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.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 15 minutes
- Episodes
- 14
- Years Active
- 2025
John Locke
In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we turn to John Locke (1632–1704), the philosopher of liberty and natural rights. In his Two Treatises of Government, Locke argued that all people are bor…
Dante: Divine Comedy & Beyond
Dante: Divine Comedy & Beyond
What can poetry teach us about philosophy? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we turn to Dante Alighieri, the Florentine poet whose Divine Comedy is both a mast…
Heraclitus - Panta Rei
eraclitus on Change and the Search for Balance
What if the very thing that unsettles you—change—is also the key to inner steadiness? In our debut episode on Philosophy Now! we trek back to Ephesus (ci…
Aquinas: Faith and Reason
Aquinas: Faith and Reason
Can faith and reason truly work together? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the thought of Thomas Aquinas, the medieval scholar who sought harmony betwe…
Michel de Montaigne
In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we turn to Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), the French nobleman who withdrew from public life to a tower filled with books and invented a new form of phil…
Title: Niccolò Machiavelli – The Morality of Power
Title: Niccolò Machiavelli – The Morality of Power
In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we leave the humanist gentleness of Erasmus and step into the sharp world of Florentine politics with Ni…
Boethius
What does it mean to find hope when fortune turns against you? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the life and thought of Boethius, a Roman statesman whose fall from power gave r…
Erasmus: Humanism & Reform
Erasmus: Humanism & Reform
What role can scholarship play in renewing society? In this episode of Philosophy for Beginners, we explore the life and thought of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, the Rena…
Hypatia: The Philosopher of Alexandria
Hypatia: The Philosopher of Alexandria
Welcome to Philosophy for Beginners. Today, we turn to Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 360–415 CE), one of the most remarkable figures of late antiquity. A mathematici…
Marcus Aurelius - Emperor & Philosopher
Marcus Aurelius was both emperor and philosopher, a man who ruled the most powerful empire of his time while quietly recording his private reflections on life, duty, and mortality. In this episode, w…
Epicurus
In this episode of Philosophy Now, we explore the essential philosophy of Epicurus, uncovering his radical yet simple vision of happiness through tranquility, friendship, and freedom from fear. Learn…
Aristotle
In this episode of Philosophy Now, we guide you through the essential philosophy of Aristotle, exploring his groundbreaking ideas on matter, form, and the purpose of life. Discover how Aristotle’s te…
Plato
Step beyond the cave and into the mind of Western philosophy’s most enduring voice. Plato is the 3rd episode in the podcast Philosophy for beginners that unpacks one a western philosopher at a time i…
Socrates
In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Socrates, the enigmatic figure who changed the course of Western philosophy without writing a single word. Join us as we explore his relentless qu…