Miles Burnyeat on Plato: Section 1

[esvoytko]

flame0430, you are epic. Many thanks for all these Magee interviews. You have made YouTube an immensely more intelligent place!

[Obicere]

@suddenlyitsobvious How do we know you exist?

[MrBabablah]

@Obicere

How do we know 

[suddenlyitsobvious]

How do we even know Plato existed, and wasn't some concoction from the neo-platonists providing an alternative history to mankind in line with their own priorities?

[suddenlyitsobvious]

Does the fact that Plato was a 'pupil'of Socrates mean he got sodomized by him as a youth -and, no doubt, traumatized as a result? His ideas are certainly remarkably similar to those of any sexually abused prominent figure from the past 2 centuries, wherefore suspiciously modern.

I guess noone today raises an eyebrow over our SUPPOSED heritage, a civilization edified on the great example of sexual deviants. In fact we are to believe that EVERYBODY or at least all males were sexually deviant.

[Warcrftaddict]

Does anyone think the philosopher kings are anything like the nazi Party?

[thejcjmguy]

@Warcrftaddict Haha no. Philosopher kings know truth/rationality. The Nazi's were completely irrational.

[Warcrftaddict]

@thejcjmguy I guess that puts my mind at ease.  Thanks.

[flimflam0069]

This Burnyeat guy has all the personality of a can of beans.

[blackvitruvianman]

Socrates never existed. Does anything really exist?

[gluemoae]

@blackvitruvianman: I think, therefore I exist.

[thejcjmguy]

@gluemoae I think therefore I am - Descartes

[gluemoae]

@thejcjmguy He stole it from me.

[thejcjmguy]

@gluemoae haha :P

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

I have enormous respect for this guy, but he's not the most commanding speaker.

[JinxOz]

Socrates is my jesus christ. 

[lydialondon70]

Sokrates did not live in the flesh.

[DiabloTheGames]

@lydialondon70 I studied classical greek, and there are many indications that suggest, that socrates did exist, although he takes the form of the ideal human being in his dialogues. So although he may not have existed in reality as we know him from the dialogues, it doesn´t mean, that he didn´t exist at all.Furthermore plato´s writing and style also changes after Socrates is executed, and hence is why he becomes hostile towards democracy, whch he describes as the rule of the mob.

[caesiume]

3:48 I fall asleep as soon as this man starts speaking

[FredFredBurger53]

@caesiume One wonders how he ever became a professor.

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[alchemyj]

humans do not care... one day maybe....only the inner life could bless plato's and others

[cherylwens]

What society needs now is a dose of elitism. Invest power into philosopher kings who know better than the hoi polloi. Afterall, democracy/ochlocracy did give the world George W Bush for 8 consecutive years. I suggest we revive the imperial examinations practised by the Sui Dynasty of China.

[maxistsocialist]

@cherylwens are you crazy? mankind has been ruled by elitists for about 3000 years, it is time for people's power, for workers-power. Elitism is what we have and it doesn't work.  Elitism is mafia-rule, what we need is a workers-dictatorship, a dictatorship of the proletariat.

[cherylwens]

@maxistsocialist Which particular elite dictator can you think of? I'm talking about elitism in terms of ability, not wealth nor popularity.

[djsmurfie]

@maxistsocialist Oh god, Marxism is dead. The only Marxists nowadays are spotty virgin students.

[prestodc]

Our Myles looks very young here! Does anyone know when this was recorded? I studied under Prof Burnyeat, he hasnt chanfed!

[bkishar]

6 September 1987

[MrSkate4weed]

happy birthday



[DAVID3766]

I must disagree with you view of philosophy. Remember Ns remarks at the beginning of BG: let us suppose truth is a woman and why not? Is not it clear that to the extent all philosophers have been dogmatists they have not really understood women. What N is alluding to here relates to the etymology of philo-sophie. The love of wisdom, sophie, who is a women and who can be possessed. Modern 'philosophers' are labourers to be sure.

[karrramucho]

Polskiego w szkole nie mieli?! Rozmowa po angielsku mija się z celem, bo mało z tego rozumiem.

[numchaps20]

yesm and no must be the answer mustn't it? errrmmmm I say,

[TheGreatDissolve]

I love that this begins with a powerful phrase from Shostakovich. If I made a video -- I would do the same !

[ussperry]

See above - It's at the end of book VIII iof the Republic.

[ussperry]

I love how Plato described how democracy will turn into a tyranny by a single man. Read it and see how well he has described OBAMA, the smiling friend of the poor, who destroys democracy. Read it - you'll see history predicted!

[GeorgesBarras]

Silly.

[Rorschach2710]

thank you for posting this.

[acerb45666555]

at least Plato cant be confused with Homer Simpson! just try finding a vid on the original Greek Homer! its an ordeal.

[stjanki]

lol i can imagine :)

[vinnynumbnuts]

I knew a bum (Fritz) once in front of a library in Niagara Falls. Use to sit, smoke and talk with him. He never claimed truth to me. Just gave me ideas about it. One day he was gone. I walked home disappointed, realizing he had taught me that all of these little hunters of the truth are the truth. Nothing more. But good enough to begin with...and end with.

