

Louis Markos Contemplates
10 snips Sep 22, 2025
Dr. Louis Markos, a Professor of English and authority on C. S. Lewis, discusses classical thought and creativity. He explores the differences between wishes and choices, emphasizing the moral implications of our decisions. Markos connects Aristotle's eudaimonia to Christian joy and highlights how adopting virtues can be likened to developing tastes through habit. He also champions active contemplation as key to creativity, revealing how it fuels inspiration and the creative process. Markos draws on influential thinkers, providing a rich tapestry of ideas.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Form And Purpose Define Reality
- Plato orients upward to ideal forms while Aristotle grounds form in purpose and essence.
- Aristotle teaches that things have telos which gives them shape and proper use.
Early Love For Aristotle's Poetics
- Louis Markos recalls first loving Aristotle's Poetics in high school which clarified epic and tragic forms.
- That early study led him to value Aristotle's moral and literary insights and later informed his scholarship.
Happiness As Flourishing, Not Pleasure
- The chief end of man is eudaimonia, a deep flourishing tied to contemplation and peace.
- Happiness is aligned with your telos and requires time for contemplation, not mere pleasure-seeking.