On MonÂday, we told you where you can downÂload Free CoursÂes from Top PhilosoÂphers (FouÂcault, SearÂle, RusÂsell and the rest). As the day went along, our list grew thanks to readÂer sugÂgesÂtions, and we also disÂcovÂered anothÂer promisÂing resource — a podÂcast called “The HisÂtoÂry of PhiÂlosÂoÂphy WithÂout Any Gaps,” creÂatÂed by Peter AdamÂson, ProÂfesÂsor of Ancient and Medieval PhiÂlosÂoÂphy at King’s ColÂlege LonÂdon:
BeginÂning with the earÂliÂest ancient thinkers, the series will look at the ideas and lives of the major philosoÂphers (evenÂtuÂalÂly covÂerÂing in detail such giants as PlaÂto, ArisÂtoÂtle, AviÂcenÂna, Aquinas, Descartes, and Kant) as well as the lessÂer-known figÂures of the traÂdiÂtion.
That’s what AdamÂson promisÂes, and he doesÂn’t disÂapÂpoint. Over the past 34 months, AdamÂson has proÂduced 136 episodes, each about 20 minÂutes long, covÂerÂing the PreÂSoÂcratÂics (PythagoÂras, Zeno, ParÂmenides, etc) and then Socrates, PlaÂto and ArisÂtoÂtle. That’s roughÂly 45 hours of audio, and there’s no telling how many more hours of audio will bring us to the modÂern periÂod. The more, the betÂter, we say.
You can access all episodes via these links: iTunes — RSS Feed — Web Site. Or find othÂer free phiÂlosÂoÂphy coursÂes in our big colÂlecÂtion of Free CoursÂes Online.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletÂter, please find it here. It’s a great way to see our new posts, all bunÂdled in one email, each day.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Free Online PhiÂlosÂoÂphy CoursÂes
Take First-Class PhiÂlosÂoÂphy CoursÂes AnyÂwhere with Free Oxford PodÂcasts
Learn The HisÂtoÂry of PhiÂlosÂoÂphy in 247 PodÂcasts (With More to Come)
I’ve been lisÂtenÂing to this podÂcast from the beginÂning. The conÂtent, proÂducÂtion, pacÂing, and spacÂing are exemÂplary. I only hope that I live long enough to enjoy all the episodes (I’m curÂrentÂly 53).
…or that ProÂfesÂsor AdamÂson lives long enough to comÂplete his mamÂmoth project!
These are great podÂcasts. I have lisÂtened to sevÂerÂal availÂable from iTunes, and these rank as the most clear and effecÂtive.
Very interÂestÂing inforÂmaÂtion. Though the title (origÂiÂnal) could have been betÂter. “The HisÂtoÂry of WestÂern PhiÂlosÂoÂphy” is apparÂentÂly more honÂest comÂpared to the rather misÂleadÂing and narÂrow choice made here.
I believe he will be at least doing midÂdle eastÂern phiÂlosÂoÂphy, havÂing writÂten books specifÂiÂcalÂly on the topÂic.
I know he is planÂning on going all the way to Kant but I can’t find menÂtion of whether he will move past that.
Hope he’ll do a segÂment on women philosoÂphers!!
Thanks for these offerÂings & keep them comÂing. This world is soreÂly in need of more wisÂdom.
Now 2015, ProÂfesÂsor AdamÂson has moved into and through IslamÂic phiÂlosÂoÂphy (his speÂcialÂized area) as well as some medieval JewÂish and sevÂerÂal on medieval women philosoÂphers, and has now begun a branch into IndiÂan philosÂphy. This is an amazÂing, brisk, well done series.
I have listÂed to peters audios on hisÂtoÂry of phiÂlosÂoÂphy in eastÂern ‚i realÂly interÂestÂed in now i hope this to be the same.But with respect peter pay attenÂtion to indiveÂdÂuÂals rather than philoÂsophÂiÂcal thoughts throughÂout his depictÂed hisÂtoÂry.