A survey of philosophers and their ideas primarily on topics of ethics and metaphysics.

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Bitzer&#39;s Rhetorical Situation involves three ideas: exigence, audience, and constraints. In this episode, I discuss the importance of constraints. Constraints are an essential element of a persuasive appeal. They can make or break a rhetorical audience.

Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation involves three ideas: exigence, audience, and constraints.  In this episode, I discuss the importance of constraints. Constraints are an essential element of a persuasive appeal. They can make or break a rhetorical audience.

Bitzer's Idea of Constraints

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Two elements that create a rhetorical situation are exigence and audience. What is a rhetorical exigence &amp; rhetorical audience?

Two elements that create a rhetorical situation are exigence and audience. What is a rhetorical exigence & rhetorical audience?

Bitzer's Rhetorical Theory: Exigence and Audience

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In 1968 Bitzer offers a revolutionary way of thinking about rhetoric. He points out that we use rhetoric much more often than we might expect, and that Aristotle&#39;s three modes of appeal fall short in understanding the rhetorical needs. Bitzer&#39;s theory is a Copernican revolution in rhetorical theory.

In 1968 Bitzer offers a revolutionary way of thinking about rhetoric. He points out that we use rhetoric much more often than we might expect, and that Aristotle's three modes of appeal fall short in understanding the rhetorical needs. Bitzer's theory is a Copernican revolution in rhetorcial theory.

Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation part one

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Booth&#39;s Rhetorical Stance develops Aristotle&#39;s rhetorical Triangle idea by stressing the importance of a flexible balance between the modes of appeal. If any mode of appeal is pushed too far and given too much weight, we have a corruption of communication.

Booth's Rhetorical Stance develops Aristotle's rhetorical Triangle idea by stressing the importance of a flexible balance between the modes of appeal. If any mode of appeal is pushed too far and given too much weight, we have a corruption of communication.

Booth's Rhetorical Stance

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Here is a quick summary and review of the Modes of Appeal. These modes are the basic tools we use for persuasion.

Here is a quick summary and review of the Modes of Appeal. These modes are the basic tools we use for persuasion.

A quick look at Aristotle's Modes of Appeal

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What is rhetoric? Aristotle provides us with a basic framework for approaching the art of persuasion. Let&#39;s have a quick look at his rhetorical triangle and how it might be applied to a job interview.

An Introduction to rhetoical theory

What is rhetoric? Aristotle provides us with a basic framework for approaching the art of persuasion. Let's have a quick look at his rhetorical triangle and how it might be applied to a job interview.

Rhetoric: an introduction

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A quick look at the rational mysticism of Plotinus

The search for the One

A quick look at the rational mysticism of Plotinus

Plotinus

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A quick look at Epicureanism and the poetry of Lucretius.

A quick look at Epicureanism and the poetry of Lucretius.

Lucretius and Epicureanism

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Stoicism was one of the most influential schools of philosophy in Rome. I will outline some of its main features.

Stoics: the world as one

Stoicism was one of the most influential schools of philosophy in Rome.

Stoic Philosophy

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Plato now explores two important themes. First, we see the role of Ideas or Forms taking shape. The answer to ethical relativism will require some metaphysical work. Second, we see a Platonic notion of the psyche or soul take shape.

Plato's Phaedo: Part Two

Plato now explores two important themes. First, we see the role of Ideas or Forms taking shape. The answer to ethical relativism will require some metaphysical work.  Second, we see a Platonic notion of the psyche or soul take shape.

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Plato&#39;s Phaedo is one of his most famous dialogues. It features Socrates in his prison cell on his day of execution. I will mention some of the important friends who were visiting Socrates that day, and I will explore some of the issues raised. Part two will look at how the theory of Forms is developed.

Plato's Phaedo: Part One

Plato's Phaedo is one of his most famous dialogues. It features Socrates in his prison cell on his day of execution. I will mention some of the important friends who were visiting Socrates that day, and I will explore some of the issues raised.  Part two will look at how the theory of Forms is developed.

