Plato 101: An Introduction with Friends
Plato 101: An Introduction with Friends  
Podcast: Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
Published On: Tue Jul 22 2025
Description: WE ARE STARTING PLATO! Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast we are launching into our studies on Plato. We are kicking off with a roundtable of friends—a lawyer, two Phds, and an independent scholar—discussing the preliminary questions on Plato.Questions:Who was Plato?Why should we read Plato?Why should Christians read Plato?How should we read Plato?What Plato will we be reading?We’ll also have a brief opening chat on the great books in general and why they are worth reading—which is at the heart of our mission here at Ascend. We’ll end by mapping out the next 8-9 months of episodes on Plato, which includes some of the best university professors and online voices you can find. So join us today for an excellent conversation on who is Plato and why should we read him.Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more resources!Visit our PATREON PAGE for written guides and a community chat on Plato.Keywords: Plato, Great Books, Socrates, Philosophy, Dialogues, Education, Christian Thought, Classical Education, Literature, Intellectual TraditionHashtags: #Plato #Greatbooks #Socrates #Christian Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books00:55 Introducing Plato and the Panel05:32 The Purpose of Reading Great Books12:05 Understanding Socrates and His Influence21:14 Exploring Plato's Life and Philosophy30:04 The Importance of Reading Plato30:49 Socratic Questions and Universal Truths33:53 Plato's Philosophical Legacy36:15 Plato and the Spiritual Dimension41:09 Plato's Role in Christian Thought44:24 Philosophy and Faith: A Christian Perspective51:19 How to Read Plato's Dialogues01:03:49 Understanding Plato in Context01:04:16 The Challenges of the Philosophical Life01:05:42 The Hazards of Philosophy01:07:18 The Demands of Knowledge01:09:42 The Cost of Philosophical Inquiry01:10:21 Upcoming Dialogues and Their Importance01:13:14 Exploring First Alcibiades01:13:44 The Euthyphro Dilemma01:17:05 Socrates' Defense in the Apology01:17:53 The Crito: Laws and Justice01:18:58 The Phaedo: Death and Immortality01:19:28 The Mino: Education and Knowledge01:21:05 The Gorgias: Rhetoric and Morality01:23:03 The Republic: Justice and Society01:24:40 Reading Recommendations and Translations01:26:04 Final Thoughts on Reading PlatoCheck us out at thegreatbookspodcast.com. Check out our new COMMUNITY CHAT where supporters can discuss Plato together.