In this 2018 interview, he points out that the Neoplatonists deviated from Plato’s original emphasis on the Self. He regards their interest in theurgy as a decadent development. However, he holds that there is a continuous Hellenic, philosophical tradition extending from the pre-Socratic philosophers through Plato and Aristotle to the Neoplatonists. He also suggests that [...]

In this video from 2017, he describes how he came to develop an approach to self-realization that combines philosophy and psychotherapy. He began this work when he was hired, while still a student, to counsel alcoholics. He discovered that most problems originate in an early childhood event, not particularly traumatic, when adults would stifle a [...]

In this video from 2017, he suggests that the human condition has always been tragic and will remain so — because all humans carry within themselves a burden of unrecognized rage and false beliefs. The best way to cope with tragedy, he maintains, is to engage in a process of illuminating and modifying these false [...]

In this video from 2017 he maintains that Plato’s great work, The Republic, is primarily about the soul and philosophy and only secondarily about politics. He describes the Allegory of the Cave in detail and how it depicts the imprisonment of the soul. He suggests that Plato’s emphasis on the Self has been misinterpreted, and [...]

Here he notes that neither Socrates nor Jesus wrote down their own thoughts. In order to understand them, we must rely upon their interpreters. Both men were put to death for their ideas. Both were concerned with divine illumination. He presents Jesus as a gnostic teacher, as depicted in the Nag Hammadi scriptures, whose live [...]

Here he enumerates the disciplines involved in the preparation of “philosopher kings” as outlined in Plato’s Republic. He relies upon a new translation of Plato that emphasizes the mystical role of the Self in philosophical practice. He also goes into some detail regarding the importance of dreamwork in ancient Greek culture. Then he elaborates on [...]

Here he distinguishes between the practice of philosophical dialogue exemplified by Plato as opposed to that of Socrates. He emphasizes the importance of the Self in Plato’s philosophy — and how this unfolds through the different philosophical dialogues. He demonstrates how the dialogue process can bring people into a greater understanding of the Self as [...]

Here he describes his combat experience during the second world war, pointing out that the generals sometimes made disastrous decisions costing many lives. At other times they managed to execute brilliant strategies. He argues that it is essential to oppose injustice wherever it is found. He points out that the same injustices that result in [...]

Here he maintains that, unlike in Plato, deep psychotherapeutic insights can be found in Homer. In fact, Pierre’s development of “philosophical midwifery” is largely based on Homer. Plato was more of a pure mystic. Both Homer and Plato probably participated in the Eleusinian mysteries. In the Republic, Plato argues that Homer should not be taught [...]

Here he points out that the “pathologos” (false beliefs we have about ourselves) tend to trigger robotic behavior patterns in an algorithmic fashion. Interestingly, the process for gaining insight and therefore correcting this behavior — as outlined in “philosophical midwifery” — also has an algorithmic element to it. Pierre also describes his understanding of the [...]

Here he points out that the authors of the Christian Gospels wrote in Greek and were influenced by the Hellenic intellectual culture. He suggests that a strict translation from the original Greek texts would reveal that they shared the pure mysticism of Plato and his emphasis on knowledge of the Self. He points out that [...]