Sadler's Lectures
Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler
I'm that YouTube Philosophy Guy! Find more than 3,000 videos in my main channel. Support my video and podcast work! https://www.patreon.com/sadler or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
Learn more about this podcast channel - https://youtu.be/qRvL0gqlyrw and https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/p/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast
Due to popular demand - and with the work underwritten by my Patreon supporters - I have been converting my videos into MP3 files listeners can listen to anywhere they want!
I have a second podcast, Mind & Desire, publishing original episodes on a variety of topics in philosophy, which you can find here - https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/podcast
Learn more about this podcast channel - https://youtu.be/qRvL0gqlyrw and https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/p/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast
Due to popular demand - and with the work underwritten by my Patreon supporters - I have been converting my videos into MP3 files listeners can listen to anywhere they want!
I have a second podcast, Mind & Desire, publishing original episodes on a variety of topics in philosophy, which you can find here - https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 15, 2024 • 14min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Skeptical Criticism Of The Argument From Common Consent
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the criticisms made in book 1 by the academic skeptic Cotta against the Epicurean argument from common consent made earlier by Velleius.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 13, 2024 • 12min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Skeptical Criticism Of Epicurean Atomism
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the academic skeptic Cotta's criticisms of the Epicurean position on the gods as being incoherent, holding to a metaphysical atomism and at the same time holding that the gods are eternal.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 11, 2024 • 14min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Skeptical Criticism Of Epicurean Anthropomorphism
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the academic skeptic Cotta's criticisms of the Epicurean perspective on the divine, which claim and argue that the gods must have a form like that of human beings, though not made of the same matter as human beings.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 10, 2024 • 11min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Epicureanism, Superstition, And Religion
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the Epicurean Velleius' contention that Epicureanism provides the correct view on the gods and religion without superstition, and the academic skeptic Cotta's criticisms of the Epicurean position for banishing religion along with superstition
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 8, 2024 • 17min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Epicureans On The Nature Of The Divine - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the presentation of the Epicurean position on the divine by Velleius, who develops this in part by examining the preconceptions (proleipseis) of the gods that the Epicureans claim human beings have, as immortal and eternal, as inactive and blessedly happy, and interestingly as possessing a form like that of human beings.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 7, 2024 • 13min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Epicurean Proleipsis And The Argument From Common Consent
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the argument that the Epicurean Velleius puts forward for the existence of the gods, often called the "argument from common consent". The Epicurean version of this argument also involves one of the key ideas that Epicurus himself introduced, which is called proleipsis in Greek, and typically translated as "preconceptions", which all human beings have and share in common.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 5, 2024 • 16min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Epicurean Criticisms Of Stoics' Views On The Divine
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the Epicurean Velleius' criticisms of the Stoic school's viewpoints on the divine, specifically mentioning Zeno (the founder of the school), Aristo, Cleanthes, Persæus, Chrysippus, and Diogenes of Babylon.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 4, 2024 • 18min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Epicurean Criticisms Of Philosophers Views On The Divine
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it the Epicurean Velleius' criticisms of various ancient philosophers viewpoints on the divine.
These include a number of pre-Socratics, such as: Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Anaxagoras, Alcmæo of Croton, Pythagoras, Xenophanes, Parmenides, Empedocles, Protagoras, Democritus, and Diogenes of Apollonia.
He also criticises the views of post-Socratics like Plato, Xenophon, Antisthenes, Speusippus, Aristotle, Xenocrates, Heraclides of Pontus, and Theophrastus
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Aug 2, 2024 • 18min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods Book 1 - Cicero's Motivations And Views - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the very first parts of the work in book 1, where Cicero discusses his own motivations for writing this work, and the larger project he has in mind with his philosophical works more generally. Being sidelined in the new post-Republic political regime, and dealing with grief over the death of his daughter Tullia leads him to take on a significant project of writing about Greek philosophy in Latin, and using a dialogue form which is well-suited to presenting and criticizing positions in all sorts of areas of philosophy.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc

Jul 31, 2024 • 16min
Cicero On The Nature Of The Gods - Characters And Structure Of The Dialogue - Sadler's Lectures
This lecture discusses key ideas from the ancient philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero's work, On The Nature Of The Gods, which critically examines Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic perspectives on matters of theology and cosmology
Specifically it examines the overall structure of the dialogue, and the characters involved, who are representatives of three important schools of ancient philosophy, Gaius Velleius the Epicurean, Quintus Lucilius Balbus the Stoic, and Gaius Cotta the Academic Skeptic.
To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler
If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM
You can find over 3,000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler
Purchase Cicero's On The Nature Of Gods - https://amzn.to/3JITSZc


