Philosophy Portal Reviews 44

The Philosophy Portal consistently challenges and expands my thinking by placing me in direct dialogue with heterodox, cutting-edge thinkers across philosophy, theology, politics, economics, and spirituality, in an open environment, communal, free of judgment with plenty of room for discussion and reflection. It has genuinely changed my life by creating/curating a recurring space where deep, collective thought feels urgent, rewarding, and intellectually alive. As a member I love the Reading Club and The Portal with monthly deep dives, worth every penny!

Wittgenstein once said that when he worked with another philosopher he encouraged them, " Take all the time you need." That kind of encouragement is consistently offered by the Philosophy Portal community. In our circling at the end of each course everyone gets an opportunity to put raw and unedited ideas out of the table and receive feedback. Plenty of time is allowed time for the group to respond with sensitivity to new perspectives. With this curious openness t he possibility of emergent knowledge is nurtured. I have found that hidden and obscure ideas that have not seen the light of day start to reveal themselves in the deep listening that Cadell encourages us to practice. These sponsorship skills that are developing through our group effort is a real blessing in our fast talking online communities that demand that we get to the point too quickly. The leisure to co-sponsor one another in a sincere effort to put into words jumbled ideas into a coherent message is a powerful experience. Critical thinking coupled with a keen appreciation for tuning into differences, makes the Portal one of the most interesting continuing education initiatives I have experienced online. Everyone gets a chance to speak up, Everyone gets a chance to respond. You will learn a lot about how you learn. My experience with the Portal has convinced me that Philosophy as a public enterprise is alive and well.

As someone who has interviewed Cadell Last and reviewed his extensive body of work, I can say that Philosophy Portal is doing something truly rare. Cadell has an alchemical gift for synthesizing divergent traditions—successfully bridging the integral movement, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and German Idealism.

Rather than just summarizing texts, he provides a sophisticated analytical framework for navigating the complexities of the 21st century. Whether you are engaging with his writing or his seminars, you are entering a space of immense theoretical rigor and a living community of minds. For anyone looking to move beyond surface-level discourse and venture into new philosophical horizons, this platform is an essential resource.

I've been studying at Philosophy Portal since its inception, and the educational experience under Cadell's guidance continues to deepen and expand. The Philosophy of Right course and conference in 2024 were particularly rewarding, allowing me to bring insights from the Science of Logic into the realm of politics. The courses build upon and fold in on each other, weaving a rich conceptual tapestry you can explore endlessly. Philosophy Portal goes beyond the passive acquisition of knowledge, offering numerous ways to engage in a living philosophical community through conferences, published anthologies, and in-person gatherings. It is a meeting place for anyone looking to think deeply with others and probe the contradictions of our historical moment, with all its disorientation and strangeness, where questions can unfold without the pressure for immediate resolution. In short, it's a space for genuine philosophy!

Rather than succumbing to the institutional pressures of modern academia to restrain thought to narrow capital horizons, Dr. Last has created a space for the community of alienated intellectuals to gather and to really think.

Philosophy Portal has cultivated a theory scene which is accelerating the connections occuring in the mycelial/rhizomatic discourses at the intersections of art/philosophy/religion in today’s unraveling modern culture. The month long Christian Atheism course I attended was incredibly rich, well-planned and passionately executed. The participatory dimension of the virtual classes (zoom calls/in-lecture chat/post-lecture Q&A’s/anthology process) has helped me to reflect and process the wealth of information from the course materials—and beyond this, the physical conference aspect in the aftermath gives you a chance to make connections more than just virtually if you are so compelled.

IMO Philosophy Portal is charting out the future of learning in a networked and open way which allows for thought to free itself from the conflicts of interest and blindness which now beset many mainstream institutional structures (think of the anti-Marxist bent of many schools, or the demonizing/expulsion of students protesting against Palestinian genocide)

Take one course on something which interests you. You will become hooked.

What Philosophy Portal offers is a gift that changes the quality of a whole life: it is not simply a product, but a horizon. I see the world differently now, thanks to Cadell Last, and I can't imagine where I'd be without him. I'm forever grateful to him, and I always will be.

Everything was organized very well. it’s accessible and even kept track of progress. Logging on was smooth and zoom calls for the most part had good connection

Deep coverage, accepting of those without massive philosophical background, friendly and supportive group.

Cadell Last's Philosophy Portal is one of the best thinking communities I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. From the live and recorded courses on some of the most important thinkers to influence contemporary thought to the weekly event space where contemporary thinkers collaboratively share the fruits of their contemplative work, everything provided here will enrich your thinking and provoke new insights. Cadell himself is a masterful facilitator of thought and collaboration. Patient and reflective, his subtle guidance opens a space that is both challenging and inviting to experienced academics and fresh autodidacts alike.

Excellent teaching about actual and relevant topics. I especially enjoyed the whole course on Christian Atheism!!!

