RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
In this ten-lecture course sponsored by Steve Berger and Kenneth Garschina, intellectual historian David Gordon guides students through a survey of the greatest thinkers, and evaluates these scholars by their arguments for and against the idea of Liberty.Download the complete audio of this event (ZIP) here.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Intellectual history survey • Political philosophy • Key thinkers • Ideas of liberty • Classical and modern theories • Ethics and justice • Social contract • Property rights and governanceThis podcast, "The History of Political Philosophy: From Plato to Rothbard," navigates the expansive history of political philosophy through an exploration of key thinkers and their contributions, as guided by intellectual historian David Gordon. Comprising ten episodes, it provides listeners a detailed survey of philosophical thought from the ancient Greeks to modern libertarian scholars. The central theme is the evaluation of ideas surrounding liberty, justice, and government structures as expressed by influential figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and John Locke.
Listeners are introduced to foundational concepts such as Plato's ideal state, Aristotle's views on human nature and political organization, and Rousseau's social contract theory. This podcast also highlights significant philosophical debates around the nature of rights, property, and governance, examined through the perspectives of figures like Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill. The discussions often touch on the historical context in which these thinkers lived and the lasting impact of their ideas.
Additionally, the podcast delves into contrasting philosophies, as seen in the liberal theories of John Rawls and libertarian arguments of Robert Nozick and Murray Rothbard. These discussions illuminate ongoing debates over individual freedom, social justice, ethics, and state intervention.
Overall, this podcast seeks to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of political thought, emphasizing the interplay of philosophical ideas and the development of concepts central to liberty and governance across different historical epochs. Through a blend of historical narrative and philosophical analysis, it aims to engage those interested in the philosophical underpinnings of politics.
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1. Plato 2007-Jun-04 |
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2. Aristotle 2007-Jun-05 |
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3. Thomas Aquinas 2007-Jun-05 |
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4. Thomas Hobbes 2007-Jun-06 |
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5. John Locke 2007-Jun-06 |
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6. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 2007-Jun-07 |
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7. Immanuel Kant and G.W.F. Hegel 2007-Jun-07 |
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8. John Stuart Mill, Lysander Spooner and Herbert Spencer 2007-Jun-08 |
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9. John Rawls 2007-Jun-08 |
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10. Robert Nozick and Murray Rothbard 2007-Jun-09 |