It's time we say goodbye. This is the final episode of Open Door Philosophy. We had such a wonderful time doing it and thank everyone so deeply for listening. We pull back the curtain on this last episode and discuss the journey, so please join us one last time. 

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Is the self a soul that is immortal? Is the self a thinking thing or a bundle of perceptions? The Existentialists take this question and place at the center the importance of choice. The self emerges through our experiences and the choices we make. Join us as we discuss Kierkegaard and Sartre in this final episode on The Self. 

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Ancient philosophers believed the self was an immortal soul. This began to shift in the late 16th century when the concept of the self began to radically change to a more abstracted, biological self. Join us as we look at Rene Descartes and David Hume's theories on the self. 

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What is the self? Something immaterial? Something like a soul? Or perhaps consciousness? Is it you? Join us for this episode as we look to ancient explanations of the self from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Hinduism.  

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Ah love, a many splendored thing. At first you are attracted to their looks, but then you realize there's something more to them, something beautiful within, their beautiful soul. Join us for this third and final part on Plato's Symposium where we review the speech of Socrates. 

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Are you destined to be with someone? Is there a soul-mate out there, somewhere, just for you? Is love something that comes upon us, or is it something we cultivate within ourselves? Join us for this second episode on Plato's Symposium where we discuss the speeches of Aristophanes and Agathon.  

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What is love? Can it inspire us to be better? Can it bring harmony to opposites? These are of the most enduring questions we have, so much so that Plato wrote an entire dialogue about it called Symposium. Join us for this episode in which we give some background and discuss the first three speeches on love!

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We finish our overview of The Oxford Four with Mr. Parsons' favorite, Mary Midgley. She wrote on the topic of metaphilosophy, championed a pluralistic view of morality, and raged against scientism and reductionism. AND she had swaggy hats!

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She protested WWII and abortion. She was the pupil of Ludwig Wittgenstein and the eventual conservator of his work. She turned moral philosophy on it's head with her paper Modern Moral Philosophy. She was a Catholic convert. And she's Andrew's philosophical hero. Join us this week for another installment of the Oxford Four series, this time featuring Elizabeth Anscombe. 

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Ever heard of the Trolly Problem? Of course you have, even if you don't know you have. This episode we turn our attention to Philippa Foot, the originator of the famous thought experiment, but she was know for so much more. Her moral philosophy focusing on natural goodness helped usher in the revival of virtue ethics in the second half of the 20th century. Join us as we explore this member of the Oxford Four, Philippa Foot. 

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 Dive into the fascinating world of Iris Murdoch, one of four trailblazing women who revolutionized philosophy at Oxford University before and during World War II. These extraordinary friends reshaped philosophical thought with their groundbreaking ideas. In this episode, we explore Murdoch's impressive literary achievements and delve into her profound moral philosophy which centers around love. Join us for an engaging discussion on the life and legacy of a philosophical giant whose influence continues to resonate today. 

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People do not have any virtues, and people do not have any vices. You wouldn't be blamed for thinking this is a surprising take, but our guest Christian Miller thinks this is the case. Join us as Dr. Miller walks us through the argument in this captivating interview that canvases the landscape of character and virtue. 

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Roughly 1800 years ago, the most powerful person in the world wrote a book. Actually, back then it was only his journal, but today it is considered one of the great books of world wisdom. Known simply as Meditations, the emperor of the Roman Empire, Marcus Aurelius, for ten years wrote most mornings about the challenges he was to face and how he intended to approach them through the lens of his stoic philosophy. For generations since, millions have found a bit of themselves in the reflections of Marcus Aurelius, and being that he was the emperor of Rome make the problems all the more relatable, for if the most powerful person in the world might experience such difficulties, why not I? Join us as we present our fourth annual celebration of the philosopher king Marcus Aurelius.

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Can morality be entirely relative to an individual or a cultural standard? Does the diversity of moral beliefs across cultures undermine the existence of objective moral principles? Does the fact that human sacrifice once existed in one culture but looked down upon but another disprove the fact that there are objective morals? Or if we accept that moral subjectivism exists, is there a way to justify or make moral claims? Join us for this episode on moral relativism. 

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Last weekend, as I was driving down the interstate in Houston, I noticed, not for the first time, a billboard that claims, “Signs, Miracles, and Wonders! Every Sunday at 11:00 AM.” I turned towards my wife and quipped, “I didn’t realize you could schedule them.” But in all seriousness, how should one express such things to others, something like a miracle or a sign? If language is how we report the world, how does one speak of their public or private experience of God? Is someone who has a religious experience able to speak authoritatively about what has been revealed to them? And if so, how are we to determine if their important revelation is legitimate? Is religious experience a type of proof of God and a justification of belief? Clearly we have lots of questions. Join us as we wrap up our series on Religious Experience. 

