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PODCAST

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners

From Heraclitus’ fragments on change to Hannah Arendt’s reflections on responsibility, this series traces the story of Western moral thought. Each episode introduces the life, context, and ideas of the philosophers who shaped how we think about right and wrong, freedom and duty, justice and power. Designed for newcomers yet rich enough for curious thinkers, it offers a guided journey through the great debates that still shape our world today.What does it mean to be human?Western Moral Philosophy for

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

41:46

Jean-Paul Sartre Being and Nothingness Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/02/10

Jean-Paul Sartre was a profound French philosopher, playwright, novelist, and political activist who lived from 1905 to 1980. Emerging as a key figure in the existentialist movement during the mid-20th century, Sartre sought to explore the complexities of human freedom, responsibility, and existence itself. His work not only pushed the philosophical boundaries but also resonated with the socio-political turbulence of his time, particularly the aftermath of World War II.One of Sartre’s most

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34:42

Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/02/05

Simone de Beauvoir is a pivotal figure in philosophy, particularly known for her profound contributions to existentialism and feminist thought. Active in the mid-twentieth century, she is best recognized for her seminal work "The Second Sex," which has deeply influenced discussions around gender, identity, and freedom. In this episode, we will delve into Beauvoir's central ideas and explore how they resonate with contemporary issues, as well as the criticisms that have emerged around her

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37:07

Hannah Arendt Power & Totalitarianism Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/02/02

Hannah Arendt was a prominent political theorist and philosopher of the 20th century, known for her profound examinations of power, totalitarianism, and the nature of evil. Emerging from the tumultuous contexts of Nazi Germany and the aftermath of World War II, her work sought to unpack the moral complexities of human behavior, political systems, and the interplay between individual responsibility and collective action. One of Arendt's most influential contributions to moral philosophy is

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39:25

Martin Heidegger Being & Existence Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/29

Martin Heidegger, a central figure in 20th-century philosophy, is perhaps best known for his investigation into the nature of being and existence. His work, profoundly rooted in the existentialist tradition, aims to explore what it means to be human in a rapidly modernizing world. While his biography is essential for understanding the man himself, in this episode, we will delve deeper into his philosophical contributions, particularly in relation to moral philosophy, allowing us to appreciate how

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39:05

Friedrich Nietzsche Will to Power Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/28

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher active in the late 19th century, whose works continue to provoke thought and debate in moral philosophy. Known for his critique of traditional moral values and his exploration of existential themes, Nietzsche's ideas challenge us to reconsider the foundations upon which we build our moral frameworks.Central to Nietzsche's philosophy is the concept of the "will to power," which he posits as the fundamental driving force in humans, more so than the drive

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36:50

Søren Kierkegaard The father of Existentialism Deep...

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/22

Søren Kierkegaard, often hailed as the father of existentialism, was a 19th-century Danish philosopher whose work profoundly influenced both theology and moral philosophy. He lived during the early 1800s, a time of significant intellectual upheaval in Europe, where the rise of Romanticism began to challenge the Enlightenment's rationalism. Kierkegaard’s writings emphasize the importance of individual existence, subjective experience, and the complexities of human decision-making, all of which remain

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8:15

Søren Kierkegaard: The Three Stages of Being Human

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/20

Søren Kierkegaard didn’t write philosophy to explain the world. He wrote to explain what it feels like to live inside a human life. In this episode, we explore his three stages of existence: the aesthetic life of pleasure and distraction, the ethical life of responsibility and commitment, and the religious life—not as belief or doctrine, but as the acceptance of reality as it is. This is not a ladder of progress, but a map of how humans avoid, confront, and finally stand inside existence itself.

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11:46

Plato on democracy and gender roles

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/20

Today we’re going to walk into Plato’s world—his hopes, his fears, and his blueprint for what he thought a good society might look like—and we’re going to do it through three hot wires that still shock people now: gender, democracy, and what happens to a culture when it confuses freedom with appetite. Plato is not a modern liberal, and he’s not a simple misogynist either. He’s a moral engineer. He looks at human life the way a physician looks at a fever: symptoms first, causes second, and then a

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39:02

Immanuel Kant The Categorical Imperative Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/18

Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher whose ideas have profoundly influenced the landscape of moral philosophy. His work represents a crucial moment in the Enlightenment, where reason began to take precedence over tradition, and he sought to establish a solid foundation for ethical theory grounded in rationality.Kant’s most notable contribution to moral philosophy is the concept of the categorical imperative, which serves as a central tenet of his ethical framework. This principle can

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40:54

David Hume Reason and Passion Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/15

David Hume, an 18th-century Scottish philosopher, is a towering figure in Western moral philosophy, known for his profound inquiries into human nature, knowledge, and ethics. Coming from the Enlightenment period, Hume lived in a time brimming with ideas that sought to challenge traditional beliefs and explore the foundations of human understanding. He is often remembered for his empirical approach to philosophical questions and his reflections on how these intertwine with morality.Hume is

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36:42

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Best of all Possible...

