The Thomistic Institute

The Suffering of Republics, Self-Sacrifice, and the Virtues of Two Cities | Dr. Chad Pecknold

Aug 6, 2019

Dr. Chad Pecknold, an expert on political philosophy and theology, discusses Augustine's views on humility, the suffering of Roman people, the story of Lucretia's self-sacrifice, and the contrasting behaviors of Christian and pagan women in times of turmoil. The podcast delves into virtues, true religion, and the concept of the Two Cities in Augustine's City of God, emphasizing the importance of self-sacrifice and attachment to the supreme good.

01:12:41

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Chad Pecknold

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Quick takeaways

Regulus exemplifies self-sacrifice for the common good, emphasizing virtues over temporal advantages.

Augustine emphasizes true happiness derived from virtue amidst suffering, detached from immediate pleasures.

Augustine contrasts the city of God with the city of man, advocating for ruling by virtue for communal flourishing.

Deep dives

Regulus' Admirable Virtue in the Face of Adversity

Regulus, a prominent Roman military figure, exemplifies courage and unwavering commitment to the common good by urging the Senate not to accept a detrimental peace treaty, even at the cost of his own life if the treaty was rejected. His sacrifice demonstrates a belief in virtues over temporal advantages, showcasing a belief in virtuous virtues unrewarded by gods, thus highlighting the genuine worship attributed to false gods.

Intro

3min

Augustine's Argument on Humility and Rome

9min

Suffering, Respect, and Virtue amidst Destruction

6min

The Story of Lucretia: Virtue, Honor, and Sacrifice in Roman History

15min

Contrasting Behaviors of Christian and Pagan Women in the Face of Suffering

3min

Comparison of Virtues: Regulus and Christian Heroes

15min

Understanding the Two Cities in Augustine's City of God

15min

Exploring Self-Sacrifice, Virtues, and Suffering

9min

Held each summer, The Civitas Dei Summer Fellowship Program supports rising scholars seeking to better understand the Catholic intellectual tradition. Sponsored by the Thomistic Institute and the Institute for Human Ecology, Civitas Dei Fellows spend a week together in Washington DC, examining the search for happiness as a fundamental end of the person and the polis.

The week-long seminar introduced students to foundational themes in philosophy, political theory, and theology, dealing with law, personhood, political life, and the search for happiness. The focus was on an introduction to foundations of political and moral theory of Augustine, Aquinas, and modern constitutional jurisprudence.

Speakers included Dr. Adrian Vermeule (Harvard Law School), Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P. (Dominican House of Studies) and Dr. Chad C. Pecknold (Catholic University of America)

You can access the hand out for this lecture here: tinyurl.com/ya4chrda

For more information about upcoming TI events, visit: www.thomisticinstitute.org/events

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The Thomistic Institute

The Suffering of Republics, Self-Sacrifice, and the Virtues of Two Cities | Dr. Chad Pecknold

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Regulus' Admirable Virtue in the Face of Adversity

Understanding the Relationship Between Happiness and Virtue

The Contrast Between the City of Man and the City of God

Deeper Reflection on Virtue and Providence

Platonic Influence on Roman Tradition and Virtuous Governance

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts