Particular Good

Charles talks with Zena Hitz about her beautiful book Lost in Thought: The Hidden Treasures of an Intellectual Life. They cover why and how she chose her vivid examples of particular goods of the intellectual life, the importance of treating the intellect as an end to itself rather than instrumentalizing it for prestige or politics, the role of withdrawal—forced or free, physical or internal—MC Hammer's love of the philosophy of science and Zena's book, and the integration of intellectual life within Christianity.

Charles talks with Evan Kuehn about his book Troeltsch's Eschatological Absolute. Evan covers the importance of eschatology in 19th and 20th century Christianity, Troeltsch's unique approach to both eschatology and Kantian idealism, his critique of monism, and his understanding of the religious a priori in human experience. Evan's work rescues Troeltsch from some early dismissals and shows a path to conversation between Troeltsch and dialectical theology.

Dr. Nancy Hawkins, a Professor of Theology at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry, dives into the radical thoughts of Dorothee Sölle, a 20th-century political theologian. They discuss Sölle’s critique of divine omnipotence and her unique blend of mystical and political theology, sparked by her experiences during WWII. The conversation also touches on the themes of faith, activism, community organizing, and the relevance of historical atrocities in contemporary society, forging a powerful connection between spirituality and social justice.

Charles talks with Mahri Leonard-Fleckman about her work on the Hebrew Bible's literary beauty and relationship to material culture and the construction of ancient Israelite identity.

Jason Blakely, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University and author of 'We Built Reality,' dives into the captivating intersection of social science and culture. He critiques naturalism in sociology, advocating for a more narrative-driven understanding of human experience. The conversation tackles polling complexities in political forecasting, explores the limitations of rational choice theory, and examines the historical roots of racial violence. Blakely's insights illuminate how societal narratives shape our perceptions of identity and justice.

Heather and Charles discuss George MacDonald, The West Wing, and Turtle Finds a Home by Timothy Chapman with guests. Featuring Megan Fritts, philosopher at Utah State University, Guy Valponi, Medical Ethicist at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., and Molly, splendid child.

Heather and Charles talk with Matthew Kuhner about the life and work of Hans Urs von Balthasar, with a special focus on Matt's research on Balthasar's view of person and mission.

Megan Fritts is a philosopher at Utah State University. In this episode, Megan talks with Charles about her work on moral perfectionism, non-causal action theory, and partial evidentialism. She addresses why beliefs are tricky, theory of knowledge is boring, and her husband is most likely not a serial killer—and how human lives are like chess pieces but not the ones spontaneously melting.

In this episode, we interview Heather Hughes Huff about the Catholic literary imagination in the 20th century, the life and work of Graham Greene, his novel The End of the Affair, and the focus of his work on the loss of self for the love of God.