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In the book of Exodus, God appears to the biblical patriarch Moses in the form of a burning bush, and tells him he is to lead the Isrealites, enslaved by the Egyptians, to freedom. In the Bhagavad Gita, the source of all things, lord Krisha, appears to prince Arjuna as his charioteer and helps him understand his identity and potential on the eve of a major battle. These appearances by gods, however, are not reserved just for the spiritual heroes of old. Millions of people around the world report having similar religious experiences where they encounter God in a variety of ways, are gifted spiritual powers, or their souls are washed clean and they are made new again. What exactly is a religious experience? Under what circumstances do they occur? And what should their meaning be in our life? Can we even speak of them in any sort of meaningful way? Join us for this first in a two part series on religious experience. 

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What’s the most important question in philosophy? Our guest Jack Symes believes it to be the question of God’s existence, no matter where you fall on the belief spectrum.  In this episode, Jack discusses with us his latest book, Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence which directly address this question. What is the origin of the universe? What are the most powerful arguments for and against the existence of God? What do thinkers outside of the Abrahamic faiths have to say about such questions? And why is Adam Sandler still making movies? Join us as we discuss these questions and gain insight about the many current thinkers included in the book with Jack Symes. 

You can purchase Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence by following this link. 

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Included in this episode are feminist icons Mary Wollstonecraft and Simone de Beauvoir, champions of new ethics Mary Midgley, Iris Murdoch, Philippa Foot, and Elizabeth Anscombe, and contemporary powerhouse on love and other moral stances Susan Wolf. It's a lot packed into one hour! Join us for this final installment of the series: Women Who Shaped Philosophy!

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Throughout the history of philosophy, women have been active, yet markedly absent from much of the scholarship. If you go into a book store or do a google search for the greatest philosophers, you would most likely see one or two women, at most on any given list. How can those two things coexist together? In Han Dynasty China, a female scholar was employed by the Emporer to write on the role of women. Plagued by the looming accusations of withcery and devil worship, a woman in the Medieval France wrote a treatise on the nature of women the empowerment in their traditional role. Across the ancient world into the Medieval Era, women were held positions of expertise from which they advised, often other women, on how to lead a good life and fulfill their social role. What did these women write about? Join us today as we discuss these philosopher queens and their contributions to philosophy.

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Throughout the history of philosophy, women have been active, yet markedly absent from much of the scholarship. If you go into a book store or do a google search for the greates philosohers, you would most likely see one or two women, at most on any given list. How can those two things coexist together? In Ancient Greece and Rome, a few women were revered as philosophical teachers. Plato occasionally included women in his famous dialogues. In Alexandria, Egypt, daughters of scholars were educated, and one rose to prominence through her public lectures. What did these women write about? Join us today as we discuss these philosopher queens and their contributions to philosophy.

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Whether concepts such as the Golden Ratio or more subjective standards of aesthetic judgments, beauty has been the subject of debate for every era of philosophical history. In the ancient world, it was the Greeks that formed much of what the ancient era would think about when considering beauty in concepts such as symmetry and ratios. The Enlightenment era philosophers of the modern period, influenced by the new emphasis on reason, grappled with the subjective nature of beauty and proposed a way that beauty could be both contextual yet universal. In the late modern and post-modern eras, women philosophers took up the question of beauty in application to themselves, attempting to find exactly how they should respond to the concept. Join us today as we look for beauty. 

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Beauty and aesthetics seems to be one of the least discussed branches of philosophy, yet occupied the minds of some of the greatest philosophers such as: Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Hume, just to name a few. Its appeal is immediately obvious, however, when someone asks the seemingly simple question of exactly what beauty is. The conversation that typically follows involves topics such as: what exactly are standards of beauty, if these standards are objective or entirely in the eye of the beholder, and under what circumstances do we or do we not encounter beauty. Some say beauty is rare; others that it is around us all the time if we would just look; that the outward self is just a grotesque veneer; that true beauty resides within. I mean, is the song that’s playing in the background right now beautiful? The last time your and your friends got together and played Mario Party? The weekend morning that just involves a cup of coffee, a book, and a cat purring in your lap ‘cause it loves you? Whatever the perspective, it seems beauty is something that matters to us, whether we find it in a sunset, a soaring aria, or in the eyes of our loved ones. Join us as we explore the practical side of beauty in this first of a two part series on the subject.

