

Classical Stuff You Should Know
A.J. Hanenburg, Graeme Donaldson, and Thomas Magbee
A.J., Graeme, and Thomas discuss everything having to do with the classical world. Our aim is to help both educators and laypeople enjoy the classical world as much as they enjoy fine ales and good tales.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 16, 2022 • 42min
210: Children's Lit - Live at Paideia!
This episode was recorded live at the Paideia conference at Veritas Academy in 2022. In this episode, we roast a critic who hates fun things.

Aug 10, 2022 • 58min
209: The Social Contract: Rousseau goes ham all over Christianity
Exploring Rousseau's provocative views, the discussion reveals his belief that Christianity can complicate governance. Delving into the historical interplay between state power and religious authority, tensions between loyalty to faith and civic duties unfold. From the conflicts of intertwined religion and nationalism to critiques of modern Christian practices, the conversation emphasizes how faith can challenge societal obligations. Finally, the complexities and ambiguities in Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' resonate with contemporary governance debates.

Aug 2, 2022 • 1h 3min
208: War of the roses: The Battle of Agincourt
This episode is the continuation of the War of the Roses, and it tells the story of Henry V and The Battle of Agincourt.

Jul 26, 2022 • 1h 4min
207: Nietzsche, Leopardi, and the Meaning of Meaning
In this episode, we complete our series on "The Genealogy of Morals." We talk about the heritage of Schopenhauer and how that has affected Freddy's philosophy.

Jul 19, 2022 • 1h 2min
206: War of the Roses: The Roots
The long awaiting continuance of the Plantagenets series finally arrives! Graeme plunges us back into a little UK history.

Jul 12, 2022 • 1h 2min
205: The Social Contract 2: Electric Boogaloo
Dive into Rousseau's fascinating insights as hosts explore his life and the revolutionary ideas in 'The Social Contract.' They dissect the balance of individual rights against government authority and ponder ethical dilemmas like vigilantism. The discussion delves into the evolution of law, arguing for smaller government structures that promote citizen engagement. They examine Rousseau’s 'general will' and the influence of public opinion on governance, questioning the intricate dance between democracy and morality.

Jul 5, 2022 • 1h 3min
204: Frederick Douglass on the 5th of July
In this episode, Thomas walks us through the context and performance of Frederick Douglass's speech given to the ladies of the "Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society" in Corinthian Hall on July 5th. The speech does not suck.

Jun 28, 2022 • 1h 1min
203: Bronowski's "The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination"
"WHAT IS MATH!?" hollers the girl on TikTok. Turns out she's right. Any system requires reference to an external system to make itself consistent, but any system is only a metaphor for the whole. Trust me, it makes sense. This is a cool episode about math and science.

Jun 21, 2022 • 57min
202: Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "The Social Contract" (Compact?)
Dive into the life and ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a complex thinker shaped by a tumultuous past. Discover his beliefs on parenting and education, as well as the philosophical backbone of freedom versus societal constraints in 'The Social Contract.' Explore the nuanced balance between individual rights and the common good, while grappling with the implications of property rights. This engaging discussion highlights Rousseau’s lasting impact on governance and democracy, peppered with humor and personal anecdotes.

Jun 15, 2022 • 1h 5min
201: On the Genealogy of Morality
In this episode, we discuss Nietzsche's work, "On the Genealogy of Morality," in which he discusses the history of morality through tracing the words used to describe it. We also talk about a recent film that's pretty good, and poor poor Leopardi again. Join us!