Atomism
Posted on 16 January 2011
In this episode Peter discusses the Atomists Democritus and Leucippus, and how they were responding to the ideas of Parmenides and his followers.
Posted on 20 November 2011
Peter begins to examine the philosophy of Epicurus, focusing on his empiricist theory of knowledge and his atomic physics.
Posted on 24 March 2013
A first look at the philosophical contributions of Islamic theology (kalām) and its political context, focusing on the Mu'tazilites Abū l-Hudhayl and al-Naẓẓām.
Posted on 28 April 2013
The doctor and philosopher Abū Bakr al-Rāzī sets out a daring philosophical theory involving five eternal principles: God, soul, matter, time and place.
Posted on 8 June 2013
Ibn al-Haytham draws on the tradition of geometrical optics to explain the mystery of human eyesight.
Posted on 14 July 2013
Al-Ash'arī puts his stamp on the future of Islamic theology by emphasizing God’s untrammeled power and freedom.
Posted on 19 February 2017
The Vaiśeṣika school offers a metaphysical analysis of the world and an atomistic physics.
Posted on 5 March 2017
The Vaiśeṣika response to Buddhist skepticism about wholes made up of parts.
Posted on 18 June 2017
Ockham, Buridan, Oresme and Francis of Marchia explore cosmology, atomism, and the impetus involved in motion.
Posted on 13 August 2017
The debate between Nicholas of Autrecourt and John Buridan on whether it is possible to achieve certain knowledge.
Posted on 25 February 2018
John Wyclif refutes nominalism and inspires the Lollard movement, which anticipated Reformation thought with its critique of the church.
Posted on 20 October 2019
The rediscovery of Epicurus, Lucretius, and Sextus Empiricus spreads challenging ideas about chance, atomism, and skepticism.