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Welcome to Open Door Philosophy! We're happy you stopped by!

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Join us as we discuss our goals and plans for Open Door Philosophy in 2024. We discuss upcoming guests, episode topics, and more!

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In this bit of nonsense, Andrew tries to convince Mr. Parsons to learn Latin, no one is sure what whiskey is, Mr. Parsons ditches the neck ties, and there's some dissatisfaction with camera angles.  

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In this episode, we put a bow on the year that was 2023! We look back on the podcast and this year's meaningful events in our lives. We then discuss our favorite books of 2023; No Spoilers!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our listeners. We'll see you in 2024!

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What do you own? Why do you own it? Are things owned individually or collectively? Do citizens own public parks and do they have an obligation to its maintenance? Can you own ideas or other intangible things like money and time? Join us for this exploratory episode on the concept of property. 

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In this bit of nonsense, we talk about Taylor's cardigans, how Mr. Parsons avoided fraud, Andrew's mysterious travel, and the difficulties of the Polish language. 

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In this episode, we delve into the rich work of political philosophy by Leo Strauss, John Rawls, and Robert Nozick. We begin with Strauss's influential ideas on liberal education, examining how he views cultural cultivation as essential for intellectual development and a bulwark against the homogenization of mass culture. Strauss's Aristotelian perspective on nurturing the individual's nature through education sets the stage for a deeper exploration of societal structures.

Transitioning to Rawls, we explore his innovative 'Veil of Ignorance' and the 'Original Position', concepts that have reshaped modern understandings of justice and fairness. Rawls' principles challenge us to consider a society where every individual's rights are safeguarded and inequalities are justified only if they benefit the least advantaged.

Finally, we turn to Nozick's libertarian response, which emphasizes individual rights and the minimal state. Nozick's ideas on self-ownership and consensual contracts offer a stark contrast to Rawls, presenting a viewpoint where free exchange and personal liberty are paramount.

Join us as we navigate these philosophical currents, understanding how each thinker builds upon or reacts against the others, shaping our views on education, justice, and the ideal society.

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Need a bit of the ODP crew without the philosophy? Welcome to ODP Shorts!

Andrew needs a haircut and thinks David Beckham is a fine American, Mr. Parsons' football team is struggling, and Taylor reviews former Houston Astros Jerseys.  

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At one point in history, European countries were ruled by monarchs.  The Catholic Church also exerted a great deal of control. And our physical explanations for why nature is comprised the way it is relied on  metaphysical explanations reliant on God. Then enter the Enlightenment. Thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were instrumental in this transition from Medieval conceptions of the divine rights of kings and original sin to that of representative governments, rights, and human nature. Join us as we explore this trifecta of  influential philosophers. We also talk about what is our Roman Empire, build-a-bear, and asparagus. 

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Welcome to a very spectral, spooky episode of Open Door Philosophy! Since this episode releases on Halloween, we thought how better to celebrate than talk about our spookiest philosophers! You'll have to listen to find out who they are though, because suspense is the name of the game!

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We know war happens all the time, unfortunately.  Caught up in war are states and individuals who wish for others to see their actions as reasonable, for the best, and ultimately just. But it seems war involves many actions which are considered wrong in other circumstances, killing another human being for example.  Most people will agree that self-defense is justifiable, but how far does that defense go before it becomes vengeance? And a particular difficulty for aggressor states is that they must have just cause to be the instigator of warfare.  In this episode we turn to the Greeks and the Peloponnesian War, as well as the Medieval giants of Augustine and Aquinas who develop something quite important: Just War Theory. When should war be waged? How should it be conducted? And in it's conclusion, how should the victor treat the defeated. Join us as we explore Just War Theory

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Philosophy is a notoriously massive subject, and for someone unfamiliar, it might be difficult to figure out where to start. Do you look for a famous name on the bookshelf? Try to choose a subject? Start with self-help? Maybe join a book club? In this episode, we answer a listener question by exploring how to get started in philosophy by recounting our own experiences and plotting a course. 

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The Shawnee, a native American tribe, tells a tale of brother crow and brother buffalo which imparts the wisdom of balance: to only hunt the buffalo when it is necessary for food and skins, but to remember that each creature is our brother and sister too. Tales like this one are not uncommon in many indigenous cultures around the world. 

