Thinking Class

Neema Parvini, a prolific author and director of Academic Agency, dives deep into elite theory and the cyclical nature of history. He questions the idea of progress and examines the rise and fall of civilizations, offering insights into modern Britain's decline. Parvini critiques contemporary ideologies, discussing the discontent generated by women’s liberation despite workforce gains. He warns against 'slop' in media, emphasizing the need for substantial discourse over fleeting trends while reflecting on his political evolution post-Brexit.

In this engaging discussion, Lord Nigel Biggar, Emeritus Regis Professor of Moral Theology at Oxford, delves into the complex legacy of the British Empire. He explores its dual nature, acknowledging both its contributions to economic growth and its more troubling aspects. The conversation further examines the moral implications of colonialism, the role of religious influences in governance, and draws parallels between historical colonization and modern immigration. Biggar challenges listeners to reflect on patriotism and the cultural narratives shaping contemporary Britain.

David Starkey is a historian, broadcaster, and bestselling author. Known for The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Monarchy, David now runs the popular YouTube channel David Starkey Talks and has written extensively on the British monarchy, including Monarchy, Crown and Country, and Henry, a Virtuous Prince.In this episode David and I think out loud about why history, properly taught, is the basis of our civilisation, why we should be terrified of the current political class for their lack of historical awareness, his thoughts on what drover Axel Radakubana to commit the terrorist atrocities at Southport, what the decline of historical education means for governors and the governed, how the emergence of modernism saw the disintegration of cultural heritage, why any proper study of history requires cultivating a profound awareness of mortality, why David does not like revolutions, the future of the British monarchy and its diminishing role in British identity, David's political evolution from libertarianism to conservatism, why ritual is a necessity for proper governance, why we return to traditional values and much, much more.Enjoy the show, Classmates and don't forget to subscribe.You can find David’s work here:David’s WebsiteDavid’s BooksYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Dr. Roy Baumeister is one of the world's most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published over 700 scientific works, including over 40 books. In 2013 he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements. As of 2023, Roy holds affiliations with Harvard University in the USA, Constructor University Bremen in Germany, Florida State University, also in the U. S., Better Up, Inc., U. S., and the University of Bamberg in Germany. His 2011 book, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength with John Tierney, was a New York Times bestseller. He has appeared on television shows such as Dateline NBC and ABC's 2020, as well as on PBS, National Public Radio, and countless local news shows. His work has been covered or quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, The Economist, Newsweek, Times, Psychology Today, Self, Men's Health, Businessweek and many other outlets.In this episode, Roy and I think out loud about his book The Cultural Animal, why culture is a fundamental aspect of human existence, how it shapes individual identity, social structures, and helps our understanding of mortality, the role of language in culture, whether the cultural homogenization of the internet and the modern world is causing people to feel disoriented,  why self esteem is driven by cultural belonging, how culture provides a defence against death, and the shifting role of religion in contemporary society. We also talk about the evolution of self control, how technology impacts behaviour, how the academy has overseen a lowering of standards in education, how cultural shifts affect self regulation and the implications for future generations, and how Roy's own beliefs have changed over time, particularly regarding feminism, his faith, and universities and much, much more. Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.You can find Roy's work here:Roy’s websiteFollow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Dr. Mark Dooley is an Irish philosopher, author and journalist who has taught at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and at University College Dublin where he was John Henry Newman Scholar in Theology. He has been a columnist for both the Sunday Independent and the Irish Daily Mail, and is currently a Contributing Editor to The European Conservative magazine. His many books include The Roger Scruton Reader, Why Be a Catholic?, Moral Matters: A Philosophy of Homecoming, and Conversations with Roger Scruton, all published by Bloomsbury. In 2022, he edited and published Against the Tide: The Best of Roger Scruton's Columns, Commentaries and Criticism. He is Sir Roger Scruton's literary executor.In this episode, Mark & I think out loud about about the philosophical legacy of Roger Scruton, why it is truer to say that the culture war is a spiritual war, whether politicians in Western nations love or hate their nations, why home and belonging is important, and the impact of immigration on national identity, the future of British and Irish relations, the tension between traditional values and modern ideologies, whether there is a space for conservatism in revolutionary times, whether Roger Scruton would support r a counter-revolution against progressive ideologies, the significance of the West's cultural inheritance from Christian civilization, and its impact on modern society, why human life is sacred, the need for a connection to the past, and the dangers to societies that disregard their cultural heritage and much, much more.Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.You can find Mark’s work here:Mark’s WebsiteMark’s BooksYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube 

