History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

Anselm offers more than his famous ontological argument, including a subtle account of human freedom.

Peter Damian takes up a question with surprising philosophical implications: can God restore virginity to a woman who has lost it?

Little-known authors prepare the way for scholasticism with glosses on logic, metaphysical debate, and a poem about a cat.

Stephen Gersh (who was Peter's doctoral advisor!) joins him to discuss the sources and influence of Platonism in the Middle Ages.

We celebrate reaching episode 200 with a special double interview on the problem of defining medieval philosophy.

Eriugena delves into the Greek tradition to produce his masterpiece of metaphysics and theology, the Periphyseon.

John Scotus Eriugena debates free will with his rival Gottschalk, arguing that God predestines the saved but not the damned.

Alcuin leads a resurgence of interest in philosophy and the liberal arts at the court of Charlemagne.

Peter launches the series of podcasts on philosophy in medieval Latin Christendom with a look ahead at what’s to come.

Anke von Kügelgen joins Peter to discuss developments over the last century or so, including attitudes towards past thinkers like Avicenna, Averroes and Ibn Taymiyya.

From Sabzawārī in the 19th century to Seyyed Hossein Nasr today, Iranian thinkers promote and respond to the thought of Mullā Ṣadrā.

Muḥammad 'Abdūh and Muḥammad Iqbāl challenge colonialism and the traditional religious scholars of Islam.

Fatema Mernissi and others challenge the long-standing (but not complete) exclusion of women from the intellectual traditions of Islam.

18th and 19th century intellectuals in India and the Ottoman empire, from Shāh Walī Allāh to the Young Turks, continue Islamic traditions and grapple with European science.

Kātib Çelebi defends cigarettes and coffee, in just one of several philosophical and religious debates in the Ottoman empire.

Ideas spread to Mughal India from Iran, and prince Dārā Shikūh seeks to unite the wisdom of the Upanishads with the Koran.

Sajjad Rizvi talks to Peter about Mullā Ṣadrā's views on eternity, God's knowledge and the afterlife.

Mullā Ṣadrā proposes that all things are like sharks: in constant motion.

Mullā Ṣadrā, greatest thinker of early modern Iran, unveils his radical new understanding of existence.

Philosophy in Safavid Iran, and a look back at earlier philosophy among Shiites.