Through an illustrative story set in nature, they transmit the ethical, epistemological, and metaphysical beliefs of the tribe from one generation to the next on topics such as virtue and vice, creation and purpose, life, death, and what comes after. Yet the collective body of knowledge and beliefs of such tribes are not considered philosophy, but are rather placed in an adjacent and loosely defined category called “wisdom traditions.” And this label is hardly reserved for indigenous knowledge systems. Buddhism, Humanism, Taoism, Transcendentalism, Confucianism and Quakerism have all been called wisdom traditions by some. 

In what way do wisdom traditions differ from philosophy? Are they considered “lesser than” or are they on equal ground but utilize different ways of knowing? Is the term subversively pejorative? Or does its separate status identify something uniquely different and profoundly important?

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On first listen, you might think this episode is about the Tao Te Ching. We thought it would be too, but it became a meandering conversations about the origin of authority, premises that lead to conclusion, justification, wisdom versus reason, and social media. 

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It’s pretty common in the self-help age we live in, with piles of well meaning books and as many podcast as the stars, to pursue happiness. But often the focus is on what we can change or tweak in our life to obtain it rather than what exactly it is. What is happiness? Perhaps if we identify what happiness is, we can create a foundation on which to build.

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Love is a driving factor in our decisions. People plan their lives around who they love: they stay close to their parents, take a completely random job to stay with their spouse, and save hundreds of thousands of dollars for their future children’s education. But just as the people we love drive our decisions, so do what activities we love. Famously, Paul Gauguin ran away from his wife and children, culture and country to pursue his love of painting in Tahiti. The composer Piotor Tchaikovsky gave up a potentially lucrative career as a civil servant to study composition. Less dramatically however, we make these decisions all the time in our lives. We sacrifice our time to read, our bodies to play sports, or our sleep to go watch Taylor Swift concerts. We do these activities because we love them. And this love, many philosophers argue, gives our life meaning. But do all activities, even ones that are trivial but that we might enjoy, contribute to meaning? Can humans love any task? If not, what is the criterion and who makes it? And why should we care? Join us today as we unpack the paradox between love and meaning. 

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Around 2500 years ago in Ancient Greece, Empedocles contemplated the essential questions of the universe, including the role of love and strife. Empedocles is known as a pre-Socratic philosopher, although he was primarily a poet. In his surviving works, On Nature and Purifications, Empedocles posits that the cosmic powers of Love and Strife govern the four indestructible elements of the universe. Love unifies the elements with each other and draws like to like. Since then, philosophers, poets, and thinkers have contemplated what love is and how it impacts human existence and the function of the universe. From the Platonic dialogues to 20th century literature, thinkers have chronicled their thoughts on love.  

So why are philosophers so concerned with love? Is love that important that it commands centuries of attention from nearly every philosophical thinker? In many ways, love is what binds us together as humans and gives motivation to our lives. Today, we will explore love and its role in human life. 

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Roughly 3700 years ago, in the fertile crescent of mesopotamia, the first Western epic was composed. The character Gilgamesh, and his friend Enkidu, have many adventures battling mighty beasts. But when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is thrown into, what we would today call, an existential crisis, as Gilgamesh grapples with themes such as friendship and love, mortality, free will and fate, and the search for meaning. Since that time, literature has been consistently used as a vehicle to explore philosophical themes, whether that be the ancient Greeks through the Iliad and the Odyssey, or the modern existentialist.  

But why is this? Aren’t philosophical treatises sufficient? There’s something about literature as an alternative avenue to philosophical thought. Rather than a treatise with syllogisms, points and counterpoints, thought experiments and the like, great literature allows us to contemplate some of life’s greatest mysteries with a little life breathed into it through colorful characters, allegorical tales, intricate metaphors, or captivating dialogues. Through this vehicle, philosophical literature challenges readers to ponder the nature of truth, the meaning of happiness, and the complexities of human relationships.

But can literature be considered philosophy? Does it do a disservice to the philosophical enterprise? And ultimately, what is its value to human experience? Join us as we explore the connection between philosophy and literature. 

Episode Resources

The Myth of Sisyphus - Albert Camus
The Stranger - Albert Camus
Utopia - Thomas Moore
The Divine Comedy (Inferno) - Dante
Silence - Shusaku Endo
Hamlet - Shakespeare
The Decameron - Giovanni Boccaccio
The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong
The Little Life - Donna Tart

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Ludwig Wittgenstein was born in 1889 into a wealthy and aristocratic family in Austria. He was a brilliant child, and he was educated at some of the best schools in the country.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Wittgenstein began a career in mathematics and logic. He quickly made a name for himself as a brilliant thinker, and he published several important works on these subjects.

