Socrates in the City
Socrates in the City
Socrates in the City is the acclaimed series of conversations on “life, God, and other small topics,” hosted by Eric Metaxas. Starting with the philosopher Socrates’s famous words that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” Metaxas thought it would be valuable to create a forum that might encourage busy New Yorkers in thinking about the bigger questions in life. He founded Socrates in the City in 2000. Metaxas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of MARTIN LUTHER, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT, BONHOEFFER, AMAZING GRACE, and MIRACLES. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, and Metaxas has appeared as a cultural commentator on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. He is the host of The Eric Metaxas Radio Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard in more than 120 cities around the U.S. and via podcast in over 80 countries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 14, 2020 • 0sec
Dana Gioia: Can Poetry Matter?
Former California Poet laureate and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Dana Gioia diffuses the widely-held notion that poetry is a sophisticated, intellectual art for the elite. Mr. Gioia offers a personal and accessible look at how art does something for us that nothing else will do, and how poetry is a human universal, “a way of remembering those things it would impoverish us to forget,” in this lecture from 2008 in New York City.The post Dana Gioia: Can Poetry Matter? first appeared on Socrates in the City.
May 1, 2020 • 1h 27min
Sir John Polkinghorne: Belief in God in an Age of Science
Host Eric Metaxas welcomes British theoretical physicist Sir John Polkinghorne to this 2003 Socrates in the City event in New York City. Sir Polkinghorne presents on themes from his book BELIEF IN GOD IN AN AGE OF SCIENCE, discussing the collegiality between science and theology and detailing what he refers to as some of the most deeply intelligible elements in the physical world.
The post Sir John Polkinghorne: Belief in God in an Age of Science first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Apr 17, 2020 • 1h 12min
Jean Bethke Elshtain: Who Gets The Final Say: God, Government or Me?
The eminent political philosopher Jean Bethke Elshtain examines the origins and meanings of “sovereignty” as it relates to all the ways we attempt to explain our world: God, state, and self. This 2010 lecture, hosted by Eric Metaxas, ends with a lively Q&A and was originally part of Dr. Elshtain’s 2006 Gifford Lectures.The post Jean Bethke Elshtain: Who Gets The Final Say: God, Government or Me? first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Apr 9, 2020 • 1h 27min
Peter Kreeft: Making Sense Out of Suffering
Boston College Professor of Philosophy Peter Kreeft explores the ages-old question of “Why?” from a philosophical perspective, touching on themes from his book, MAKING SENSE OUT OF SUFFERING, in a lecture given in New York City in January 2003.The post Peter Kreeft: Making Sense Out of Suffering first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Apr 3, 2020 • 1h 15min
Sir John Polkinghorne: Can a Scientist Pray?
British theoretical physicist Sir John Polkinghorne examines how scientific discoveries of the 20th century, particularly quantum theory and chaos theory, disrupted the “clockwork universe” view of the world that prevailed for about 200 years after Newton. Polkinghorne explores how a world that does not behave in a reliable way, that is described not deterministically but rather probabilistically, might comport better with the notion of prayer than the mechanical view of the world that preceded it. This event took place in New York City in 2004.The post Sir John Polkinghorne: Can a Scientist Pray? first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Mar 27, 2020 • 1h 33min
Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America
Eric Metaxas hosts an interview with two guests: columnist Cal Thomas and political pundit Bob Beckel are political adversaries—AND good friends. Be prepared for surprisingly poignant moments amidst lively banter in a conversation centered around Thomas’s book, WHAT WORKS: COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER AMERICA.The post Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Mar 18, 2020 • 1h 11min
Sir Roger Scruton: The New Atheism
The legendary Roger Scruton explores the ideas, perspectives, and implications of the “New Atheism” at this New York City Socrates in the City event hosted by Eric Metaxas in 2008.The post Sir Roger Scruton: The New Atheism first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Mar 6, 2020 • 1h 14min
Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks: The Home We Build Together
British Orthodox rabbi, theologian, and author Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks presents the case that multicultural British society requires a new approach to national identity, arguing that responsibility — specifically building and creating together — gives societies a strong sense of identity and belonging. This 2009 lecture and Q&A is moderated by Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas and takes place in New York City. The post Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks: The Home We Build Together first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Feb 28, 2020 • 1h 17min
Peter Thiel: Zero to One
Eric Metaxas interviews entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel on his bestselling book ZERO TO ONE. Using Apollo 11 and Woodstock as reference points, Thiel and Metaxas explore the idea that we live in an age of technological stagnation, and cover a range of topics — globalization, Greta Thunberg, academia, the worst of the cardinal sins, communion, and more. The interview took place in New York City, in January 2020.The post Peter Thiel: Zero to One first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Feb 21, 2020 • 1h 34min
Eric Metaxas: Miracles
Socrates in the City’s own Eric Metaxas turns over his hosting duties to legendary TV talkshow host Dick Cavett, for an extra special Socrates event on the subject of MIRACLES: WHAT THEY ARE, WHY THEY HAPPEN, AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.The post Eric Metaxas: Miracles first appeared on Socrates in the City.
