Classical Wisdom Speaks Have We Broken the Golden Thread? Why the West’s Future Depends on Remembering Its Past
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Dec 5, 2025 
James Hankins, a Harvard historian and author of *The Golden Thread*, teams up with Michael Fontaine, a Cornell classicist, to explore the West's cultural memory. They discuss why knowing our history is vital for preserving democracy and virtue. Hankins emphasizes the fragility of cultural transmission, noting past losses of texts and the Islamic world's role in preserving knowledge. They debate how much we should cherish our traditions versus innovate, and whether a revival of the Classics requires spiritual renewal. A thought-provoking conversation on the delicate balance between past and future!
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Civilization Is Made By Its Story
- Civilization civilizes by teaching people their shared history and practices.
- James Hankins argues studying the past grounds people and reveals civic pitfalls to avoid.
Angkor Wat As A Warning
- Hankins recounts visiting Angkor Wat and discovering how much of its civilization was lost.
- He warns Western traditions can similarly be nearly lost if transmission stops for generations.
Don't Dump The Past For Constant Innovation
- Modern culture overvalues relentless innovation and undervalues continuity with the past.
- Hankins warns contempt for the past fosters bewilderment and social misery.
