Episodes

  • Symposium Part 3

    Symposium Part 3
    Jun 29 2026
    In which the discourse unfolds through a profound teaching by Diotima, revealing that love is the pursuit of immortality expressed through generation in beauty, leading the soul to ascend from corporeal attraction to the contemplation of absolute and eternal beauty. Thereafter, the revelry continues with the arrival of the spirited Alcibiades, whose fervent and candid address honours Socrates’ singular wisdom and enduring character amidst the convivial company.
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Symposium Part 2

    Symposium Part 2
    Jun 28 2026
    In which the nature and power of Love are explored through myth and reason, revealing human origins as once unified beings now divided and yearning to be whole, and Love understood as a profound force binding gods and mortals alike, filled with complexity and pursuit of the eternal good. This discourse unfolds through the speeches of those present, culminating in a dialogue where the wisdom of a venerable woman teacher imparts that Love is neither god nor mortal but a daimon intermediary, a lover of beauty and goodness, whose essence lies in the unending desire for possession of the good and the profound act of bringing forth life in beauty.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Symposium Part 1

    Symposium Part 1
    Jun 27 2026
    In which Apollodorus recounts the occasion of a famous banquet at Agathon’s house, where various distinguished guests propose to deliver encomiums in praise of Love, setting the stage for a series of reflections on its nature and virtues. Each participant, from the poet Phaedrus to the physician Eryximachus, begins to expound upon different aspects of this divine force, illustrating its profound influence on human conduct and the cosmos.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Phaedo Part 8

    Phaedo Part 8
    Jun 26 2026
    In which Socrates calmly accepts the cup of poison and gently instructs those around him to bear their sorrow with patience, demonstrating his serene composure amidst farewell. As the fatal draught takes its course, his final words and tranquil manner leave an enduring impression of wisdom and righteousness on his devoted companions.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Phaedo Part 7

    Phaedo Part 7
    Jun 25 2026
    In which Socrates leads his companions through a vivid and intricate description of the cosmos and the soul’s journey after death, contrasting the corrupt earthly realm with a purer, more splendid existence beyond. As the hour of his own departure draws near, he calmly prepares for the final moments with a serene acceptance, imparting counsel to his friends and bidding them farewell with a gentle-hearted resolve.
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Phaedo Part 6

    Phaedo Part 6
    Jun 24 2026
    In which Socrates leads his companions through a careful discourse on the absolute forms of beauty, greatness, and life, distinguishing true essences from their particulars and demonstrating how opposites interact and exclude one another. He further contemplates the soul’s nature as immortal and imperishable, urging attentive care for it beyond mortal life, with a view towards its journey and moral condition after death.
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Phaedo Part 5

    Phaedo Part 5
    Jun 23 2026
    In which Socrates addresses doubts concerning the nature and immortality of the soul, carefully disentangling the arguments that liken it to a mere harmony of bodily elements and demonstrating the inconsistencies therein. He then reflects on his youthful philosophical inquiries into the causes of existence and the limitations of sensory knowledge, advocating instead for a searching contemplation of the soul’s essence through the light of reason.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Phaedo Part 4

    Phaedo Part 4
    Jun 22 2026
    In which Socrates gently leads his companions to contemplate the soul’s captivity by bodily desires and the philosopher’s hopeful striving to purify it for a future existence beyond mortal bonds. Yet, as doubts arise through thoughtful objections likening the soul to a fragile harmony or a worn garment, Socrates embraces these challenges with calm resolve, urging reasoned perseverance rather than despair.
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins