Introducing the Father of Western Esotericism: Plato

In this episode of "The Secret History of Western Esotericism" podcast, Earl Fontainelle introduces Plato as the "absolute daddy of Western Esotericism." He discusses Plato's influence on philosophical thought, particularly his use of ideas from earlier thinkers like Pythagoras, Parmenides, and Orpheus. Fontainelle highlights the challenges in understanding Plato due to his paradoxical nature, the dramatic fiction of his dialogues, and the absence of Plato's own voice within them. The episode delves into Plato's biography, the historical context of 5th and 4th century Athens, and the influence of Socrates. Fontainelle also touches on Plato's key contributions to Western esotericism, such as the Theory of Forms, the concept of an immortal soul, and the creation myth in the Timaeus, while also addressing Plato's divisive reputation in antiquity and the convoluted history of the Platonic Academy.