The Story Of Philosophy Series – The Greek Philosophers Part One

Join London ii Hosts Flick Hardingham and Irene JK to discuss the life and views of Plato, as well as his great teacher Socrates, exploring how their ideas might be relevant (or not) in today’s society and how they might serve us in the future.

This salon is the first of an 11-month Interintellect series exploring Western philosophers’ and their ideas through ‘The Story of Philosophy’ by Will Durant. Rather appropriately for the first salon in the series, this session will focus on Chapter One: Plato. In subsequent months, we will explore key philosophers by reading the relevant chapter of Durant’s book and additional texts.

2400 years ago, Athens was a prosperous trading center, Europe’s gateway to Asia Minor, and home to one of the most pivotal figures in the history of Ancient Greek and Western philosophy, religion, and spirituality: Plato. Dedicated to helping people reach a state of “eudaimonia“, Plato gave us some big ideas on how to live a fulfilled life that still ring true today. He argued that we must know ourselves deeply and learn to examine our own ideas rather than act on common habits. Beyond the self, he encouraged us to shift how we organise collectively and questioned how government and society should ideally be. His book ‘The Republic’ advocated against democracy, as Plato observed how people really do not think rationally before voting and highlighted the need for us all to be philosophers.

As he famously stated:

“There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those, we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.”

Our goal is to foster and facilitate meaningful conversations to try and decode the layers behind these great philosophers and their lives. We will also explore and question their relevance in context to our modern lives. Click here to find out more about this salon series and join us on this journey exploring the story of philosophy.

The discussion will be most valuable for everyone if we all set out to contribute what we can, in the spirit of vigorous and open discussion. Please approach your reading and discussion with an open but active mind and sincere intent.

During each salon, participants will be invited to share and discuss.

Which part of this philosopher’s life and teaching resonated with you the most?

Which of their core beliefs do you believe are still relevant today? Which are not?

We look forward to seeing you there.

Reading for the salon :

The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant – Chapter 1 ( Plato and Socrates)

How democracy descends into tyranny – a classic reading from Plato’s Republic.

School of Life’s introduction to Plato.

Plato’s Two Charioteers: Free Will, Moral Agency, and How to Negotiate Our Capacities for Good and Evil

Socrates, A Philosopher for our times 

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Animated: History’s Greatest Parable Exploring the Nature of Reality

Time zones:

10:00 am San Francisco
1:00 pm New York
6:00 pm London
5:00 pm Berlin
Why not add the ii Calendar to your calendar?

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You will be sent a Zoom link for the Salon in your emailed ticket.

Apply for a student discount at hello@interintellect.com.

Find our online code of conduct here.

Image Credit: The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David, 1787