[zardak111490]

hi im new to philosophy and have read a couple of books but only on existentialism and i want to read the republic do you think ill be able to understand it or is it hard and i should start somewhere else if so could you recomend some

[quinnsh]

it's not difficult at all - but i do recommend buying a reasonably priced hardnack edition. some of the paperbacks are really poor translations, something which i found irritating.

[vinnynumbnuts]

Go for it, zardak111490.

[1davidk1]

i would recommend reading Russell`s problems of philosophy first .like all books by the greatest minds the republic is not easy although it was written with the intention of being understood on many levels but with hard work, patience, and a clear mind those layers can be pealed

[michelangeli23]

Plato is the greatest mind in history - by a long long way!

[PlatoTheForms]

yes

[SirWalter215]

Plato is the GREATEST mind of all time. Aristotle is not even aloud to sit at the same table as Plato. But do not feel bad: coming in second, or third, or fourth, etc. to the greatest of all time is nothing of which to be ashamed.

[ruveynbaryoseph]

Aristotle was the first great codifier of the laws of logic and it was not until the 19th century c.e. that Aristotle's work on logic was surpassed.

Bob Kolker

[bahramf]

You shill.

He was the most boring mind of all time.

[pandekhes]

Plato owns Aristotle

[dino1261]

thanks mate..very interesting

[newfan7]

Plato is only the second best philosopher behind aristotle!

[lemorse1]

Plato was a hack.

[bahramf]

Plato is Dead.

[vinnynumbnuts]

Plato didn't mourn for the dead; for to do so would be to declare certain knowledge about it as being a terrible thing. In a painting of socrates' death, all others are crying except for Plato.

[bahramf]

Plato was not only boring, but he didn't have a heart either.

Good for him.

[endgammer]

Not as boring as these two.

[Forkroute]

He was a feminist, he thought two of the genders could be guardians.

[GeorgesBarras]

haha

[purplestoner]

its actually scary how much that professor looks like my philosophy lecturer! very same! good vid by the way its nice to get some kind of vid about socrates and plato that isnt the encyclopedia channel excuse for a documentary!

[crickettitties]

he looks like mine too! maybe all philosophy profs are the same guy.

[Arthuriod]

All Magee's introductions in this series are incredibly eloquent and set you up for some great conversations.

[MrAllanBloom]

"They have something of which they are proud. And what do they call that which makes them proud? Education they call it; it distinguishes them from goatherds... 'Formerly all the world was insane' -- the finest ones say, blinking. One is clever & knows everything that has happened, so there is no end to their mockery... 'We have invented happiness' say the Last Men, and they blink."

[ChaosStreetPunk]

plato is the brightest person to live

[fountainhead5]

Excellent.

[prioranalytics]

You can't correct the spelling to 'Myles', can you?

[SHRINA17]

It is so great to see intelligent videos on YOUTUBE, we know there is enough crap out there! Thanks so much for uploading flame0430

[bethypanda]

that proffesor is so hot

[bethypanda]

i dont like that 2nd guy though he talks strange and looks and dresses like a pea

[sosiopat]

What happened to TV shows like this?

[funincluded]

Flava Flav.

[wadnyc]

hahahahah....you got it!

[MrCircle360]

@sosiopat apparently celeberties are more important -.-

[Thomistica]

@sosiopat Jersey Shore.

[POC777]

@sosiopat

I guess the "THINK" button was removed!

[hicharby]

@sosiopat soon fed anti-intellectualism fueling the archetype consumers who now not only flood our malls, but run our country..

[alexaiv]

@sosiopat I would say that they were (sadly) not profitable...

[sosiopat]

@alexaiv Is the BBC supposed to be for profit? Public broadcasting seems terrified of losing ground. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation recently started a show that was supposed to be about visual culture in general, but they seem to be most interested in fashion and trends (for example an entire episode on "the hipster").

[translationwiz]

Its ppl. like you flame that make youtube the greatest thing since the internet.

And its ppl. like you that gives us the freedom to watch/listen to material that we chose and have control over w/o having to sell our souls for it...or watch some programmed crap judged by some fake nielsen whatever...

i.e. thank you!

[thinkforjoy]

Really you should get some sort of funding for this. It would certainly be a better use of the public purse than fueling the olympic flame. Bravo!

[JamLittlepie]

Thank you very much for your work, flame0430

[entropia34332]

thanx flame

[EmmaCharlotteStubbs]

thanx v much appreciated flame0430

[hatc9723]

new content, sweeet! ur the man!

[SpiritualAtheist]

For what it's worth, Plato is my favorite philosopher. Easily.

[funincluded]

Forms are a little too ridiculous for me

[SpiritualAtheist]

I think Plato's philosophy was basically wrong. But I think his ideas were interesting and presented in a way that is a joy to read. That's why Plato is my favorite.

[xXxPKw00txXx]

Well I believe that one could draw on PLato's theory of forms to Kant's transcendental identities and Wiggenstein's concepts. Epistomologically speaking his philosophy, depending on your views, can still be understood today. However his political theories.. umm definatley agree with you on that ha.

[trisix99]

they are... but they were a beginning for a reasoned approach for realizing and interpreting the world around us.

[funincluded]

Somewhat of the opposite; a total rejection of realism in favor of a way to interpret a world far beyond and outside of us