meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep264: PHILOSOPHER KINGS AND THE RIVER OF HEEDLESSNESS Colleague Professor James Romm. James Romm explores Plato's Republic, arguing that philosophers make the best kings because they perceive the true "forms" of justice rather than earthly shadows. The discussi

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 30 December 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

PHILOSOPHER KINGS AND THE RIVER OF HEEDLESSNESS Colleague Professor James Romm. James Romm explores Plato's Republic, arguing that philosophers make the best kings because they perceive the true "forms" of justice rather than earthly shadows. The discussion turns to the "Myth of Er," a story of the afterlife where souls travel for a thousand years before choosing their next life. Plato warns that drinking too deeply from the River of Heedlessnesserases memory, whereas philosophers strive to recall the forms. NUMBER 11
4TH CENTURY BCE SYRACUSE

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In the casino, something as small as the roll of a dice or the spin of the slots holds the thrill of the unknown.

0:09.0

Sign up with Bet Victor, and when you wager 10 euro, you'll get 50 euro in bonuses on selected games, plus 100 free spins on Big Bass Splash.

0:18.0

Place your best bet at Bed Victor.

0:20.0

18 plus new customers only, offer expires

0:22.9

within seven days of sign-up 40 times wagering requirement. Visit bedvictor.com,

0:26.9

pretiesensiesgamblingcare.com. Please gamble responsibly.

0:35.0

This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel.

0:38.4

With James Rom, the new book is Plato and the Tyrant,

0:41.5

The Fall of Greece's Greatest Dynasty and the Making of a Philosophic Masterpiece.

0:45.6

Tens of thousands have had their lives cut short

0:48.0

or are driven into despair by the drama of the Dionysian clan,

0:59.7

which is now irony represented by Dionysius wandering around Corinth looking for work. However, we turn to the Republic. Plato spends the

1:05.2

rest of his life in Athens, and he dies around 347 is the number I have, mid-century.

1:12.6

He lives a full life.

1:14.0

That was that, almost 80, maybe 80 years old, near 80 years old.

1:17.7

He leaves behind manuscripts that we have enormously preserved,

1:23.0

given all that was lost at the burning of the Alexandria Library,

1:27.2

thanks to Caesar, we didn't lose

1:30.2

Plato because he was so popular.

1:32.5

I guess he was copied everywhere.

1:34.8

However, we have the Republic to work on because so much of the teaching that I had in

1:41.4

the 20th century was informed by the Republican. I always

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from John Batchelor, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of John Batchelor and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.