This episode is about Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, the final Presocratic I’m planning on covering! He thought there was a little bit of everything in everything and that mind set the universe in motion. He also did some observational science and is credited as the first to correctly explain the cause of eclipses. You can listenContinue reading “Episode 11: Mix and Mingle Like Nothing is Single”
Tag Archives: cosmology
Episode 10: It’s Elementary
This episode is about Empedocles, who tried to solve the Parmenidean problem in a different way than his near contemporaries – the atomists. Empedocles launched the ancient Greek theory of the four classical elements (earth, air, fire, and water). You can listen to the episode here.
Episode 9: The Original Atomic Age
Welcome to Season 2! This episode is on the original atomists, Leucippus and Democritus, and their original atomic theory from way back in the 5th century BCE. I discuss the nature of the void and ancient atoms, how they relate to the matter we can also sense, and how this theory relates to some ofContinue reading “Episode 9: The Original Atomic Age”
Episode 7: He Never Changes His Mind
This episode focuses primarily on Parmenides (6th – mid-5th century BCE), the “Father of Metaphysics”. He believed that a lot of what we see and believe in (concepts such as creation and movement) are actually an illusion and that reality is unchanging. I’ll discuss Parmenides’s theory, argument, and influence and take some side-trips into theContinue reading “Episode 7: He Never Changes His Mind”
Episode 6: He’s Always Changing His Mind
Can you step in the same river twice? This episode will give an answer to this question by discussing Heraclitus, the “philosopher of flux”. I’ll focus mostly on his doctrines of flux and the unity of opposites, but also mention some of his writings on ethics, politics, and theology. Supposedly self-taught and quite critical ofContinue reading “Episode 6: He’s Always Changing His Mind”
Bonus Episode 1: The Most Epic Math Club Ever
This is a bonus episode on Pythagoreanism, AKA the Most Epic Math Club Ever. A religious cult and school of mathematics combined, Pythagoreanism has had a lasting impact on science and philosophy. I’ll discuss the religious influences on Pythagoreanism, early Pythagorean beliefs, some of the most famous early Pythagoreans, its link to medieval European education,Continue reading “Bonus Episode 1: The Most Epic Math Club Ever”
Episode 5: That One Thing From Grade School Math
This episode focuses on Pythagoras of Samos (c. 590 – c. 470 BCE) – the man, the primarily myth, the legend with a golden thigh. A surprisingly controversial figure, what do we know or not know about the namesake for one of the most well-known theorems in all of mathematics? You can listen to theContinue reading “Episode 5: That One Thing From Grade School Math”
Episode 4: All That Matter(s) Part 2
This episode continues Part 1’s discussion of the first Greek philosophers with Anaximander (“father of cosmology”) and Anaximenes (sadly, no catchy title) of Miletus. You can listen to the episode here.
Episode 3: All That Matter(s) Part 1
This episode and the following episode focus on the beginnings of Western philosophy in the Ionian city of Miletus. Part 1 dives in with Thales, the first known philosopher of the Greek tradition. I also have an exciting announcement at the end about the upcoming Intelligent Speech Conference! You can listen to the episode here.
The History and Philosophy of Physics Podcast 