An illuminating dive into the foundations of Western philosophy. Before the revered Socratic dialogues shaped the intellectual landscapes of Athens, a groundbreaking group of thinkers was already laying the philosophical bedrock. These Pre-Socratic philosophers, originating from diverse corners of ancient Greece, dared to seek answers beyond the realm of myths, looking instead to reason and nature. Their audacious inquiries tackled the essence of being, the fabric of reality, and the mechanisms of the universe.

Orpheus is often celebrated as the legendary musician and poet of ancient Greece. Yet, beyond the enchanting tales of his lyre and the quest to reclaim his beloved Eurydice from the Underworld, Orpheus holds a lesser-known but profound status as a philosopher. Orphic traditions contributed deeply to early Greek thought, intertwining mysticism, cosmogony, and esoteric teachings. This lecture delves into Orpheus not merely as a figure of myth, but as a seminal philosopher whose ideas influenced and resonated with many thinkers of antiquity.