also the key to inner steadiness? In our debut episode on Philosophy Now! we trek back to Ephesus (circa 500 BCE) to meet Heraclitus, the loner philosopher who claimed that “all things flow” and that “character is fate.” His surviving fragments—fewer than a hundred cryptic lines hit harder than ever in an era of 24-hour news cycles and...

Aquinas: Faith and Reason

Can faith and reason truly work together? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the thought of Thomas Aquinas, the medieval scholar who sought harmony between Aristotle’s philosophy and Christian theology.

Aquinas argued that reason could uncover truths about the natural world, while faith revealed mysteries beyond reason’s reach. His Summa Theologica became a cornerstone of Western philoso...

In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we turn to Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), the French nobleman who withdrew from public life to a tower filled with books and invented a new form of philosophy: the essay. Montaigne believed that wisdom comes not from building grand systems but from examining ordinary experience with honesty and doubt. He wrote about friendship, death, custom, and the body with candor that still feels s...

Title: Niccolò Machiavelli – The Morality of Power

In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we leave the humanist gentleness of Erasmus and step into the sharp world of Florentine politics with Niccolò Machiavelli. Civil servant, diplomat, dramatist, and author of The Prince and Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli has been remembered as ruthless and cunning — but his deepest concern was the survival of the state. What does it really...

What does it mean to find hope when fortune turns against you? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the life and thought of Boethius, a Roman statesman whose fall from power gave rise to one of the most influential works of medieval philosophy, The Consolation of Philosophy.

Guided by the figure of Lady Philosophy, Boethius wrestled with questions of fate, free will, and the nature of true happiness. His reflectio...

Erasmus: Humanism & Reform

What role can scholarship play in renewing society? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the life and thought of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, the Renaissance humanist who sought to unite learning, faith, and reform.

Erasmus believed that truth should be sought in the original sources of wisdom — in scripture, in classical texts, in the honest work of reason. His critical edition o...

Hypatia: The Philosopher of Alexandria

Welcome to Philosophy for Beginners. Today, we turn to Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 360–415 CE), one of the most remarkable figures of late antiquity. A mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, Hypatia became a symbol of intellectual courage in a world of political and religious upheaval.

In this episode, we’ll explore her life as a teacher at the great Library of Alexandria, her contributions t...

Marcus Aurelius was both emperor and philosopher, a man who ruled the most powerful empire of his time while quietly recording his private reflections on life, duty, and mortality. In this episode, we explore The Meditations—a work never meant for publication, yet which has become one of the most influential texts in Stoic philosophy. We’ll see how Marcus wrestled with power, loss, and the fleeting nature of existence, and why his ...

In this episode of Philosophy Now, we explore the essential philosophy of Epicurus, uncovering his radical yet simple vision of happiness through tranquility, friendship, and freedom from fear. Learn how his teachings on desire, pleasure, and the nature of death invite us to live with balance and serenity. Featuring dramatized insights and practical reflections, this journey into Epicurean thought reveals timeless wisdom on finding...

In this episode of Philosophy Now, we guide you through the essential philosophy of Aristotle, exploring his groundbreaking ideas on matter, form, and the purpose of life. Discover how Aristotle’s teachings on potentiality and actuality shape our understanding of the natural world and our place within it. Featuring dramatized insights and practical reflections, this journey into Aristotelian thought offers timeless wisdom for moder...

Step beyond the cave and into the mind of Western philosophy’s most enduring voice. Plato is the 3rd episode in the podcast Philosophy for beginners that unpacks one a western philosopher at a time in bite size 15 minute episodes. Whether you’re a newcomer to philosophy or a seasoned thinker revisiting old friends, Plato offers a fresh, cinematic gateway to the conversations that shaped our intellectual heritage—and still shape our...

In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Socrates, the enigmatic figure who changed the course of Western philosophy without writing a single word. Join us as we explore his relentless questioning, his infamous trial, and his profound ideas on ethics, virtue, and the examined life. From the streets of ancient Athens to his final moments with hemlock, we uncover why Socrates remains a symbol of intellectual courage and w...