This week, the guys take a look at Aristotle's Politics . Specifically, they explore the key types of relationships according to Aristotle, how they contributed to the formation of the city, and why the city is the perfect size for humans to flourish.
As Nazism came to the fore in Germany following World War I, Leo Strauss delivered a lecture that would be published posthumously attempting to explain why. Specifically, he emphasized nihilism, including its sources and influences. The guys discuss and expand upon this lecture.
In the first episode of 2022, the guys come out swinging by taking on Book I of Plato's Republic . One of the most important philosophic works of all-time, the discussion is as wide-ranging as it is entertaining. Plus: we want your ideas on what part of Plato's Republic the guys should cover next!
This week, the guys are joined by none other than Dr. Harvey Mansfield. The group discuss Machiavelli's satirical play, La Mandragola in a wide-ranging discussion, and is closed out by an entertaining series of lightning round questions.
The New Thinkery wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! On this Christmas Day stocking stuffer, the guys delve into an unusual Christmas short story, Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Christmas Banquet". The guys analyze the somber work's underlying philosophic meaning and its connections to the present.
In this week's classic episode of The New Thinkery, the guys discuss the Christmas classic: A Christmas Carol . They go through the book's plot, themes, underlying philosophical points, and talk about the cultural impact the book has had since its publication in the nineteenth century.
The guys are joined once again by Prof. Richard Velkley, Celia Scott Weatherhead Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Tulane University. The guys dive into the messy subject of Heidegger's relationship with Nazism, as well as what Leo Strauss thought of Heidegger. Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!
The guys are joined this week by Greg's colleague at Ashland University, Dr. Christopher Burkett. The group take a break from the stuffy philosophy books, and turn instead to the silver screen to analyze the Western genre, and specifically Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969) and John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). Don't fret! Westerns, and these films in particular, are replete with philosophic underpinnings ready to be illuminated.
This week the guys dive into French philosophy with René Descartes' Discourse on Method . They explain Descartes philosophy and scientific thought while also evaluating its strengths and weaknesses.
This week, the guys are joined by Claremont Institute Senior Fellow Glenn Ellmers, an expert on the teachings and life of the renowned Harry V. Jaffa. Together, the group talk about Ellmers' new book The Soul of Politics: Harry V. Jaffa and the Fight for America . They touch on Jaffa's life, the biggest influences on him, and ultimately what he thought on a philosophical level. Shoutout to ALI for sponsoring!
This week, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Michael P. Zuckert. The group discuss the Gettysburg Address and its philosophic underpinnings, as well as covering the surrounding history. Shoutout to ALI for sponsoring!
This week, the guys are joined by Dr. Eric Adler, professor and chair of Classics at the University of Maryland to discuss his new book, The Battle of the Classics: How a Nineteenth-Century Debate Can Save the Humanities Today . The group tackle one of the largest questions looming over higher education: what should be the most central piece of a college education? Shoutout to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!
The guys finally get around to tackling Plato’s Republic, the first and greatest work of political philosophy. With wide-ranging themes and topics, the Republic situates political life at the core of the question of our place in the world. The guys give a synopsis of the text and their initial impressions in this first episode of a mini-series analyzing Plato's Republic—guests to come! Shoutout to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!
As Halloween approaches, the guys turn their attention to some spooky literature. This time, they're joined by Dr. Justin Gottschalk as they delve into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . The group touch on the history of the book, as well as what makes it scary under the surface. Shoutout to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!
This week the guys are joined once again by Jan Blits, professor emeritus in the University of Delaware School of Education. The group break down the play Macbeth , going through the plot and discussing the central role of virtue in the play that is not necessarily apparent at first glance.
This week the guys convene to discuss a short, humorous work by Mark Twain, Extracts from Adam's Diary . Despite being so short and meant to be funny, hidden just below the surface are deep questions about existence. Thanks to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!
In this special edition of The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Drs. Nathan Tarcov and Christopher Lynch. They give the guys a sneak peek at a forthcoming book on Machiavelli that you can't get anywhere else! Plus: what projects are they working on now? Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for sponsoring!
The guys are joined this week by Dr. Wayne Ambler, Associate Professor Emeritus at CU Boulder. The group dive into Tacitus' Dialogue on Oratory , covering a range of topics from the nature of oratory to how it looks in the United States today. Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for sponsoring!
This week, the guys are joined by Dr. Nick Buccola, professor and Elizabeth & Morris Glickman Chair in Political Science at Linfield University to discuss the life and philosophy of Frederick Douglass. The group analyze several key writings of Douglass and how his view of government shifted as he aged. Plus: an overview of Douglass' experience as a public speaker. Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for sponsoring!
In this Constitution Day special edition of The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Dr. Ben Kleinerman, the R.W. Morrison Chair of Political Science at Baylor University and board member of the Jack Miller Center. Together, the group discuss several of the Federalist Papers and what their respective authors thought the U.S. regime need be wary of as it progressed.
In this week's episode of The New Thinkery , the guys are overthrown and replaced by a distinguished, all-female panel of four guests: Lisa Leibowitz, Linda Rabieh, Carly Herold, and Anna Mansfield. The panel discuss Aristophanes' play where, fittingly for the situation the guys find themselves in this week, women are installed as rulers of Athens and start instituting major reforms.
In this edition of The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Dr. Laurence Cooper of Carleton College. Together, the group discuss Plato's Symposium in TNT 's penultimate episode on the subject, this time focusing on Aristophanes' speech on Eros (and Socrates). Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!
In this edition of The New Thinkery Alex and Greg visit the Jack Miller Center where they are joined by Professor Steven Smith. The group discuss Michael Oakeshott's famous work, "Political Education". Plus: don't miss out on the quickest response times we've seen yet on lightning round questions! Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!
In this week's edition of The New Thinkery , the guys analyze a frequent read of David's: The Death of Ivan Ilyich . A tome by one of the great Russian authors, Leo Tolstoy, the crew have much to discuss as they reflect on the key theme of the book, mortality.
In this week's installment of The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Dr. Arlene Saxonhouse, Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies and a former chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan. The group discuss how Plato and Socrates thought of women and their role in greater society. Plus: a brief discussion of Shakespeare's The Tempest . Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for supporting the show!
In this edition of The New Thinkery, the guys are joined by Dr. Michael Grenke, a tutor (professor) at St. John's College to discuss Warspeak: Nietzsche's Victory Over Nihilism , a book by Lise Van Boxel. The group analyze key points of Nietzsche's philosophy, the characteristics of a philosopher in Nietzsche's eyes, and the dangers of nihilism. Special thanks to the Ancient Language Institute for supporting the show!
The New Thinkery is officially a year old! To celebrate a year of podcasting, the guys analyze the comic play from which TNT gets its name: Aristophanes' The Clouds . Topics discussed include the value of comedy vs. philosophy, the nature of comedy, and more. Plus: a thought-provoking series of mailbag questions. Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for supporting us!
In this edition of The New Thinkery , the guys return to Plato's Symposium for their penultimate episode on the book. This time around, they continue their discussion of Socrates' Speech on Eros. Plus: the guys have some funny middle school stories to tell. Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for supporting the show!
In this edition of The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Dr. Joshua Parens, Dean of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts and Professor of Philosophy and Politics, to discuss the philosophy of Maimonides from law to politics.
In this edition of The New Thinkery , Alex and Greg are joined by Dr. Thomas Cleveland, Academics Program Officer for the Jack Miller Center. They discuss the very nature of law using Plato's Minos as a backdrop to delve into the topic. Plus: don't miss an extended series of lightning round questions!