Taking part in Philosophy Portal's Christian Atheism course has greatly enriched my exploratory journey into Christianity. Every Sunday across two months in autumn 2024, Dr Cadell Last delivered engaging, in-depth and approachable lectures online on the philosophical context of the thought-provoking concept, as well as inviting guest lectures from key contemporary thinkers on overarching themes, including a small-group Q&A session with Slavoj Zizek. Post-course opportunities comprise presenting at the Christian Atheism online conference and contributing to the WAKE festival in collaboration with Peter Rollins. During the course, I worked with fellow insightful, witty and open-minded people from all over the world, usually conversing on that day's topic for 2-3 hours after each lecture. Although sessions often extended into midnight, I thoroughly enjoyed it, learning so much from them. The growing reading list, additional materials and invitation to further sessions with subject-relevant conversations added to the thorough and rigorous approach to the course. The course quality is at university level, without being submitted to specific ideologies or institutional demands, encouraging instead genuine curiosity, criticality and a generous mindset for intellectual work. Cadell's personal and funny character, yet organised and professional administration, made for a memorable sense of meaning and connection. I will not hesitate to participate again if another intriguing concept comes under review.

PP provides unique opportunities to work through complex classic texts (Lacan, Nietzsche, Hegel,...) led by an experienced guide and embedded in a thriving online community. In addition, there's the opportuinity to distill what you got from the cours into an article for the course's anthology - published as a book available through Amazon. It's a transformational experience which comes highly recommended!

Excellent courses, faculty and content quality. Highly recommended, especially if you a philosophy aficionado like me.

Philosophy Portal has been an incredible experience for me. The community is welcoming, intellectually stimulating, and genuinely inspiring. Whether you're just exploring philosophical ideas or already well-versed, there’s something here for everyone.

The website is beautifully designed and easy to navigate, making it simple to find articles, discussions, and resources on various philosophical topics. I’ve learned so much through their well-curated content and engaging discussions.

What really stands out is the sense of camaraderie and respect among members. It’s a space where diverse perspectives are shared and debated in a constructive manner, making it a haven for anyone looking to dive deeper into life's big questions.

If you're passionate about philosophy or even just curious, I can’t recommend Philosophy Portal enough!

I have been a member of Philosophy Portal for over a year now, and I can say, it has been a constant source of information that has opened up a philosophical dialogue far broader than any other online community that I have experienced. With the (relatively) recent technological changes that have revised the way we acquire knowledge (most notably within the humanities), one cannot help but be compelled to a source that concedes to these historical adjustments. The Portal has not only taken into account these changes but has utilized them into building a community that is welcoming, no matter where one stands in their philosophical journey. I can confidently say all of this as someone who, in the past, was very critical of the ongoing movement away from traditional ways of obtaining expertise in such fields. Philosophy Portal has changed my views on this, and has provided an welcoming anticipation for the future of such studies.
A final note worth mentioning-- though there are many online courses that one can look into (and I would, of course, advise everyone to do so), a major distinction that sets the Portal apart from any other online educational movement is the live event space that is organized every week. This is a community with its point of departure from the Lyceum, which I am sure was the objective, as it does succeed in carrying on its tradition. If one does not take the courses that are offered, the event space is a unique experience that offers something that will greatly develop one’s personal philosophical growth.
I greatly recommend for anyone looking into either online philosophical courses or looking into being apart of an online philosophical community to consider entering The Portal!
-Pae.

I cannot give enough stars! My thinking life is continually challenged, enriched and expanded by Philosophy Portal. The Portal connects me to a living thinking community and provides both inspiration and a context for the development and realisation of my own creative/intellectual/philosophical projects. It's massive yes and thanks from me!

In 2024, I took Philosophy Portal's Philosophy of Right course and participated in the Rosy Cross conference. The content and delivery of the course are extremely professional. Cadell provides lectures to help you understand the Philosophical content. I tried to read the Philosophy of Right on my own before the course and it was very hard. Only by doing this course did I begin to understand what Hegel was saying in the book. The other important point is that Cadell is not just a normal lecturer you find in a college, he is genuinely passionate and lives Philosophy. You can see this in the effort he puts into the courses and the care he has for his students. If anyone is considering taking a Philosophy portal course, I would highly recommend it.

I’ve been a member of philosophy portal for a year now with my partner. Passionate about philosophy he insisted it was the best place for it and it didn’t take long being there for me to see why. Having completed degree courses to MFA level in the standard institutions I felt they lacked the depth of curiosity and creativity that made knowledge and it’s evolution possible. I could not have predicted the discoveries I’ve made via philosophy portal, the thoughts, styles of thinking and collaborative exchanges. How nice it is to be surprised and for wonder to reintroduce itself. And how nice to feel there is so much more to come to know…
The portal hugely informs and inspires my art in ways art-school could not. It challenges it through inviting it. Calling upon it to become a practising knowledge in itself, in dynamic relationship to philosophy. A living philosophy and a collective love of knowledge, it is a great thing and the world could use more of it.
Much gratitude for this 🙏

I came across Cadell Last's project while researching Lacan's relevance for contemporary Christian theology. His Christian Atheism course happened to coincide with a particular interest of mine. I hesitated slightly at the cost, but am so glad I took the plunge. Each 'lecture' is around 3 hours long, followed by about 2 hours of Q&A. Cadell's style is careful, creative, and comes across as driven by a really authentic scholarly curiosity and desire to develop a diverse community of inquiry. I very much look forward to engaging with other courses already available on Philosophy Portal and with Cadell's future explorations.