After some people-watching with the street dogs of Greece and having our craniums sweat insights with the help of the gymnasium of philosophy, we continue our city trip to the polis by having a closer look at the origins of this entire culture of rational reflection. "Know Thyself" is one of the three main maxims inscribed on a column in forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. A lot more was probably going on there than a bunch of fancy tarot card reading sessions that inspired Socrates to introspect and launch western philosophy. That'd be too simplistic a story and would ignore an entire context that seems to have been essential to the beginnings of philosophy. But sadly enough, that is indeed the case. Every course that introduces the student to western philosophy, will mention the anecdotes of philosophers and their involvement with what are obviously practitioners and cults of magic, but treat this undeniable connection as a mere anecdote or illustration of a certain idea or point. In this episode we'll look at the magical roots of philosophy, born from altered states of consciousness and, as contradictory as that might sound, the aid of other beings than just one's own mind.

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Intro track: Graal - Kroon VII