Warren Smith is the founder of YouTube channel The Secret Scholar Society (@SecretScholars ). He lives in Massachusetts, USA, where he is a volunteer firefighter. In this episode Warren and I discuss his transition from teaching to becoming a full time YouTuber with his channel and why that 'career-change' happened at all, and we think out loud about the importance of critical thinking, the nature of truth, how to navigate political discourse and media narratives, and why storytelling helps us understand reality and the impact of societal taboos on open discussions, how to recognise objective truths in a world filled with competing narratives, how fragile belief systems can be, the threats to freedom of expression, whether the USA is feeling different following Trump's victory in the presidential election, how to achieve personal growth, and find the courage to challenge one's own beliefs, and why we need to engage in difficult conversations to navigate the unknown, and much, much more. Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.You can find Warren’s work here:Warren’s websiteSecret Scholar SocietyX/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Sam Bidwell is the Director of the Next Generation Centre at the Adam Smith Institute and has worked as a Parliamentary Researcher, and as a Press and Research Consultant for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. His writing on foreign affairs has been published internationally, including in Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and he was a contributor to the 2023 Commonwealth Security Review. Sam is a graduate of the University of Cambridge where he studied Law at Sidney Sussex College, specialising in public law, jurisprudence, and legal history.In this episode, Sam and I think out loud about whether Britain's political class are NPCs, the implications of immigration on the social contract in Britain, particularly in light of recent waves of migration, the disconnect between public sentiment and political action, the structural changes needed in immigration policy, and the cultural implications of demographic shifts, why Britain needs a more coherent immigration strategy that aligns with the expectations of the British public and addresses the challenges posed by changing demographics, what cultural transfer is and why it's important, the political influence of diverse communities on governance in Britain, why Britain has economically stagnated, the implications of immigration on questions of citizenship, the crisis of legitimacy in governance, and the need for economic growth to support cultural preservation and much, much more.Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.You can find Sam’s work here:Adam Smith InstituteThe CriticThe TelegraphX/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackAnd you can watch the show on YouTube.

Harrison Pitt is a writer at the European Conservative and a fellow at the New Culture Forum. In this episode, Harrison and I think out loud about the problem in talking about British values and why they cannot be reduced to bullet point summaries, the philosophical underpinnings of national identity and cultural heritage, the impact of mass immigration on British culture, whether integration in a diverse society is possible, the implications of multicultural policies in a historically homogeneous nation, the moral implications of diversity in Britain, why 're-migration' is becoming popular across Europe, the political will needed to address immigration issues, why cultural restoration is needed if the UK is to remain recognisable and much, much more.You can find Harrison’s work here:YoutubeThe European ConservativeX/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube.

Ed West is a British author, journalist, and blogger known for The Wrong Side of History on Substack and his work with UnHerd, The Catholic Herald, The Spectator, and more. His books include Small Men on the Wrong Side of History, The Diversity Illusion, and Tory Boy.Paul Morland is one of the world’s leading demographers, exploring how population trends shape our world. A former research fellow at Birkbeck and senior member of St. Antony’s College, Oxford, his books include The Human Tide, Tomorrow’s People, and No One Left. Together, Ed and Paul host The Canon Club podcast. We discuss the importance of the Western canon and why we must understand it if we are to maintain our cultural heritage, the effects of technology on artistic expression, changing cultural interests in modernity, whether great art is still possible in a distracted age, cultural optimism vs. cultural pessimism, the role of elites in shaping culture, how the BBC has become low-brow, why British culture has declined so much, and much more.I’ve loved my previous conversations with Ed and Paul, and this three-way discussion was even better. Their insights, humour, and camaraderie make this a must-listen.Don’t miss The Canon Club series for deeper dives into cultural heritage, from Macbeth and Anna Karenina to Caravaggio and overlooked architectural styles.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can find Ed’s work here:SubstackThe SpectatorThe Canon ClubYou can find Paul’s work here:PaulMorland.co.ukX/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube 

Professor Robert Tombs is Professor Emeritus of French History at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St John’s College. Robert is the author of That Sweet Enemy (2006, co-written with his wife Isabel), The English and Their History (2014), and the Sunday Times bestseller This Sovereign Isle: Britain In and Out of Europe. In this episode, Robert and I think out loud about whether England and Britain are in decline, how England's national identity was formed, England's historical stability and contributions, why we should beware the rise of radical ideologies that seek to rewrite history, the importance of recognizing England's rich past in the current cultural and political landscapes, the complexities of the British constitution and whether we need a written constitution to safeguard ancient liberties, the cultural kinship between the Anglosphere and France, why we need to make a conscious effort to preserve cultural heritage, and much, much more.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can find Robert's work here:Academic workPublished booksYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube