The Ancient Philosophy Podcast

The Ancient Philosophy Podcast

The Ancient Philosophy Podcast explores important topics in ancient philosophy, whether that's in India, China, Greece, Rome, the Near East, or beyond. Hosted by Doug Campbell, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College in Michigan.

Episodes

June 29, 2026 38 mins

In this episode, I discuss the arguments, given by Xunzi, an ancient Confucian philosopher, that human nature is evil.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.co...

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In this episode, I discuss and reflect on G.E.R. Lloyd's "Does Ancient Science Have a Future?" that was published in the Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society and was, I believe, a speech that he gave at Cambridge before that.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as w...

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In this episode, I discuss how scholars have used stylometry to date the composition of Plato's dialogues. I introduce and explain basic stylometric methods as well as their application in the case of Plato's dialogues in particular.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well a...

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In this episode, I speak with Prof. Monte Johnson about the work that he has done in collaboration with Prof. Doug Hutchinson in reconstructing Aristotle's Protrepticus. The Protrepticus is a lost work by Aristotle. Most ancient texts were written, copied, and then lost. As Monte discusses in this interview, 99% of ancient Greek literature is lost. Monte Johnson and Doug Hutchinson have done very important work in (litera...

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In this episode, I discuss some considerations related to whether Plato's characters should be thought of as his mouthpieces. I focus on Debra Nails' essay, "Mouthpiece Schmouthpiece," published in Who Speaks for Plato? Issues in Platonic Anonymity.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podc...

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May 25, 2026 41 mins

In this episode, I discuss the Buddha's first Noble Truth. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy

I also have a book available for ...

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May 18, 2026 52 mins

In this episode, I discuss the origins of the concept of 'organ' in ancient Greek science and philosophy.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphil...

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May 11, 2026 47 mins

In this episode, I discuss the basics of ancient skepticism as it was developed by Sextus Empiricus.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosoph...

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May 4, 2026 66 mins

In this episode, I discuss Marcus Aurelius' life and his Meditations. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy

I also have a boo...

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April 27, 2026 56 mins

In this episode, I talk about Ecclesiastes, an important and philosophically rich text in the Hebrew Bible. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/anc...

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April 20, 2026 28 mins

In this episode, I talk about what Aristotle thought the soul was.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy

I also have a book available fo...

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April 13, 2026 41 mins

In this episode, I talk about the complicated and weird marriage-lottery system that Plato developed in the Republic. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoff...

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April 6, 2026 45 mins

In this episode, I talk about different interpretations of Socrates' last words in Plato's Phaedo. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilo...

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March 30, 2026 27 mins

In this episode, I talk about one of Aristotle's most famous philosophical ideas: the Four Causes. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilo...

Listen
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March 27, 2026 21 mins

In this episode, I talk about the sacred disease in antiquity. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy

I also have a book available ...

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In this episode, I talk about the great conflagration that will one day consume the cosmos, according to the ancient Stoic philosophers. 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at:...

Listen
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March 16, 2026 42 mins

In this episode, I talk about the tao in ancient Confucian philosophy.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphilosophy

I also have a book availabl...

Listen
Watch
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In this episode, I talk about Anaximander's unusual account of human origins: we used to be born inside fish.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancient...

Listen
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March 9, 2026 28 mins

In this episode, I discuss whether Timaeus, who appears in Plato's Timaeus and Critias, was a real person.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

You can subscribe to The Ancient Philosophy Podcast on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.), as well as on YouTube.

I have a Substack: platosfishtrap.substack.com.

You can show your support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/ancientphi...

Listen
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In this episode, I speak with Cecilia Li about Plato's criticisms of rhetoric as it was practiced in the 5th century BC. We also discuss the nature of political rule, and our discussion focuses on the Gorgias, although we bring up the Republic, Statesman, and Apology occasionally, too.

Host: Doug Campbell, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Alma College.

Interviewee: Cecilia Li, ...

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