Imprisoned and awaiting execution, Boethius turns to Lady Philosophy for comfort. In The Consolation of Philosophy, we explore how this 6th-century work blends classical wisdom with personal grief, offering timeless reflections on fate, fortune, and the pursuit of inner peace.

In his final dialogue, Laws, Plato trades utopia for practicality, crafting a detailed blueprint for a real-world city. We explore his vision of law as moral educator, his thoughts on governance, and why he believed virtue must be built into the very structure of the state.

What makes an action right or wrong? For John Stuart Mill, it all comes down to happiness. In this episode, we explore his classic text Utilitarianism and unpack his argument that the best actions are those that promote the greatest good for the greatest number. A clear and powerful defence of a moral philosophy that still shapes how we think today.

In this episode, we dive into Machiavelli’s The Prince and explore its lessons on power and leadership. We discuss how its ideas on strategy and moral complexity have shaped political thought over the centuries. Our conversation looks at the work’s historical context and its surprising relevance to modern issues, inviting listeners to reflect on the true cost of ambition and the nature of effective leadership.

In this episode, we explore Thomas Hobbes’s towering treatise, Leviathan, a foundational text of modern political philosophy. Hobbes portrays the “state of nature” as a realm of constant fear and conflict—driven by humanity’s primal instincts and desires. To escape this life “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” individuals consent to an all-powerful sovereign, forging a social contract that upholds peace and security. Our discussion unpacks Hobbes’s stark vision of human nature, his arguments for absolute authority, and the enduring debates his work has sparked around freedom, power, and governance. By episode’s end, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why Leviathan remains a critical touchstone in debates over the legitimate scope and role of government.

In this illuminating episode, we delve into one of the most challenging yet transformative works in Western philosophy: G.W.F. Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit. Join us as we follow Hegel’s grand narrative of consciousness progressing through various stages—sense-certainty, perception, understanding, self-consciousness, and beyond—to arrive at Absolute Knowing. We explore key concepts like the Master–Slave dialectic and learn how Hegel’s innovative method of “dialectics” reveals the dynamics of thought evolving through contradiction and resolution. Whether you’re a seasoned reader of Hegel or encountering him for the first time, our discussion demystifies his grand vision of human consciousness and the ever-shifting relationship between subject and object. By the end, you’ll see how Phenomenology of Spirit transcends its era, offering timeless insights into our ceaseless drive toward knowledge, freedom, and self-realization.

In this episode, we journey into the mind of René Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, as he unveils Discourse on the Method—a bold attempt to rebuild knowledge from the ground up. Published in 1637, this revolutionary work blends personal narrative with radical philosophy, challenging centuries of tradition.

We explore how Descartes, disillusioned with the academic teachings of his time, sought certainty by doubting everything he thought he knew. Out of this radical skepticism emerged his famous statement: Cogito, ergo sum—I think, therefore I am.

But Discourse on the Method is more than just a philosophical mic drop. It’s a guide to reason, science, and self-inquiry. We’ll break down Descartes’ four rules for methodical thinking, his separation of mind and body, and the impact of his ideas on science and modern thought.

Join us as we trace Descartes’ intellectual odyssey—a story of doubt, discovery, and the birth of rationalism.

In this episode we begin our journey through Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra, exploring key excerpts and uncovering the layers of meaning behind his powerful and poetic philosophy. We break down the opening themes such as the dawn of the Übermensch, the death of God and Zarathustra’s call for humanity to transcend itself. Whether you are new to Nietzsche or revisiting his work, join us as we dive into the bold ideas that changed the course of modern thought.