Peterson Academy – James Orr – Ancient Philosophy

In our introductory lecture, Dr. Orr takes us on an exploration into the origins of Western philosophy by examining the ideas of the Ionian school, including Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Heraclitus. We witness their attempts to identify the fundamental principles of reality, such as water, air, the infinite, and logos, and discuss how their ideas laid the groundwork for the development of metaphysics and epistemology in Western thought.

In lecture two, we discover the Eleatic school of thought, which emerged in Elea on the western coast of Italy, and its focus on the concept of Being as opposed to the world of Becoming. The lecture examines key figures such as Parmenides, who argued that Being is the ultimate reality and that the world of Becoming is an illusion. We also learn about Empedocles and Anaxagoras, who attempted to reconcile Parmenides’ ideas with the observable world. The lecture concludes with a discussion of Pythagoras and his belief in the fundamental role of mathematics and harmony in understanding the cosmos.

In lecture three, we study the philosophy of Plato, focusing on his dialogues and the emergence of his metaphysical and epistemological ideas. Dr. Orr traces the historical and intellectual context of 5th century Athens, highlighting the influence of the sophists and Socrates on Plato’s thought, and examines key dialogues such as the Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Gorgias, Meno, and Republic. We also undertake an analysis of Plato’s famous Allegory of the Cave and its implications for his Theory of Forms and the nature of knowledge and reality.

In lecture four, we consider the life and philosophy of Aristotle of Stagira, a pupil of Plato who rose from the fringes of the Greek world to transform civilization at its center in Athens. The lecture explores Aristotle’s wide-ranging contributions, including his metaphysics of substance and causation, his teleological view of nature, and his psychology of the soul. It also examines his ethics, centered on eudaimonia, and his politics, grounded in the concept of humans as “political animals.” These ideas highlight the systematic and empirical character of his thought, which departed in significant ways from Plato’s philosophy.

In lecture five, we see the emergence and key ideas of Stoicism, an influential philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens around 300 BC. The lecture traces the historical context and intellectual lineage of Stoicism, highlighting its roots in Socratic thought and Cynicism, while also situating it within the broader philosophical landscape of the Hellenistic period. Dr. Orr elucidates that central to Stoic philosophy is the notion of living in accordance with reason and nature, cultivating inner resilience, and embracing a form of ethical universalism that recognizes the shared humanity of all people.

In our sixth and final lecture, we analyze the philosophy of Epicurus, who developed a materialist metaphysics based on the idea that all reality is reducible to indivisible atoms governed by chance. This atomistic view has implications for Epicurean ethics, religion, and politics, emphasizing detachment, egalitarianism, and a skepticism towards social hierarchies. We also extrapolate the influence of Epicurean philosophy on thinkers like Marx. Dr. Orr concludes by emphasizing the enduring relevance of ancient philosophy in questioning our modern assumptions about truth and reality.