Plato’s Timæus

In this episode of The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP), Earl Fontainelle introduces Plato's dialogue Timaeus, asserting its profound influence on Western culture and esotericism. The episode situates the Timaeus within Plato's broader works, discussing its dating and reception history, particularly its role in shaping early Christian theology and its enduring appeal to esoteric thinkers. Fontainelle summarizes the dialogue, highlighting key concepts such as the Demiurge, the world of forms, the receptacle, and the creation of the cosmos, including the introduction of time and the construction of the four elements from platonic solids. The episode emphasizes the Timaeus's unique contributions, such as the first Western concept of a creator God, a mathematically modeled theory of astronomy, and the idea of the human being as a microcosm of the heavens, setting the stage for future discussions on the Atlantis myth and other esoteric aspects of the text.