In the early 1900s, Wittgenstein began to turn his attention to philosophy. He was particularly interested in the philosophy of language, and he published several important works on this subject. Join us as we look into his major theories and work. 

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One of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, British philosopher Bertrand Russell's reach is inescapable.  He was a true polymath, with interests in mathematics, logic, philosophy, politics, and social reform. And he was also a controversial figure, often outspoken in his criticism of the status quo. Join us as we ask, who was Bertrand Russell?

Episode Resources

A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell
Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

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Join us for this exploration of the concept of hope from a philosophical perspective. What is hope? Can hope ever be justified?  What are the uses of hope? And what do different philosophical schools say about hope? Plus a visit to the bookshelf!

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet: John Green
Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way: Kieran Setiya

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The philosophy of Transcendentalism  advocated for living simply, evaluating tradition, and cultivating your inner-self. Join us as we explore some of the practices that Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson participated in attempting to cultivate the soul. We also discuss the new Snapchat AI. Apologies for the poor audio track. 

Episode Resources

Transcendentalism and The Cultivation of the Soul by Barry M. Andrews
Nature and Other Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Walden, Civil Disobedience, and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau 

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Surely despair is a state of mind we all experience from time to time, and once through it we never want to experience such a state again. The Danish philosopher and father of Existentialism, Søren Kierkegaard, believed that despair was a universal feature of existence. In other words, none of us are getting out of it, and it's also not a temporary state, but something we endure all the time. Fear not though, Kierkegaard has an answer. Join us as we explore is text The Sickness Unto Death as well as catch up on things and offer a very patched together recounting of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Episode Resources

The Sickness Unto Death - Søren Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard, a Very Short Introduction -Patrick Gardiner
Philosopher of the Heart: The Restless Life of Søren Kierkegaard - Clare Carlisle

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Who doesn't love a little Marcus Aurelius? Join us for our third annual visit with our old philosophical friend, Marcus. He hasn't change much, but maybe we have. Also tune in for another installment of ChatGPT versus Mr. Parsons and Taylor orchestrated by the gamemaster Andrew, as well as a visit to the bookshelf! Good times had by all.

Episode Resources

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Hays Translation)
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Waterfield Translation)

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Hinduism is the oldest continuous eastern philosophy in the world. In this episode we look at a bit of it's history, some of it's main beliefs, the influential Bhagavad Gita, and offer some practical application.

Episode Resources

The Bhagavad Gita 

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The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, the interdependent nature of all things, and licking honey from a razor blade. Buddhism has a tremendous following world wide, but with such notoriety comes many misconceptions, or at least misguided approximations, from those who do not practice or live in a region where it is widely practiced. Join us this episode as we focus on some of the more philosophical claims Buddhism makes such as the nature of suffering.

Episode Resources

Old Path White Cloud :Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhist Ethics: A Philosophical Exploration by Jay Garfield
Episode 112, The Philosophy of Buddhism with Jay Garfield, The Panpsycast Podcast

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One of the three great Chinese philosophical traditions, join us as we explore Confucianism. What is the gentleman? What does it mean to be benevolent? And why follow the rites?

Episode Resources

The Analects 

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"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name."

Thus begins one of the most famous and mysterious claims in philosophy from one of the two primary texts of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching. Join us as we explore the philosophy of Taoism which values balance, flexibility, and non-attachment in this first of a four part series on Eastern Philosophy!

Episode Resources

Tao Te Ching - Feng/English Translation

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It's our 50th episode, and we decided to celebrate by answering your questions! Do we have free will? What's a philosophical tv show/movie we like?  What got us into philosophy, and what keeps us there? And more! Plus a little retrospective, some looking forward, and a lot of laughs!

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*cue dramatic music*

Out of the ashes of World War II arose a philosophy based on embracing the absurdism of existence, being authentic, and enduring the existential nausea that resulted.  One of it's many champions was French  philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, who scaled the mountain of criticism to become one of the most popularly known figures of the mid-twentieth century. With his emphasis on radical freedom and responsibility, a solidified movement called Existentialism was born. Join us as we explore his life and theories as we ask, who was Jean-Paul Sartre?

Resources

Nausea
Being and Nothingness
Existentialism Is a Humanism 

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One of the most popular philosophers of the mid 20th century and influential member of 2nd wave feminism, Existentialist Simone de Beauvoir was a significant novelist, essayist, autobiographer, and champion of social issues. Join us as we explore and discuss the life and ideas of Simone de Beauvoir. 

Episode Resources:

Becoming Beauvoir by Kate Kirkpatrick 
How To Be Authentic by Sky Clearly
At the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell

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Join us as we review our favorite books we read in 2022!

