Plato's Pod: Dialogues on the works of Plato

Oct 27 2024 68 ep. 108 mins 36
Plato's Pod: Dialogues on the works of Plato Podcast artwork

Welcome to Plato's Pod, a bi-weekly podcast of group discussions on the dialogues of Plato, the philosopher and geometer who wrote nearly 2,400 years ago. Anyone interested in participating, whether to learn about Plato or to contribute to the dialogue, is welcome to join. Hosted by amateur philosopher James Myers, the podcast is held through Meetup.com and inquiries can be e-mailed to [email protected]. Episodes are lightly edited for clarity, with care to avoid compromising the contributions made by participants. Wherever we go in our discussions, we gain knowledge from each other’s perspectives, and for the increase in knowledge we invite everyone to add their voice to the dialogue. Plato, without a doubt, would have imagined no better way than in dialogue for knowledge – the account of the reasons why – to find its home.

  Society & Culture  Science
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


Plato's Laws - Book XII, Part 2: The Nocturnal Council Guarding Virtue

Oct 27 2024 121 mins  
Our final meeting on Plato’s longest dialogue, The Laws, concluded with readings from Book XII, where the Athenian expounds on the operation of a special Nocturnal Council that will act as the head and intellect for Crete’s new colony, Magnesia. On August 4, 2024, members of the Toronto, Calgary, and Chicago Philosophy Meetup groups considered many of the key themes of The Laws

Plato's Laws - Book XII, Part 1: Who Guards the Guardians?

Sep 27 2024 111 mins  
Book XII is the final chapter of Plato’s longest and last dialogue, The Laws, and addresses the challenge of how a community can thrive when its leaders act against the collective interest. Having set out a novel constitution that promotes the virtue of citizens and leaders in Crete’s new colony, Magnesia, the three characters in the dialogue turn their attention to protecting

Plato's Laws - Book XI: Property and Punishment in Magnesia

Sep 02 2024 112 mins  
Book XI of Plato's last and longest dialogue represents a dramatic shift in tone from Book X, where we began our series on The Laws eleven episodes ago. On July 7, 2024, members of the Toronto, Calgary, and Chicago Philosophy Meetup groups convened to consider the thirty-three laws that the Athenian proposes to Clinias and Megillus for the regulation of trade and property in Crete'

Plato's Laws - Book IX: Legislating the Good for Unjust Acts Committed

Aug 05 2024 119 mins  
In our eleventh meeting on Plato's longest and final dialogue, we set aside Book VIII and moved from Book VII to read selections from Book IX. In Book IX, the Athenian, Clinias from Crete, and Megillus from Sparta address the practical questions of administering justice for those in Crete's new colony who might commit evil acts. On June 23, members of the Toronto, Calgary, and Chic

Plato’s Laws – Book VII: Teaching and Legislating for Harmony

Jul 23 2024 116 mins  
In our series on Plato’s longest and last dialogue, The Laws, on June 9, 2024 members of the Toronto, Calgary, and Chicago Philosophy Meetup groups turned to Book VII. There, the three characters – the Athenian, Clinias from Crete, and Megillus from Sparta – discuss the raising of children in Crete’s new colony, Magnesia. They begin by exploring the harmony of the colony’

Plato's Laws - Book VI: Founding and Governing a Virtuous Society

Jul 03 2024 119 mins  
In Book VI of his last dialogue, The Laws, Plato has the Athenian, Clinias from Crete, and Megillus from Sparta discuss the governing structure for Crete’s new colony, to be called Magnesia. It’s a mixed system involving elements of democracy and monarchy, and one that places responsibility on every citizen to perform duty for the community and to choose the Guardians of the La

Plato’s Laws – Book V: The Soul in Communal Harmony

Jun 17 2024 104 mins  
In Book V of Plato’s Laws, only the unnamed Athenian speaks while the other two characters, Clinias from Crete and Megillus from Sparta, listen to his presentation on the power of the soul, harmony in human behaviour, and the just division of property for Crete’s new colony to be called Magnesia. On May 12, 2024, Plato’s Pod held its eighth meeting on Plato’s longest and la

Plato's Laws - Book IV: Leadership by Reason

May 25 2024 124 mins  
Book IV of Plato's longest dialogue, The Laws, places the spotlight on the qualities of virtuous leadership as the three characters - the unnamed Athenian, Clinias from Crete, and Megillus from Sparta - discuss the establishment of Crete's new colony. The skill of the leader, says the Athenian, must help guide the colony through the risks and rewards of chance and opportunity. Thes

Plato’s Laws – Book III: Finding Unity and Reason in the Balance of Reason

May 12 2024 126 mins  
Our discussion on Book III of Plato’s longest dialogue, The Laws, began by considering the consequences of natural cataclysms that invariably befall humanity. Plato opens the book with the emergence of early human communities that begin with goodwill when people are few and resources are relatively abundant, and many fascinating observations emerged when members of the Toronto, C

Plato's Laws - Book II: Learning the Pleasure of the Good and Beautiful

Apr 13 2024 132 mins  
Our coverage of Plato’s longest dialogue, The Laws, continues with a discussion on Book II, building on the connection of virtue and happiness that was emphasized in Book I. As the Athenian, Cretan, and Spartan proceed in considering the ideal framework for a constitution, the theme of harmony in the soul and in the community is central to Book II. How are children to be educated