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Socrates meets Euthyphro by the archon office, the archon in charge of the courts. Socrates is facing charges of impiety and Euthyphro is charging his father with impiety. Socrates suggests that Euthyphro must know what piety is if he is going to bring such serious charges against his father. In a good aporetic fashion, Socrates will reveal that Euthyphro does not know what he thinks he knows. This dialogue also demonstrates important points of logic.

Plato's Euthyphro

Socrates meets Euthyphro by the archon office, the archon in charge of the courts.  Socrates is facing charges of impiety and Euthyphro is charging his father with impiety. Socrates suggests that Euthyphro must know what piety is if he is going to bring such serious charges against his father.  In a good aporetic fashion, Socrates will reveal that Euthyphro does not know what he thinks he knows. This dialogue also demonstrates important points of logic.

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I will say just a few words about Plato&#39;s life and the influences on his writing. His first calling in life was dramatic poetry, and this background follows through into his dialogues.

A baisc introduction to Plato and his writing.

As a young man, Plato encountered Socrates.  Socrates inspired many philosophic schools, but by far the most influential was that created by Plato, the Academy. Plato is perhaps the most stylistically gifted writer of philosophy and in some ways the most challenging. His thoughts are always buried in the words or discourse of characters, and often the character of Socrates. Are the ideas Plato's or Socrates'? Are the ideas just talking points to inspire discussion?

Plato: a basic introduction

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Socrates influenced many great thinkers. I offer just a few highlights of his life and thought which completely altered the development of philosophy.

The Socratic background

Socrates was one of the influential people in ancient Greece.  I want to mention just a few highlights of his life and aspects of influence.

Socrates

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Here are some thoughts on Aristotle&#39;s approach to the idea of soul or psyche. It explains our unity, but also touches on our nous/intellect and how we grasp the world.

The sould as our substance

Here are some thoughts on Aristotle's approach to the idea of soul or psyche. It explains our unity, but also touches on our nous/intellect and how we grasp the world.

Arsitotle on the Soul (De Anima)

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Aristotle floated a preliminary idea about a primary substance in the Categories. He suggested the primary substance could be the individual such as Socrates because all the other categories depend on that individual thing for their existence. But after introducing the idea of matter and the other causes, he sees a problem. The individual thing cannot be the primary substance. It must be the species-form.

Substance in Aristotle's Metaphysics VII

Aristotle floated a preliminary idea about a primary substance in the Categories. He suggested the primary substance could be the individual such as Socrates because all the other categories (predicates) depend on that individual thing for their existence. But after introducing the idea of matter and the other causes, he sees a problem. The individual thing cannot be the primary substance. It must be the species-form.

Substance in Aristotle's Meatphysics VII

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Aristotle introduces four causes (explanations) for change: material, formal, efficient, and final. These are easy to understand when applied to material constructions, but it is essential to understand how he applies them to living things.

Aristotle on Change (the four causes)

Aristotleexplain change in the world through four causes (explanations). We can talk about the material cause (what stuff), Formal (what it is), efficient cause (who does it), and final cause (the purpose or why). It is easy to see these applied to constructed things, but it is crucial to understand how they apply to living things. His ethical theory will draw on these ideas.

Aristotle: Accounting for change in the world

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In section 2 of his Grioundwork, Kant expands on some earlier themes, and introduces the idea of the Categorical Imperative.

Kant argues in Section 2, that other moral theories have missed the mark. Utilitarianism, for example, considers a result as the goal of the imperative command. For Kant, this goal for the action means that the command is hypothetical, and therefore not absolute. Our moral imperatives such as "Do not murder" are intended to be absolute and binding.  In other words, moral commands are Categorical.  We as rational agents become free moral agents when we guide our will through reason shaped by the Categorical Imperative.

Kant's Groundwork on a Metaphysics of Morals: Section 2

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Kant takes the discussion of morality in a new direction, and challenges some central ideas of the Utilitarians. Happiness cannot be a guide to moral action. The only purely good thing in the world is a good will.