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A staple of Alcoholics Anonymous is the surrender of agency to a providential, theistic god, but what exactly does this mean? And are there other ways to connect with our spiritual center? Peg O'Connor thinks so. Join us as Peg offers us a field guide to William James' great work The Varieties of Religious Experience through her wonderful new book on overcoming addiction and suffering: Friendlier and Higher Powers. 

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In our episode on Plato, we quoted Alfred North Whitehead as saying, “All of philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato.” For almost 1500 years, however, many philosophers and historians believed that all of knowledge, including philosophy, was a footnote to Aristotle. The Philosopher, as he is known, contributed greatly in fields of biology to rhetoric, physics to ethics. But what made Aristotle so special? And why should we care about Aristotle today after so much of his work, such as the Sun rotating around the Earth, has been disproven. Furthermore, Aristotle makes ethical claims that go against foundational points in modern society: that women are inferior to men and that some people are natural slaves. The work and influence of Aristotle is ingrained in Western society and thought, but why is this the case? Join us this week on Open Door Philosophy to learn “Who is Aristotle?”

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The 20th century English/American philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once famously said “All of philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato.” Though a highly contested claim, no matter where you land on it, the quote does at least cause one to consider the inescapable presence of Plato. Who was this follower of Socrates who founded a school after which schools across the globe are still named today - the academy? And why is it that he is considered amongst the trinity of foundational philosophers in the western world? Did he simply ride the coattails of his great teacher Socrates, pulling from him most of the theories he is well known for today? Or is Plato truly a giant among philosophers? Unquestionably, Plato’s influence lives on today. His great work The Republic is a master class in philosophical thinking and methodology, and one of the most widely read works of philosophy. His account of the death of Socrates preserved for us the story of the man who would be ultimately seen as the founder of western philosophy. Yet despite the acknowledgement of his influence on philosophy, some dismiss his theories as antiquated and out of touch for what our current context calls for. Join us today as we explore the question, who was Plato?

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One of the big three stoic sources from antiquity is Epictetus, and central to any understanding of such works is a good translation, yet the work of translation is not a straight forward task of simply taking words in another language and finding their equivalent in whatever language it is your are translating it into. Robin Waterfield is a celebrated translator of many ancient Greek and Roman texts, and here in this episode we discuss with him his latest translation, the complete works of Epictetus. 

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Imagine you’re in Ancient Athens, around 410 BCE, walking through the local market. There, an older man approaches you and begins to pepper you with questions. They start off simple enough, but by the end, you end up, annoyed, disagreeing with what you first claimed to be true. This man was probably Socrates, the most famous and influential philosopher of all time. But Socrates is surrounded by mystery. He never wrote anything down and we don’t even know where his beliefs stopped being documented and his student, Plato’s, started being included. Scholars don’t even agree if Socrates actually existed! Socrates' quest was a simple one: to challenge his and others beliefs to make sure his society didn’t remain complacent. And that simple goal was ultimately what led to his conviction and death. 

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Most people are generally aware of the story that philosophy began a very long time ago in Greece, and the three largely responsible for its beginning were Plato, Aristotle, and the great Socrates, but they weren’t the first philosophers. There was a rich tradition of thinkers who came before The Big Three, an unaffiliated group who demonstrated a degree of curiosity that would become synonymous with philosophical thinking and lay the foundation of what would eventually be known as Greek Rationalism. Scholarship calls this group of thinkers the Pre-Socratics, but rather than being defined by just having come before Socrates, the Pre-Socratics philosophical project was that of the nature of things: where do things come from? What are things made of? Can something come from nothing? Though today in the light of our scientific knowledge we find their reflections on nature perhaps simplistic and incomplete, there is a charm to their thinking from which much can be still gained.

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What if you had a magic object, say a ring, that when used would render you invisible, allowing for you to get away with whatever you wanted? How would you use this power? For good actions, or bad? And what is good (virtue) and bad (vice) anyway? Join us as we unpack this classic thought experiment from Plato's The Republic.

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If God has all the omni traits associated with theism, such as being all powerful, all knowing, and all good, how then can we square the fact that human begins, supposedly loved by God, encounter and endure so much suffering and evil? It seems like God, being all powerful, could get us out of this aspect of existence. Join us for this final episode of our introductory series on the Philosophy of Religion. 

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How can I live authentically in a 21st century context given all the brute facts of not only my life, but the seemingly inflexible conditions of existence? Philosopher Dr. Skye Cleary has tapped into the rich life and philosophy of French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir to offer us some answers to such questions with her new book How To Be Authentic:  Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment.  Join us for this insightful interview.

