191: Atlas Shrugged and the Therapeutic Man
In this episode, drawing three books together, Graeme leads us through a discussion about Atlas Shrugged in light of the Therapeutic man . . . and Raskolnikov.
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 191
Classical Stuff You Should Know
A.J., Graeme, and Thomas discuss everything having to do with the classical world. Our aim is to help both educators and laypeople enjoy the classical world as much as they enjoy fine ales and good tales.
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Episodes
190: Herodotus IV: Cambyses "The Passable"
In this installment of Thomas's series on the Landmark Herodotus, we talk about the reign of Cambyses, who gave bad gifts, had bad spies, and couldn't pull back a fancy bow. He was cranky about it.
Feb 22, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 190
189: Leibniz and the best of all possible worlds
Leibniz's theory of the best of all possible worlds helps to explain the problem of evil in Theism. "Oh nuh uh" says Voltaire. He wrote Candide in response.
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 189
188: Four reasons why classical education can't happen
In this episode, we discuss David Hicks's (yep, THAT David Hicks, the one who wrote "Norms and Nobility") article "Is Classical Education Still Possible?" If we agree with him, it could mean that two of us are out of a job, and three of us are out of a podcast.
Feb 08, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 188
187: Atlas Shrugged: BECOME A TITAN OF INDUSTRY
In Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," a character gives a two-hundred-page-long speech on objectivism, her philosophy. Hey, if you're looking for an ethos that gives you both independence AND cash, you're in the right place.
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 187
186: The Tao Te Ching
This is our first real venture into eastern philosophy. The Tao Te Ching is from the 4th century BC, and lemme tell ya, I've never wanted to be simple like an infant more.
Jan 18, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 186
185: Causation
In this episode, we ponder the four causes and unravel the mysteries of the universe. Well, Thomas does. We ruffle his feathers while he does good work.
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 185
184: Advice from a Deep Friar
Sometimes you have feelings. Romeo is one such person who has feelings. Graeme, inspired by a previous episode, ponders on whether Romeo is an existentialist, meaning that the philosophy is immature.
Nov 30, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 184
183: Existentialism is a Humanism
Existence precedes essence. If you don't know what that means, you're making a statement about how all men should be, you non-existentialist, you. DID YOU KNOW THAT!?!?
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 183
182: Herodotus III: Egypt and Water Horses
Continuing on in the Landmark Herodotus, we get to a chapter which earns him the moniker, "Father of Lies." Overstating it a bit, don't you think?
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 182
181: Great Expectations
In this episode, we discuss Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations." But you know, if you keep your expectations low, it's harder to be disappointed. I guess, in a way, that's the point of this book.
Oct 26, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 181
180: Herodotus II: Cyrus the Virus
In this second episode on the Landmark Herodotus, we discuss the exploits of Cyrus the great. You can look forward to: baby swapping, kid kingdom, and blood wine for the dead!
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 180
179: The Enchiridion, by Epictetus
The writings of Epictetus are some of the only stoic manuscripts that survive. The Enchiridion is his essential handbook for the budding acolyte of Stoicism.
Oct 05, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 179
178: Foil
A literary foil is something in the story that exists to highlight the characteristics of the protagonists. COULD IT BE that literature is a foil for us!? I THINK YES.
Sep 28, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 178
177: How to Solve the Trolley Problem
The Trolley problem presents a perfect study case from which to look at different ethical viewpoints. But . . . come on. You know you'd pull the lever. It's just the right thing to do.
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 177
176: The Communist Manifesto
In 1848, a small group of social philosophers publish a little pamphlet with big wings: The Communist Manifesto. This podcast is about that thing.
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 176
175: Sir Gawain and the Decent Film
In this episode we talk about the differences in theme and construction between the recent (pretty solid) film about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the poem by the same name.
Sep 07, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 175
174: Herodotus, History, and Happiness
Herodotus put together a pretty stellar history, and the Landmark version is a stellar translation of it. In this episode we discuss the book and several stories from it.
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 174
173: The Happy Equation
Arthur Brooks, a researcher of happiness at Harvard, has distilled his research about happiness into a simple equation. Want to know how to be happy? Turns out this is the way.
Aug 24, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 173
172: Intro to the Epics
The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid are all part of one story. That story was common knowledge for the Greeks, but mostly unknown to us moderns. This episode is that story, giving the context necessary for understanding the Iliad, which begins in the middle of things.
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 172
171: A Retrospective from the Ombudsman of Fun
Thomas has recently left his position as the Dean of Student Life at Veritas. These are the things he's learned.
Jul 13, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 171
170: John Donne and a Crash Course to Poetry
A.J. has always struggled with his views of poetry as a genre. He might have finally sorted it out with the help of John Donne.
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 170
169: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling"
Kierkegaard faced the absurdity of the universe, the absurdity of faith, and held both in tension. In this episode we explore his book "Fear and Trembling" as it traces the mystifying story of Abraham and Isaac.
Jun 29, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 169
168: The Tempest
Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is a bit of a mystery of a play, especially since nothing really happens.
Jun 22, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 168
167: How We Got the Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is for those of us who don't always know what to say. So . . . all of us. Thomas gives us a little history, then a quick rundown of the book.
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 167
166: Machiavelli's "The Prince" 2: Pie Fortress
This is the second half of A.J.'s series on Machiavelli's "The Prince." It addresses how a prince can establish a reputation. We also chat about pie.
Jun 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 166
165: The Great Divorce
"The Great Divorce," by C.S. Lewis, recounts a bus trip to heaven. We discuss the Problem of Evil in the perspective of the book.
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 165
164: Euclid and his "Elements"
Euclid's "Elements" was the math text for over a thousand years. We all try to do a proof, and we end up with something looking like an Eiffel Tower.
May 25, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 164
163: Machiavelli's "The Prince" or "How to kill friends and influence people."
Machiavelli was a statesman that wanted back into the good graces of the Medici. It half worked. This is a discussion of the work that was supposed to do the job of charming the prince. It's entitled, shockingly, "The Prince."
May 18, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 163
162: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Jane Austen is a delight, and her novel Pride and Prejudice is no exception. In this episode, we review the book and talk about what it takes to change as drastically as Elizabeth and Darcy.
May 11, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 162
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