Classical Stuff You Should Know

The long awaiting continuance of the Plantagenets series finally arrives! Graeme plunges us back into a little UK history.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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!

In this episode we track Wordsworth's view of how to stay happy in life, specifically through two poems: "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey," and "Elegiac Stanzas Suggested by a Picture of Peele Castle in a Storm, Painted by Sir George Beaumont." Turns out he was idealistic when he was young and cranky when he was old. WHO KNEW

During Stalin's regime in Russia there was one author daring enough to write a Satire . . . one that I can't quite nail down. I ask Graeme to help me.

The Proslogion contains Anselm of Canterbury's Ontological Argument, which is still argued about in philosophical circles today. It's not really convincing, except that it is.

We discuss the romantic movement and how they interpret Paradise Lost to be other than what it really is. Also, we get cranky about bad guys.