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It seems almost intuitive that the universe and everything within is intelligently designed, but Charles Darwin's theory of Evolution By Natural Sections turned the argument on its head. Join us as we discuss the Teleological Argument, or the Argument from Design, in this latest series on topics related to the Philosophy of Religion. 

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This episode we look at yet another proof of God, this time one which argues that God is a necessary aspect in the creation of the universe. This is known as the Cosmological Argument and is championed by many great thinkers, including Thomas Aquinas. Also included is a riveting game of Name that Saint! This is part 3 of our series on the Philosophy of Religion.  

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Many attempt to prove God's existence based on experience, but what if there were a way to prove the existence of God by using nothing but logic? Sound fishy? Anslem of Canterbury didn't think so. Join us as we look at the Ontological argument, most famously put forth by Anselm. 

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Join us for this multi-part series on the philosophy of religion. We begin with discussing the scope of this particular branch of philosophy, and then discuss what we can and cannot know about God, which include attributes such as omnipotence and omnibenevolence. 

We'd love to hear from you! Below are ways you can best contact the show. 

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What are thought experiments? What role do they play in philosophy, and how might they be helpful to us in our own lives? Join us for this special episode with guest Dr. Helen De Cruz as we discuss her latest book, Philosophy Illustrated: Forty-Two Thought Experiments To Broaden your Mind. Open Door Philosophy on Twitter @d_parsonage or @opendoorphilOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.comContact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

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Critical of philosophy as a discipline too focused on abstract theory, French philosopher Pierre Hadot posits that ancient philosophy is meant to be an aid to living well. In this episode we provide commentary and analysis of his essay Spiritual Exercises from his book Philosophy as a Way of Life on topics such as learning to die, dialoguing, and other aspects critical to living a good life.  

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Critical of philosophy as a discipline too focused on abstract theory, French philosopher Pierre Hadot posits that ancient philosophy is meant to be an aid to living well. In this episode we unpack his essay Spiritual Exercises from his book Philosophy as a way of life. In the following episode, we will provide commentary and analysis. 

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Born into slavery in the first century, Epictetus founded a school of philosophy and became a stoic master. Join us for an overview of the life and philosophy of Epictetus. This is part four of our series on Stoic thinkers. Open Door Philosophy on Twitter @d_parsonage or @opendoorphil Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

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Born in the second century, Marcus Aurelius is one of the best known philosophical thinkers and highly regarded for his book "Meditations". Join us as we review the life and philosophy of the Roman emperor and Stoic thinker Marcus Aurelius. This is part three of our series on Stoic thinkers.Open Door Philosophy on Twitter @d_parsonage or @opendoorphilOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.comContact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

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This episode focuses on the life and philosophy of Roman statesman and Stoic practitioner Seneca the Younger. Plus an advert to get you in the outdoor grilling frame of mind! This is part two of our series on Stoic thinkers. 

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The beginning of a four part series on the stoic thinkers Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. This episode focuses on the history and central tenants of stoicism, plus a Houston Rodeo themed sponsorship!Open Door Philosophy on Twitter @d_parsonage or @opendoorphilOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.comContact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

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In this episode we answer questions submitted by our listeners! Are insects worthy of moral consideration? What topics do we like to debate? Are humans inherently entitled to anything? Plus a special advert with an eye on summer, and a visit to the quote corner!

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Jack Symes of the podcast The Panpsycast joins us to discuss his brilliant new book Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking About the Mind and have a few laughs as well. 

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In this episode, we introduce the Mind-Body positions known as Materialism and Panpsychism, plus we acknowledge our sponsors and visit the Quote Corner! 

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In this episode, Andrew and Derek introduce the topic of Consciousness or the Mind-Body Problem, discuss the position called Dualism, visit the bookshelf, and introduce new sponsors! 

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Welcome to the final episode of season one where we discuss our favorite philosophy books!! Don't worry. We'll be back in the beginning of 2022! Until then, enjoy these book recommendations! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." Join us this week for our first episode in Eastern philosophy about the famous work, the Tao Te Ching by Laozi. Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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Emerson and Thoreau. We've all heard these names, and perhaps we've even heard of the philosophy they practiced in some way. Join us on an exploration into the philosophy of Transcendentalism!! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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This week, we have Andrew's favorite online philosophy educator, Gregory Sadler, join us to talk about problems that come up with philosophy: misrepresentations in pop culture, how it's represented in schools, and of course, the ever present trolley problem! We're beyond excited and hope you are too! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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In this fourth of a four episode series, Andrew and Mr. Parsons discuss Virtue Ethics as a way to determine proper ethical and moral action. Mr. Parsons recounts a recent, personal moral quandary. Andrew has terrible allergies. 

