Episode 96: St Thomas & the Ends of Labor, Part 2

In this episode, we chat about symbolism and learning through analogy, rational creatures participating in the eternal law, Reason in exchange for physical protection, and the Four Ends of Labor. 

Announcements:

• Our Fall Family Pig Harvest class will be September 12-14. Join us to use just your hands (and a sharp knife) to turn two pigs into kitchen-sized pork cures, cuts, sausage, and charcuterie. Spots are limited to just eight students so as to keep the hands-on experience undiluted. Jump on this chance and sign up today! https://farmsteadmeatsmith.com/the-family-pig/

• Come to a 3-Day Family Lamb Harvest class, June 20-22 or October 3-5, where you will use only your hands to turn four sheep into kitchen-sized lamb cuts, sausage, and charcuterie. The main difference between the Family Lamb and Family Pig is the skinning of sheep. Removing the hide from sheep, deer, elk, etc, ought to be learned by hand for an efficient and satisfying harvest. Spots are limited to just eight students so as to keep the hands-on experience undiluted. Jump on this chance and sign up today! https://farmsteadmeatsmith.com/product/3-day-complete-lamb-harvest-course/

• Our one and only St Martinmas Goose Harvest class will be November 15-16. Just eight students will transform a small flock into undiluted goods for the family table through the culinary traditions of the premodern peasant. The goal of this earnest, hands-on course is to impart the actual virtue of goose provender, from kill to confit. Sign up today at https://farmsteadmeatsmith.com/product/martinmas-goose-harvest/.

• Meatsmith Membership A gift that gives all year long! More than 45 Harvest Films, Brandon's Harvest Journal, and our community FaceBook group. 60-day free trial available! Use the Newsletter Special option on our sign-up page and apply the coupon code 60daytrial at checkout. Sign up today at FarmsteadMeatsmith.com/product/membership/.

• Support our podcast on Patreon! Production of each episode takes hours of work, filming, and editing. Becoming a patron can help us keep our episode quality high and allow us to continue filming. Become a patron today at https://www.patreon.com/meatsmith.

Timestamps/Topics for Episode 96:

0:00 Intro

1:00 We learn through analogy

17:07 Rational creatures participate in the eternal law

25:10 Humans lack physical protection but we have Reason

29:41 The Four Ends of Labor

33:13 The primary end of all manual labor serves food production

37:42 The secondary end of labor is to remove idleness

45:22 Morality is simply practical Reason

52:40 Agriculture has a built-in limitation on concupiscence

Links for Episode 96:

• Dr. Richard Meloche of the Alcuin Institute https://alcuininstitute.org/author/richardmeloche 
• The Alcuin Institute https://alcuininstitute.org/
• The Importance of the Rural Life: According to the Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas A Study in Economic Philosophy by George H Spetz https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18837689-the-importance-of-the-rural-life?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=YIVUsafgXi&rank=1
• De Regno (On Kingship) by Thomas Aquinas https://a.co/d/avI7RAG