Kant's Groundwork on Morals, part one

Kant challenges the Utilitarian and Consequentialist approaches to morality.  The results or effects of an action cannot be the basis for deciding if an action has moral worth.  The only absolutely good thing in the world is a good will.  We must act from a sense of duty, against any and all inclinations of personal interest. How is this possible? The universal maxim provides a kye.

Kant's Groundwork on Morals, Part one

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David Hume&#39;s empiricism rattled the bones of Kant. Hume&#39;s attack on causality and ethics pushed Kant to respond with two books: A Critique of Pure Reason &amp; A Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals.

Kant's reaction to the ethical theories of Hume and others.

British Empiricism found a powerful voice in that of David Hume. Hume challenges our concepts of causality and ethical claims. For Hume, these concepts have no empirical grounding; they are not derived from sense data, rather our imagination. Kant was pushed to answer Hume, and does so in two books: A Critique of Pure Reason & A Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals.

The background to Kant's Ethics

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Ethical relativism seems to pop up regularly in classes on ethical topics. It can become a huge distraction or digression from the topics at hand. I think it is ultimately a waste of time. If you are interested in following some of the arguments about relativism I suggest a look at these two short books:A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter KreeftEthics: A Very Short Introduction by Simon Blackburn

Slaying relativism

Ethical or Moral relativism is very fashionable in many modern societies.  But there are serious problems with this approach. In the end, attempting to answer or refute this position is a huge waste of time, an annoying digression from the serious topics. If you want to explore these ideas, I suggest a look at these two short books:

A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreeft

Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Simon Blackburn

A quick note on ethical relativism

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Bentham&#39;s Hedonic Utilitarianism did not distinguish types of pleasures, and so faced an attack that it was a pig&#39;s philosophy. A pig would be happier than Socrates. Mill suggests an answer to this attack: Eudiamonia. We need to aspire to higher pleasures for a good life.

Bentham's Hedonic Utilitarianism was challenged for being a pig's philosophy. A person, it was suggested, who wallowed in pleasures would be happier than a dissatisfied Socrates. John Stuart Mill tries to save Utilitarianism with an appeal to seek higher pleasures, instead of simple physical pleasures.

Mill's Eudaimonistic  Utilitarianism

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Bentham explains why we need to consider the consequences of our actions, and offers a tool for making dicisions. The estimation of pleasures and pains is called Hedonic calculus.He outlines 7 features, such as intensity, duration, and extent, which can affect the calculations.

Bentham's Hedonic Calculus

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18th C. Britain had a very brutal and unjust legal code. Bentham thought that the people who created laws and punishments needed to be guided by a rational principle, not by personal whims or biases. He proposed that we consider the utility of the laws and punishments for creating the greatest happiness and least pain for the community and its members. The principle of Utilitarianism should be the basis of our ethical, moral, and legal systems.

Bentham and Utilitarianism

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Episode One: Here is a quick view of the topics that will be covered in this course of lectures. I will touch on three major approaches to ethics: Utilitarianism, Deontologicalism, and Virtue Ethics.

An Introduction to Ethics

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This podacst series will examine various philosophers and philosophic theories primarily on questions of ethics and metaphysics. Plato and Aristotle will be the initial focus, but Bentham, Mill, Kant, and many others will appear as well.

Weelcome of philosophy

This podcast supports two university courses in philosophy. The first is an introduction to philosophy through an examination of ethics problems and threories. Primay texts will come from Plato, Benthem, Mill, and Kant.  The second is a closer look at late Classical thinkers and schools.  After a close look at Aristotle, we will go through the Hellenistic schools to Plotinus.

Welcome to Philosophy

A History of Philosophy

I will discuss some of the great philosophers and their ideas on ethics and metaphysics. Classcial philosphy is always my starting point; Plato and Aristotle will start things, but I will discuss various Hellenistic schools, and more modern thinker such as Mill , Kany, Nietzsche, and Whitehead.

Microdosing Philosophy

Episodes