Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Discover why Plato remains essential to leadership, values, and the good society in this captivating fireside chat from the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows.
Featuring Todd Breyfogle, Director of Seminars at the Aspen Institute, this intimate discussion explores Plato's enduring relevance—from the Allegory of the Cave and philosopher-kings to the tension between reflection and action in practical affairs. Drawing connections from ancient Athens to the founding vision of the Aspen Institute in 1949–1950, Breyfogle examines why dialogue matters, how the "great conversation" shapes humanistic leadership, and why we must cultivate spaces for thoughtful engagement today.
Expect rich insights on timeless questions: What is honored in a society? How do we bridge desires (the true, beautiful, and good) with just laws? Why the Aspen Seminar's Socratic method—rooted in Plato—helps leaders step back, reflect, and return to the world wiser.
Perfect for fans of philosophy, classical texts, leadership development, the Aspen Seminar, Mortimer Adler, Walter Paepcke, Socratic dialogue, values-based leadership, and the Aspen Institute's mission.
Join the conversation on Plato's legacy and its vital role in modern leadership and civil society.
Know Aspen. Watch GrassRoots.
GrassRoots programming is made possible by the producers' creativity itself, direct contributions from viewers, members of the Roaring Fork Valley community, and through grants from the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund, The Town of Snowmass Village, the City of Aspen Community Non-Profit Grant Program, and The Aspen Thrift Shop.
Founded by citizens of Aspen, Colorado in 1972, GrassRoots TV is the first and oldest community operated and programmed open-source media center and television station in the United States. Virtually all of the programming is created by local residents, occasionally with world renown guests.
In partnership with the American Archive of Public Media and the Library of Congress, GrassRoots is currently cataloguing, restoring and digitally archiving 700 of the most at-risk original video programs out of its 45,000 title Community Video Archive.
Help sustain this community treasure by donating now! Go to:
bit.ly/GRTVContribute
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, HIT LIKE and leave a COMMENT to let us know if you enjoyed this video, it is important to us and the community for you to become part of the conversation. Thanks for tuning in!
Download the GrassRoots Community Network iOS and Android apps
Subscribe for more videos: bit.ly/2Ycpi4P
Facebook: facebook.com/GrassRootsCommunityNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/grassrootstv
Web: grassrootstv.org
#AspenInstitute, #Plato, #Philosophy, #Leadership, #SocraticDialogue, #AspenSeminar, #GreatConversation, #ValuesBasedLeadership, #ToddBreyfogle, #HumanisticStudies, #PhilosopherKings, #AllegoryOfTheCave, #GreatBooks
Discover why Plato remains essential to leadership, values, and the good society in this captivating fireside chat from the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows.
Featuring Todd Breyfogle, Director of Seminars at the Aspen Institute, this intimate discussion explores Plato's enduring relevance—from the Allegory of the Cave and philosopher-kings to the tension between reflection and action in practical affairs. Drawing connections from ancient Athens to the founding vision of the Aspen Institute in 1949–1950, Breyfogle examines why dialogue matters, how the "great conversation" shapes humanistic leadership, and why we must cultivate spaces for thoughtful engagement today.
Expect rich insights on timeless questions: What is honored in a society? How do we bridge desires (the true, beautiful, and good) with just laws? Why the Aspen Seminar's Socratic method—rooted in Plato—helps leaders step back, reflect, and return to the world wiser.
Perfect for fans of philosophy, classical texts, leadership development, the Aspen Seminar, Mortimer Adler, Walter Paepcke, Socratic dialogue, values-based leadership, and the Aspen Institute's mission.
Join the conversation on Plato's legacy and its vital role in modern leadership and civil society.
Know Aspen. Watch GrassRoots.
GrassRoots programming is made possible by the producers' creativity itself, direct contributions from viewers, members of the Roaring Fork Valley community, and through grants from the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund, The Town of Snowmass Village, the City of Aspen Community Non-Profit Grant Program, and The Aspen Thrift Shop.
Founded by citizens of Aspen, Colorado in 1972, GrassRoots TV is the first and oldest community operated and programmed open-source media center and television station in the United States. Virtually all of the programming is created by local residents, occasionally with world renown guests.
In partnership with the American Archive of Public Media and the Library of Congress, GrassRoots is currently cataloguing, restoring and digitally archiving 700 of the most at-risk original video programs out of its 45,000 title Community Video Archive.
Help sustain this community treasure by donating now! Go to:
bit.ly/GRTVContribute
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, HIT LIKE and leave a COMMENT to let us know if you enjoyed this video, it is important to us and the community for you to become part of the conversation. Thanks for tuning in!
Download the GrassRoots Community Network iOS and Android apps
Subscribe for more videos: bit.ly/2Ycpi4P
Facebook: facebook.com/GrassRootsCommunityNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/grassrootstv
Web: grassrootstv.org
#AspenInstitute, #Plato, #Philosophy, #Leadership, #SocraticDialogue, #AspenSeminar, #GreatConversation, #ValuesBasedLeadership, #ToddBreyfogle, #HumanisticStudies, #PhilosopherKings, #AllegoryOfTheCave, #GreatBooks