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Do we have a duty to act a certain way? Do we have a duty to ourselves and others? Kant we do this? Learn the answer to all of these questions and puns in this episode! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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Have you ever wondered how you can calculate the best possible decision? For the second episode on our four-episode arc, we take a deep dive into the ethical system, Utilitarianism. We'll talk about the philosophers of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart-Mill and their approach to how we should live the most ethical lives! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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What is morality and why is everyone so crazy about it? Are some decisions better than others? What's the difference between ethics and morality? Join us on the first episode of our four-episode arc about morality! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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Do you make judgements about how to live from our personal experiences? Well, Pragmatism might be for you. For our first episode about an American philosopher, we invited Jeffrey Howard, the editor-in-chief at Erraticus, and podcast host at Damn the Absolute! to learn more about this field of philosophy. Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!https://erraticus.co/

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Take a "leap of faith" with us on this week's episode where we discuss Derek's trip to Copenhagen, where he visited the father of Existentialism, Soren Kierkegaard. We discuss ideas such as subjective truth, God, and, of course, the famous expression "Leap of Faith". After this episode, we promise you won't be either in fear or trembling (bad joke), unless that's your truth! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist.Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comYou can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophyIf your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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When thinking about philosophy, the question of how it is practiced is rarely discussed. If one holds, as Open Door Philosophy does, that one ought to practice philosophy in order to live well, then it seems that the question of how it is done is necessary. This week, we dive into how philosophy should be practiced. Join us for a great episode! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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Why do philosophers want to talk about something as uninteresting as friendship? Aren't their more important things to think about? For Roman philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero, the answer was no. Join us this week to learn why he thought so and what the ideal friendship actually is? Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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In this week's episode, we switch topics and look at a question which has plagued philosophers throughout the ages: If we do have a soul, is it immortal? The most famous answer to this question is perhaps done by the great philosopher, Plato, in his book Phaedo. We look at Plato's best argument, and consider if the argument stands under our criticism! This isn't an episode your soul is going to want to miss! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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This week we visit with Nietzsche scholar Carson Knox. In addition to Nietzsche's biography and unique writing style, we cover well known Nietzschean ideas such as the Will to Power, Eternal Recurrence, and the Ubermensch. Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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In this episode, we look at a book by Fr. Richard Rohr entitled Falling Upward: A Spiritually for the Second Half of Life. We consider topics such as the role of suffering, non-dualistic thinking, and how we might come into a more generous and compassionate understanding of ourself and others. This continues our theme from the previous episode on how the way we live impacts how well we die.Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

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Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Why should we think about death? How does the quality of our life impact the quality of our death? Philosophers have been thinking about these issues for thousands of years. Check out today's episode to learn more about these topics and how to prepare for the only inevitability in life: death. On a much lighter note, please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

In this episode, we review the life of Marcus Aurelius, one of our philosophical role models, on his 1900th birthday! We discuss his place in Roman history, the book "Meditations" for which he is so well known, many quotes, and offer an overview of the philosophy of living known as Stoicism. Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

This week Andrew and Mr. Parsons discuss what it means to have an identity by thinking about Heraclitus. No, not the philosopher! The plant! Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

This week, Mr. Parsons and Andrew explore the nature of reality through the influential ideas of Descartes, particular in his work Meditations and Discourse on Method.  Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist. Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

On this episode, Mr. Parsons and Andrew discuss perhaps the most influential philosopher of all time, Aristotle. We discuss his basic biographical facts, his lasting impact on science and the empirical approach to knowledge, and a bit about ethics.  Also, James the cat wants to engage with philosophy. 

Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist.

Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

You can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy

If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

This week Mr. Parsons and Andrew discuss the famous, "Allegory of the Cave". We discuss the meaning of truth, the form of the good, and the purpose of philosophy. Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist.Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comYou can also find us on Twitter @opendoorphil and Instagram @opendoorphilosophyIf your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Derek Parsons and Andrew Graziano start off the podcast by discussing what philosophy is, and what it isn't. 

Please check out our website at opendoorphilosophy.com where you can find more information about the show and get access to our booklist.

Also, feel free to email us any questions or any quotes you want us to review on the podcast by emailing opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com

You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @opendoorphilosophy

If your life is in need of some philosophy, the door is always open!

Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy
Open Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com