History of Philosophy

How radical was Luther? We find out from Lyndal Roper, who also discusses Luther and the Peasants' War, sexuality, anti-semitism, and the visual arts.

How Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith alone and his attack on the Church relate to the history of philosophy.

Trends in Aristotelian philosophy in northern and eastern Europe in the fifteenth century, featuring discussion of the “Wegestreit” and the nominalist theology of Gabriel Biel.

The “learned piety” of Desiderius Erasmus, the greatest figure of northern humanism.

The “learned piety” of Desiderius Erasmus, the greatest figure of northern humanism.

The “learned piety” of Desiderius Erasmus, the greatest figure of northern humanism.

The “learned piety” of Desiderius Erasmus, the greatest figure of northern humanism.

Learned ignorance, coincidence of opposites and religious peace: Paul Richard Blum discusses the central ideas of Nicholas Cusanus.

The radical negative theology of Nicholas of Cusa, and his hope of establishing peace between the religions of the world.

Rudolph Agricola, Juan Luis Vives and other humanist scholars spread the study of classical antiquity across Europe and mock the technicalities of scholastic philosophy.

The impact of the printing press on the history of philosophy, and its role in helping to trigger the Reformation.

How humanism and scholasticism came together with the Protestant Reformation to create the philosophy of 15-16th century Europe.\r\n

For our finale of the Italian Renaissance series we\'re joined by Ingrid Rowland, to speak about art, philosophy, and persecution in Renaissance Rome.\r\n

Did Galileo’s scientific discoveries grow out of the culture of the Italian Renaissance?\r\n

Giordano Bruno’s stunning vision of an infinite universe with infinite worlds, and his own untimely end.

Our guest Brian Copenhaver joins us to explain how Ficino and other Renaissance philosophers thought about magic.

Ficino, Pico, Cardano, and other Renaissance thinkers debate whether astrology and magic are legitimate sciences with a foundation in natural philosophy.

Was the natural philosophy of Bernardino Telesio and Tommaso Campanella the first modern physical theory?

An interview with Guido Giglioni, who speaks to us about the sources and philosophical implications of medical works of the Renaissance.

The polymath Girolamo Cardano explores medicine, mathematics, philosophy of mind, and the interpretation of dreams.