Socrates in the City

Beloved for the Chronicles of Narnia and his books of Christian apologetics, C.S. Lewis was also was a prophetic critic of the growing power of scientism in modern society, the misguided effort to apply science to areas outside its proper bounds. In this wide-ranging interview, Eric Metaxas speaks with John West about his book “The Magicians Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society.” They discuss Lewis’ warnings about the dehumanizing impact of scientism on ethics, politics, faith, reason, and science itself. Issues explored include Lewis’s views on bioethics, eugenics, evolution, intelligent design, and what he called “scientocracy.”The post Dr. John West: C. S. Lewis and Scientism first appeared on Socrates in the City.

It was on October 7, 2023 when Hamas terrorists brutalized Israelis in the deadliest attack since the Holocaust. The whole world watched in horror as millions tried to process what took place and why. Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas and guest — and dear friend — Dennis Prager sat down together to process and discuss Israel’s place in the world and the Middle-East crisis. Despite the topic, this conversation is not without light-hearted moments, and you’ll see why this duo — a Jew and a Greek — have been friends for many years. This Socrates in the City event took place on December 6th, 2023.The post Dennis Prager: Israel’s Place in the World first appeared on Socrates in the City.

The stunning details of the discovery of biblical Sodom, including the moment archeologist Dr. Steven Collins first kneeled at the site to finding Trinitite-like glass to unearthing the gates where Lot sat, is full of dramatic twists and turns. This interview took place at Socrates in the City in Fort Worth, Texas, October 12th, 2023.The post Steven Collins: Discovering the City of Sodom first appeared on Socrates in the City.

On the eve of his 59th wedding anniversary, the tenth man to walk on the Moon, astronaut Charlie Duke is interviewed by Eric Metaxas for a special Socrates in the City event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 16 Moon landing. The two discuss General Duke’s career leading up to his momentous trip to the Moon, details and dangers that nearly derailed the historic event, and then Metaxas asks — to the 36 year-old Charlie Duke who has just returned from the Moon in 1972 — “you’ve just returned from the Moon, now what are you going to do?” General Charlie Duke ends the evening by asking Eric, “may I have a closing statement?” and gives a word for the ages. In reflecting on the conversation, Eric Metaxas, founder and host of Socrates in the City, says, “it was difficult not to be moved at a few junctures in the conversation, and Charlie himself got choked up a few times. We also had a few laughs, which is not unimportant. It was a genuinely magical evening.” This event took place at the Union League Club in New York City in May 2022. Learn more about Socrates in the City at socratesinthecity.com.The post Charlie Duke: The Apollo 16 Moon Landing first appeared on Socrates in the City.

A conversation between David Berlinski and Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas regarding Dr. Berlinski’s recent book “Human Nature.” This event took place at the Union League Club in New York City in November 2022. Learn more about Socrates in the City at socratesinthecity.com. David Berlinski received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University and was later a postdoctoral fellow in mathematics and molecular biology at Columbia University. He has authored works on systems analysis, differential topology, theoretical biology, analytic philosophy, and the philosophy of mathematics, and three novels. He has taught philosophy, mathematics and English at Stanford, Rutgers, the City University of New York and the Université de Paris. David is the author of many books including the bestselling book The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions. Dr. Berlinski lives in Paris, France. The post David Berlinski: Human Nature first appeared on Socrates in the City.

A conversation between Dr. James Tour and Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas on the topic “How Did Life Come into Being?” This event took place at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas in October 2022. Learn more about Socrates in the City at socratesinthecity.com. Dr. Tour is presently the T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Computer Science, and Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University. He is widely regarded as among the leading nano-scientists in the world. The post James Tour: How Did Life Come into Being? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

A conversation between Eugenia Constantinou and Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas regarding Ms. Constantinou’s recent book: “The Crucifixion of the King of Glory.” This event took place at the Union League Club in New York City on February 28th, 2023. Learn more about Socrates in the City at socratesinthecity.com. Dr. Eugenia Constantinou is an acclaimed author and scholar who has earned six degrees in various disciplines, including a Masters in Theology from Harvard Divinity School, where she specialized in New Testament, a doctorate in law from Pepperdine University, a doctorate from the Universite Laval in Quebec, a Master of Theology from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Massachusetts, where she specialized in Orthodox Theology and Patristics, and a Master of Arts from the University of San Diego. Her book The Crucifixion of the King of Glory is a breathtaking multi-disciplinary masterpiece. Her previous book is titled Thinking Orthodox. Eugenia has for two decades taught Biblical Studies and Early Christianity at the University of San Diego, where she lives with her husband Father Kostas, a Greek Orthodox priest. The post Eugenia Constantinou: The Crucifixion of the King of Glory first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Os Guinness and Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas discuss Mr. Guinness’ recent books: “The Magna Carta of Humanity” and “Zero Dark America.” This event took place at the Union League Club in New York City on December 6th, 2022. Learn more about Socrates in the City at socratesinthecity.com. Os Guinness, author and speaker, is the great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. He was born in China in World War II where his parents were medical missionaries. A witness to the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to Europe where he was educated in England. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil. in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford. In the late 1960s, Guinness was a leader at the L’Abri community in Switzerland and, after Oxford, a freelance reporter for the BBC. Guinness has written or edited more than thirty books and is a frequent speaker and seminar leader at political and business conferences in both the United States and Europe. He has also lectured at many universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, Harvard and Stanford, and has spoken at the White House, Capitol Hill and other public policy arenas around Washington D.C. area. The post Os Guinness: The Magna Carta of Humanity first appeared on Socrates in the City.

From the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776, to the California Gold Rush, to the Guano Islands Act of 1856, Socrates in the City guest Michael Medved and host Eric Metaxas discuss the idea that America’s existence and expansion has been divinely devised. Medved begins the conversation with a story about the miraculous life of his grandmother after finding a tumor at age fifty…and the conversation only gets more interesting from there! The two discuss Medved’s THE AMERICAN MIRACLE and GOD’S HAND ON AMERICA, two extraordinary books that display the highest level of scholarship while simultaneously being tremendously, gloriously readable. This event took place at Seattle’s Arctic Club in April 2023.The post Michael Medved: God’s Hand on America first appeared on Socrates in the City.

North Korean defector Yeonmi Park joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to discuss her latest book WHILE TIME REMAINS. In this uniquely sobering SITC interview, Ms. Park details her early years: foraging for plants and eating bugs to stay alive in “Socialist Paradise,” her family’s involvement in the black market, escaping to China and being sold into slavery, and seeking freedom in South Korea by way of the Gobi Desert. The conversation then moves to Yeonmi’s time studying at Columbia University in New York City. With insight from her time spent in a dictatorship filled with indoctrination, censorship, and mob rule, Park speaks to the current American landscape. The interview took place on March 30th, 2023 — 16 years to the day of her escape from North Korea in 2007 — at the Union League Club in New York City. The post Yeonmi Park: While Time Remains first appeared on Socrates in the City.