Michael Fontaine
Professor of Classics at Cornell University known for making ancient ideas accessible, interviewer and interlocutor in the conversation who probes themes in the book and contributes comparative commentary.
Best podcasts with Michael Fontaine
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Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 39min
Have We Broken the Golden Thread? Why the West’s Future Depends on Remembering Its Past
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!
Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 19min
The Philosophy of Anxiety
Samir Chopra, a philosopher at Brooklyn College, discusses anxiety as a philosophical concept, challenging views of it as strictly medical. Katherine D. Van Schaik sheds light on Galen’s historical insights into anxiety, connecting ancient medicine to modern understanding. Michael Fontaine examines the duality of anxiety and grief through classical lenses, emphasizing mindfulness and community. Together, they debate contemporary anxieties shaped by urban life and technology, advocating for deeper philosophical reflection over pharmaceutical solutions.
