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Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy Emerita at the University of Sheffield.
Author of Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury August 28th 2025 (U.K.); 28th October in States). You can order here
Why Plato Matters Now
By Angie Hobbs
Professor Angie Hobbs proves in this persuasive and intelligent book that Plato is more relevant than ever.
Does Plato matter? An ancient philosopher whose work has inspired and informed countless thinkers and poets across the centuries, his ideas are no longer taught as widely as they once were. But, as Angie Hobbs argues in this clear-sighted book, that is a mistake.
If we want to understand the world we live in – from democracy, autocracy and fake news to celebrity, cancel culture and what money can and cannot do – there is no better place to start than Plato. Exploring the intersection between the ancient and the modern, Professor Hobbs shows how Plato can help us address key questions concerning the nature of a flourishing life and community, healthcare, love and friendship, heroism, reality, art and myth-making. She also shows us how Plato's adaptation of the Socratic method and dialogue form can enable us to deal with contested issues more constructively.
Plato's methodology, arguments, ideas and vivid images are explained with a clarity suitable both for readers familiar with his work and for those approaching Plato for the first time. This book shows why Plato really matters, now more than ever.
“A fresh, frank reassessment of Plato as a guide to living our best public lives.”
Plato and the Hero
By Angie Hobbs
“Hobbs provides a stimulating interpretation of … all Plato’s dialogues … in the time-honoured phrase she ‘brings Plato to life’ and enables us to see what was at stake for him in the discussions of thumos and andreia … Hobbs’ book makes fascinating reading both for the classical scholar and for the specialist in modern political philosophy. … a book which is worthy of emulation and which will be hard to better in terms of scholarship, imagination or insight.”
13th October 2025: introducing the BBC4 repeat of Bryan Magee’s 1987 series: Angie Hobbs Remembers … The Great Philosophers.
Honorary Patron of The Philosophy Foundation.
Advisory Board for Plato’s Academy Centre.
World Economic Forum Global Future Council 2018-19 on Values, Ethics and Innovation.
Panellist for 2016 World Economic Forum panel discussion on the 'Future of Education' and closing panel discussion of the conference on 'Staying Human'.
CLICK HERE to watch Angie's series An Introduction to the History of Western Philosophy. (Also available HERE for Apple devices.)
Philosophy in Practice (Cosmote History)
CLICK HERE to listen to Angie's appearance on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
LISTEN BELOW to Angie's appearance on BBC Radio 3's Private Passions:
CLICK HERE for Angie's appearance on Test Match Special.
CLICK HERE to read about Angie's favourite books in an interview with The Reading Lists.
WATCH BELOW Angie and Dr Crosby Stevens explore the philosophical themes of the wall and ceiling paintings in Bolsover Castle, for English Heritage and Google Arts and Culture:
Interviewee for four programmes on Ancient Greek philosophy and culture by 1895 Films for Opportunity Education: Socrates and Plato; Aristotle; Greek Drama; Heroes and History.
Interviewee and series consultant for four programmes on Roman philosophy and culture by 1895 Films for Opportunity Education on The Making of Rome.
Since 2014 Angie has been collaborating with her Sheffield colleague Dr Josh Forstenzer to protect and increase philosophy provision in primary, secondary and tertiary education; find out more about what they have been doing and why they think it matters HERE.
forthcoming public engagement events
October 2025 (exact date tbc): Philosophy Bites podcast, discussing Why Plato Matters Now with Nigel Warburton.
October 2025 (exact date tbc): article in ARGO: A Hellenic Review about my experiences making 27 In Our Time programmes on BBC Radio 4.
22nd October 2025: Discussing Why Plato Matters Now with Dr Josh Forstenzer at the Off the Shelf Festival Sheffield.
3rd Novemenber 2025: Taking part in the online Conversations in Global Philosophy series with Sajjad Rizvi: Why Plato Matters Now. You can register here: https://bit.ly/47pkN91
4th November 2025: Giving a talk The Rebirth of Plato: Ficino and More to the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution.
15th November 2025: Giving keynote Thoughtfulness and a Good Life at the Thoughtful Annual Conference 2025 Newport campus, University of South Wales.
18th November 2025: Discussing Why Plato Matters Now in the i3 lecture series Conversations with Big Thinkers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Autumn 2025: contributor and programme consultant for a programme on Confucius and Socrates for Lion TV, to be broadcast initially in China.
Recent public engagement events
For media and other events prior to 2023, please see the appropriate years in the Media section
13th October 2025: introducing the BBC4 repeat of Bryan Magee’s 1987 series: Angie Hobbs Remembers … The Great Philosophers.
10th October 2025: Speaking in the Classical Wisdom virtual event Does Ancient History Have a Future? with Walter Scheidel and Barry Strauss, hosted by Anya Leonard.
30th September 2025 10.00-11.00: Speaking on a panel at the Policy Profession Festival (online): ‘This Must Never Happen Again - But Why Does it Keep Happening and How Do We Stop It?’
