A Reality Check for Crazy Times | Longing for More than Nominal Culture

Jun 12, 2025

Dive into a thought-provoking exploration of the culture war and its philosophical underpinnings. Discuss the tension between realism and nominalism in shaping today's ethical debates. Reflect on the deep human longings for goodness amid evil, and find solace in spiritual experiences that speak to our quest for fulfillment. The conversation critiques modern individualism and advocates for a richer understanding of faith and reality, highlighting the importance of genuine belief and reconnecting with the divine amidst chaotic times.

02:21:32

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ADVICE

Explore Deep Ethical Foundations

Dig beneath slogan-level ethics to explore underlying worldviews and metaphysics.
Address fundamental differences in worldview to foster meaningful cultural conversations.

insights

INSIGHT

Culture Wars Reflect Philosophical Divide

Many major culture wars manifest a deeper divide between realism and nominalism.
Conflicts over gender, abortion, and rights stem from different beliefs about reality's structure.

insights

INSIGHT

Evil as a Twisted Good

Evil is a privation, lacking substantive existence on its own.
Our loves and actions, even wrong ones, aim at some good, reflecting a distorted but real yearning.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Philosophical Divides in Contemporary Ethics

05:56 • 23min

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Exploring Longing: The Interconnection of Goodness and Evil

29:21 • 24min

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Finding Peace in Spiritual Reflection

53:39 • 8min

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Longing and Ideology in Modernity

01:02:09 • 40min

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Exploring Being and Non-Being Through C.S. Lewis's Lens

01:42:01 • 5min

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Faith and Reality: Navigating Non-Realism in Christianity

01:46:46 • 35min

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#2720

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

On The Incarnation

C.S. Lewis

Athanasius

A Religious of C.S.M.V. S.Th.

Written by St. Athanasius in the 4th century, 'On the Incarnation' is an apologetic treatise that defends the incarnation of Christ against non-believers. Athanasius explains that the Word of God became incarnate to save fallen humanity, arguing that this act was necessary to undo the corruption of sin and restore humanity to its original state in the image of God. The book relies heavily on Scripture and the teachings of the early Church, addressing various objections to the incarnation and emphasizing the divine and human natures of Christ.

#330

• Mentioned in 48 episodes

The abolition of man

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S. Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943. Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'. He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason. The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis.

#7537

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Life of St. Anthony

Athanasius

#92

• Mentioned in 113 episodes

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.

#5488

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

The Space Trilogy

The Ransom Trilogy

C.S. Lewis

The trilogy consists of 'Out of the Silent Planet', 'Perelandra', and 'That Hideous Strength'. It follows Dr. Elwin Ransom, a philologist, as he is kidnapped and taken to Mars (Malacandra), then to Venus (Perelandra), and finally back to Earth. Each book explores themes of good vs. evil, free will, and the cosmic hierarchy, drawing parallels with biblical narratives and classical mythology. The series delves into spiritual warfare, the nature of sin, and the struggle between personal ambition and moral integrity.

#437

• Mentioned in 40 episodes

The Great Divorce

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Great Divorce', C.S. Lewis presents an allegorical narrative where souls from a gray, dreary town (representing hell) are given the opportunity to visit heaven. The story follows the narrator and various ghosts as they encounter spirits in heaven, engaging in dialogues that reveal the nature of their choices and the reasons they remain in hell. The book emphasizes that hell is a self-imposed state, and individuals choose to remain there due to their inability to let go of their earthly attachments and sins. Through these encounters, Lewis explores themes of redemption, the afterlife, and the importance of spiritual choices, underscoring that true joy and salvation are available to those who seek them sincerely.

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The Most Important Question - https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4

Longing, Nostalgia, & Spiritual Simplicity - https://youtu.be/kABn890L3es

The Ideology of Hell - https://youtu.be/G1lrYYqg5qY

Archetypes, Inspiration, & Christianity - https://youtu.be/qjBjTJHbEkI

Today we replay some of our favorite endings. The episodes can get kind of long and we hate for listeners to miss some of Dr. Jacobs’ best work in his wrap-ups. You’ll find commentary on the culture war, realism, nominalism, longing and nostalgia, and some thoughts to help you stay grounded in these unprecedented times.

All the links:

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

00:00:00 Intro

00:06:26 Clip 1 (The culture war, homosexuality, transgenderism, feminism, rights)

00:30:15 Clip 2 (How can I miss something I’ve never had? Daryl Dixon’s question from The Walking Dead)

01:03:03 Clip 3 (The pitfalls of uplifting the individual. Originally a commentary on Tucker Carlson and Aleksandr Dugin)

01:46:40 Clip 4 (Using Christianity as utilitarian instead of a feature of reality. Response to Jordan Peterson, Alex O’Connor, and Richard Dawkins)

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