The first book of Cicero's "On Duty" concerns what is morally right for men to do. The second is what is expedient, or how to get what you want. Cicero isn't exactly a face-melter, so it's easier to get the synopsis here than it is to read on your own (don't let me stop you, just don't say I didn't warn ya).
In Milton's Paradise Lost, the demons hold council after the fall to decide their next course of action. Three demons stand and make suggestions. We discuss their infernal ideas.
Turns out that the heretics weren't usually burned at the stake. Sure, sometimes they got punched in the mouth by Santa, but most of the time they lived happy lives. Let's chat about em.
Cicero was a legendary statesman and orator. He wrote a treatise on moral philosophy to his son in the hopes that his son would follow in his footsteps. In this episode, we review part one (with parts two and three to come), and make a few poop jokes. Heh. Doody.
Hamlet is a complicated play, and probably, besides the star-crossed-lovers, his most famous. Graeme helps us understand Hamlet's web of lies.
All those tests you take on the internet might be helpful, but we take some serious beef with the Meyers-Briggs test and its implications.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Classical Stuff! In this episode, we fight through the background noise of a vigorous floor buffing to bring you tales of Ol' Saint Nicholas, who was real. . . and leaks.
We discuss whether the classical movement, or even a preference for old things (books especially), is really just veiled chronological snobbery.
Thucydides wrote down, best he could, the funeral oration of Pericles, one of the greatest rulers(ish) of Athens. You'll hear the whole thing, then we discuss.
Satire: can it ever be virtuous? We submit that it can.
William Blake was a printer and a precursor to the Romantics. In this episode, we discuss his "Marriage of Heaven and Hell."
As the history of the Brits continues, so does our podcast about it. In this episode, Graeme tells us about how Edward's shanks were indeed long.
Josh Gibbs is a scholar we're all fond of, and in this episode we discuss his new book.
Sir Gawain was a member of King Arthur's court . . . and a pipsqueak. This is his story.
The Song of Roland is one of the oldest examples of French literature. It also has some of my favorite things: swords, horses, war horns and Nicolas Cage. Just kidding, there are no swords.
In the last play of the Theban cycle, Antigone, a bunch of folks die because of one already dead dude. Also, we discuss law.
Frankenstein is a warning against ambition. And science. Mostly science. Also, Satan is in there somewhere.
Michelangelo painted some pretty sweet things on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but the wall is probably cooler still.
Bees leads this one on a Sophoclesian (just made that word up, and it's awesome) play. You can see the title of the play in the title of the podcast episode. It's just right up there.
Turns out that all this gene editing is a good way to destroy ourselves. Lewis was dealing with conditioning, but it's pretty much the same thing, right?
The Illustrious A.J. Hanenburg summarizes Lewis's thoughts on the Tao. Sounds like a noodle dish, but I swear it's pretty neat.
Graeme Says some stuff about C.S. Lewis's Abolition of man. It's important stuff folks, and he's a smartypants.
This is both our one year anniversary and our first (successfully recorded) live episode! This took place at the annual Paideia Conference at Veritas Academy. We hope to see you there next year!
Bees takes us on a journey with an ancient Greek fellow who just wouldn't listen to the oracles. Listen to the prophets, bro. Listen to the prophets.
Graeme discusses the common topic of comparison as it's divided into judgment and wit.
In this episode, A.J. walks us through mankind's oldest story.
Beez walks us through Tolkien's Article, "On Fairy-Stories," and we discuss the nature of humanity as it relates to fiction.
In this episode, we discuss the four ways to read a book.
One of the greatest military minds of all time, Julius Caesar, was written about by two greats: Shakespeare and Plutarch.
The most common criticism of English courses is that some of the things we teach sound made up. How do you know what is symbolic in a book and what isn't?
