Plato 101: An Introduction with Friends

WE ARE STARTING PLATO! Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast we are launching into our studies on Plato. We are kicking off with a roundtable of friends—a lawyer, two Phds, and an independent scholar—discussing the preliminary questions on Plato.

Questions:

1. Who was Plato?
2. Why should we read Plato?
3. Why should Christians read Plato?
4. How should we read Plato?
5. What Plato will we be reading?

We’ll also have a brief opening chat on the great books in general and why they are worth reading—which is at the heart of our mission here at Ascend. We’ll end by mapping out the next 8-9 months of episodes on Plato, which includes some of the best university professors and online voices you can find. So join us today for an excellent conversation on who is Plato and why should we read him.

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Visit our PATREON PAGE for written guides and a community chat on Plato.

Keywords: Plato, Great Books, Socrates, Philosophy, Dialogues, Education, Christian Thought, Classical Education, Literature, Intellectual Tradition

Hashtags: #Plato #Greatbooks #Socrates #Christian

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books

00:55 Introducing Plato and the Panel

05:32 The Purpose of Reading Great Books

12:05 Understanding Socrates and His Influence

21:14 Exploring Plato's Life and Philosophy

30:04 The Importance of Reading Plato

30:49 Socratic Questions and Universal Truths

33:53 Plato's Philosophical Legacy

36:15 Plato and the Spiritual Dimension

41:09 Plato's Role in Christian Thought

44:24 Philosophy and Faith: A Christian Perspective

51:19 How to Read Plato's Dialogues

01:03:49 Understanding Plato in Context

01:04:16 The Challenges of the Philosophical Life

01:05:42 The Hazards of Philosophy

01:07:18 The Demands of Knowledge

01:09:42 The Cost of Philosophical Inquiry

01:10:21 Upcoming Dialogues and Their Importance

01:13:14 Exploring First Alcibiades

01:13:44 The Euthyphro Dilemma

01:17:05 Socrates' Defense in the Apology

01:17:53 The Crito: Laws and Justice

01:18:58 The Phaedo: Death and Immortality

01:19:28 The Mino: Education and Knowledge

01:21:05 The Gorgias: Rhetoric and Morality

01:23:03 The Republic: Justice and Society

01:24:40 Reading Recommendations and Translations

01:26:04 Final Thoughts on Reading Plato

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