On Plato and Platonism with Dr. Michael Wiitala

On Plato and Platonism with Dr. Michael Wiitala

From Think for Christ by Dr. Anthony Alberino and Dr. Andrew Payne

May 25, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

The episode explores the philosophical ideas of Plato and Platonism through a conversation between Dr. Anthony Alberino and Dr. Michael Wiitala.

How should we understand Plato—what exactly is Platonism? In this episode of Think for Christ, Anthony Alberino sits down with philosopher Dr. Michael Wiitala for a deep exploration of Plato, Socrates, the theory of Forms, dialectic, metaphysics, and the true nature of philosophy itself. Drawing from the Platonic dialogues, the conversation examines how Plato sought not merely to construct a philosophical system, but to awaken the soul to truth, goodness, and wisdom through the lived practice of philosophy. Anthony and Dr. Wiitala discuss Plato’s relationship to Socrates, why Plato wrote dialogues instead of systematic treatises, the meaning of dialectic, and the role of philosophy as a transformative way of life rather than merely an academic exercise. The discussion also tackles common misconceptions about Platonism—including the idea that Plato believed in a literal “world of Forms”—and situates Plato within the broader context of Greek philosophy, including the influence of Parmenides, Heraclitus, and the Sophists.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Anthony Alberino

Guest: Dr. Michael Wiitala

Topics covered

  • Plato
  • Platonism
  • philosophy
  • Socrates
  • theory of Forms
  • dialectic
  • metaphysics

Keywords

  • Plato
  • Platonism
  • Socrates
  • philosophy
  • dialectic
  • theory of Forms
  • metaphysics
  • Greek philosophy
  • transformative philosophy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Plato, Socrates, theory of Forms, Platonic dialogues

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