27th September 2025: Discussing Why Plato Matters Now with Nigel Warburton in Philosophy in the Bookshop Blackwell’s Oxford.
4th September 2025: Real Clear Values podcast on YouTube, discussing Why Plato Matters Now with Tom English. Also available on Spotify (https://bit.ly/4nc37Tn) and Apple (https://bit.ly/46n8Lwu).
3rd September 2025: The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4, discussing Melvyn Bragg’s achievements in shaping and presenting In Our Time for 25 years with Simon Schama: item starts 36.40.
Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury August 28th 2025)
26th August 2025: Explaining History podcast with Nick Shepley, discussing Why Plato matters Now (Bloomsbury 28th August).
25th August 2025: Interview with Will Boisvert in Publishers Weekly, discussing Why Plato Matters Now.
15th August 2025: Review in Kirkus of Why Plato Matters Now
9th August 2025: Intelligence Squared podcast, discussing Why Plato Matters Now with Sophie Scott-Brown
26th July 2025 13.00 EDT: speaking in the Plato’s Academy Centre Democracy and Tyranny virtual event: From Democracy to Tyranny: a Warning from Plato
13th-17th July 2025: speaking in several events at the Symi Symposium (this year on Skiathos).
9th July 2025 13.00: speaking in St George of the East at the Refugee Tales Festival of Walking 2025 on Why Must We End Indefinite Detention?
8th July 2025 10.30-11.10: speaking at Civil Service Live, on Plato in the Policy Unit: Guarding Truth and Reason in Government
19th May 2025: giving a talk on In Memoriam: the Who, How, Where and When of Statues at a Centre for Engaged Philosophy workshop in Sheffield on the themes of Praise, Honouring and Commemoration.
11th April 2025: speaking on education and flourishing at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece.
24th March 2025: Interviewed by Marie Kinsey for the University of Sheffield’s Research Records series, selecting 6 records to tell my academic story (an eclectic mix from the recreation of Hellenistic pipes through to the Rolling Stones via Beethoven):
It is on the University Player - https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/research-records-41-professor-marie-kinsey-interviews-professor-angie-hobbs
and on Mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/ResearchRecords/research-records-41-professor-marie-kinsey-interviews-professor-angie-hobbs/
5th March 2025: Delivering talks and a workshop on Three Approaches to Ethics and How to Make an Ethically Justifiable Decision in Stratford, London at the National Chairs’ Day to the Chairs of the Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committees
23rd January 2025 : Discussing Socrates in Prison on BBC Radio 4 In Our Time.
25th November 2024: video released of In Conversation with Rowan Williams at HowTheLightGetsIn Philosophy Festival in Hay-on-Wye (27th May 2024), discussing his new book Passions of the Soul and connections between the Eastern Christian tradition and ancient Greek philosophy
23rd November 2024: Speaking on Can We Move? Zeno the Dialectician at the Centre for the History and Philosophy of Physics (HAPP Centre) Conference, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford.
22nd November 2024: online discussion on Socrates for Classical Wisdom
11th July 2024: Facilitated a day long workshop with Fraser Battye: Ethical Decision Making for Clinical Leaders for NHS Clinical Leaders in Midlands and Lancashire CSU at The Studio, Birmingham.
8th July 2024: Interview in NewPhilosopher Magazine on potential benefits and harms of an ethics and politics of flourishing: Living a Fully Human Life
27th May 2024: In Conversation with Rowan Williams at HowTheLightGetsIn Philosophy Festival in Hay-on-Wye, discussing his new book Passions of the Soul and connections between the Eastern Christian tradition and ancient Greek philosophy
9th May 2024: Speaking on Greek conceptions of love in Designing the Magic of Love at the Royal Society of Arts, part of the Fetzer Institute funded Project Love
.25th April 2024: Turkish Translation in Corpus Dergi of my 2023 The Philosopher article Philosophy in the Agora: Past, Present and Future
21st April 2024: giving a talk on Marcus Aurelius - Man and Leader at a joint YPO/ Aurelius Foundation/ Plato’s Academy Centre event in Athens.
8th April 2024: interviewee in BBC2 Meet the Roman Emperor with Mary Beard, discussing Marcus Aurelius.
23rd March 2024: Giving a talk Pedagogic Play: Ancient Greek Philosophy for Children in a free online Philosophy and Children event hosted by Plato’s Academy Centre: (my talk runs from 14.00-39.52)
14th March 2024: Article in BNN by Justice Nwafor about my public philosophy work, particularly on In Our Time.
7th March 2024: Giving a talk at the Sheffield Branch of the Historical Association on Plato and the Legend of Atlantis
13th February 2024: Discussing love and design at the Conduit Club in London: Love Today: The Keys to Our Heart
12th February 2024: Article in the Times about my experiences appearing a record 26 times on the BBC Radio 4 discussion programme In Our Time
9th February 2024: Interviewed by KCBS radio in San Francisco about the benefits and dangers of being a sports fan, ahead of the Superbowl on the 11th February.
23rd January 2024: 18.00 GMT discussing Marcus Aurelius in a Classical Wisdom online event.