In 'The Soul of Civility', Alexandra Hudson delves into the history and nature of civility, distinguishing it from politeness and highlighting its role in fostering respect and dignity among individuals despite deep differences. The book draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary thinkers to argue that civility is essential for societal healing and personal growth.
Plutarch's 'Parallel Lives' is a collection of 48 biographies of renowned men, divided into 23 pairs of one Greek and one Roman, along with four unpaired biographies. Written at the beginning of the second century AD, the work aims to explore the influence of character on the lives and destinies of these historical figures. Plutarch's focus is ethical, intending to illustrate which actions are noble and how character shapes the lives of individuals. The biographies are structured to facilitate comparisons between the Greek and Roman subjects, highlighting their common moral virtues and failings[1][4][5].
The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.
The 'Pensées' is an unfinished work by Blaise Pascal, intended as a comprehensive defense of the Christian faith. It consists of fragments and notes that Pascal was compiling before his death in 1662. The work is characterized by its psychological and philosophical approach, particularly evident in Pascal's Wager, which argues for the rationality of believing in God. Pascal's writing highlights the contradictions and complexities of human nature, emphasizing both the wretchedness and greatness of humanity. The 'Pensées' also critiques skepticism and underscores the importance of seeking spiritual truth beyond mere reason[2][3][5].
In this episode, I chat with Alexandra Hudson, writer, popular speaker, founder of Civic Renaissance, a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness and truth, and author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves, a forthcoming book from St. Martin’s Press.
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Highlights
* What Lexi’s newsletter, Civic Renaissance, is about
* The central message of her new book, The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves
* What is the difference between civility and politeness?
* Why classics are still important today
* Whether you need a philosophy or classics degree to benefit from classical wisdom
* What's happened to civility today? How can we restore civil discourse?
* About Lexi’s Storytelling and the Human Condition elearning course
* What can great stories across different cultures tell us about our lives?
Links
* Civic Renaissance with Alexandra Hudson
* Alexandra Hudson
* The Soul of Civility on Macmillan’s website
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