Is The City Worth Saving? | Good Cities w/ Nathan Bird & Jacob Hyman
Sep 7, 2023
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Engineers Nathan Bird and Jacob Hyman discuss the nature of the city, exploring topics such as the rivalry between farm and city, building cities in America, and improving our cities.
Cities are the realization of the fullness of humanity and history, representing spiritual realities and embodying the pursuit of virtue and community.
Cities provide a wide range of goods and opportunities for human flourishing, offering art, culture, and craft at their highest levels, making them places of abundance and community.
Deep dives
Cities as the Fullness of Humanity and History
Cities are the realization of the fullness of humanity and history. God's revelation tells us that the goal of humanity is to be realized in a city. We must look at our cities with contemplative faith, seeing God dwelling in their homes and streets.
The Importance of Cities in Human Flourishing
Cities provide a wide range of goods and opportunities for human flourishing. They offer art, culture, and craft at their highest levels. While these goods can be experienced elsewhere, cities bring them to their fullest expression. Cities are places of abundance and community, where people can live virtuous lives.
The Spiritual Reality of Cities
Cities are more than just physical spaces. They represent spiritual realities, as they embody the collective pursuit of virtue and community. The earthly city reflects the heavenly city, where the perfection of humanity and the worship of God are realized. A good city serves the needs of its inhabitants and fosters a sense of unity and virtue.
Aquinas' Understanding of Good Cities
Aquinas sees good cities as self-sufficient communities that provide for the physical and spiritual needs of their inhabitants. He emphasizes the importance of choosing suitable locations and organizing cities according to the various aspects of communal life. Trade is valued but used in moderation, ensuring that the city remains focused on the pursuit of virtue and the common good.
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Welcome to our new series Good Cities! In this episode, engineers Nathan Bird and Jacob Hyman describe the nature of the city. What is a city? Are cities places of sin? What is the purpose of the city? Is there a rivalry between farm and city? How have we built our cities in America? How can we make our cities better?
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