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/14

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher, mathematician, and polymath from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His contributions spanned various fields, but in moral philosophy, he is best known for his thoughts on metaphysics, ethics, and the principle of sufficient reason. In this deep dive, we will explore Leibniz's key philosophical ideas—particularly those that inform his moral philosophy—and discuss how they connect to contemporary ethical dilemmas, all while threading through

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39:21

John Locke An Essay Concerning Human Understanding...

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/12

John Locke was a pivotal figure in the development of modern Western philosophy during the late 17th century, a time marked by intellectual upheaval and the growing importance of individual rights and reason. Renowned for his contributions to liberal thought, Locke's works laid foundational ideas for political theory, particularly concerning government, human rights, and the nature of knowledge. While our previous episode introduced his life and broader influences, this deep dive will explore

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37:19

René Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/11

René Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician of the early 17th century, is often referred to as the father of modern Western philosophy. His influence extends beyond the realm of abstract thought; it has shaped various dimensions of moral philosophy, and his ideas still resonate in contemporary ethical discussions. Descartes is particularly notable for his method of systematic doubt, his emphasis on reason as the path to knowledge, and his quest to establish a foundation for the sciences

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37:30

Thomas Hobbes Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/10

Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher active during the tumultuous 17th century, is a pivotal figure in the history of moral philosophy and political thought. He is best known for his groundbreaking works, particularly "Leviathan," published in 1651, in which he establishes his view of the social contract and the necessity of a strong central authority. Hobbes’s ideas emerged at a time of great instability, marked by civil war and conflict in England, and his insights continue to resonate in today's

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39:51

Michel de Montaigne Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/09

Michel de Montaigne, a prominent figure of the French Renaissance, is best known for his innovative contributions to moral philosophy through his work, the "Essais," which offers deeply personal reflections on human nature, ethics, and the complexities of life. Living during the late 16th century, Montaigne sought to explore and understand the human experience in all its nuances, representing a shift from the rigid rationalism of scholasticism to a more subjective, introspective approach to

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37:19

Niccolò_Machiavelli The Morality of Power Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/07

In our previous episode, we introduced Niccolò Machiavelli, a prominent figure of the Italian Renaissance known primarily for his political treatises, particularly "The Prince." This episode will delve deeper into Machiavelli's moral philosophy, especially his complex relationship between power and ethics. Contextually situated in the tumultuous political landscape of late 15th and early 16th-century Italy, Machiavelli's work transcends his time, igniting debates on power that persist today

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38:56

Deep Dive Erasmus of Rotterdam Humanism & Reform

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/05

Erasmus of Rotterdam was a prominent figure of the Renaissance, celebrated for his contributions to humanism and the early Reformation. His work can be viewed as a bridge between the intellectual revival of antiquity and the reformative movements that aimed to reshape the religious landscape of Europe in the early 16th century. A nuanced thinker, Erasmus championed the values of education, ethics, and critical inquiry, navigating the complex relationship between faith and reason that marked his era

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38:19

32 Dante The Divine Comedy & Beyond Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/03

Dante Alighieri is most renowned for his monumental work, "The Divine Comedy," a poem that has profoundly influenced not only literature but also Western moral philosophy. Composed in the early 14th century during the late Middle Ages, this epic journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven articulates Dante’s vision of the moral universe in which personal conduct, the nature of justice, and the relationship between sin and salvation take center stage. While we covered his biography and the basic

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36:28

31 Aquinas Faith and Reason Christian Theology and...

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/02

Thomas Aquinas, a towering figure of the 13th century, is often recognized for his efforts to synthesize faith and reason within the framework of Christian theology. Operating in a time when the interplay between religious belief and philosophical inquiry was increasingly contentious, Aquinas sought to offer a comprehensive account that upheld both the truths of faith and the insights derived from rational thought. This melding of the two realms is what makes his work particularly significant in the

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38:35

30 Ibn Rushd - Averroes Islamic Philosophy Deep Dive

Western Moral Philosophy For Beginners ·

2026/01/01

Ibn Rushd, known in the Western tradition as Averroes, was a 12th-century scholar from Córdoba who emerged during the flourishing of Islamic philosophy and science. His works sought to reconcile the teachings of Aristotle with Islamic thought, making him a significant figure in both the realm of philosophy and theology. This episode will explore Averroes's contributions to moral philosophy, his core ideas, the implications of his thought in modern contexts, and how he interacts with the broader

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