The Ralston College Podcast

Ralston College presents a lecture by Dr Jason Pedicone, distinguished scholar and classicist and the co-founder and President of the Paideia Institute. In this rich and compelling address, Dr Pedicone introduces the subject of philology - the study of language in its historical context - before embarking on a historical tour of philological interventions – times when people have decided to pay particularly close attention to language for societal, historical or technological reasons. Our tour takes us from the ancient Greek and Roman worlds of Plato and Pisistratus through Charlemagne, Valla, Erasmus, Nietzsche and up to the present day and the inexorable rise of AI. For the latest Ralston College updates visit: www.ralston.ac/sign-up. Authors and Works Mentioned in this Episode: C.S Lewis Plato Suetonius Pisistratus Homer - The Iliad; The Odyssey Aristophanes of Byzantium Aristarchus of Samothrace Callimachus of Cyrene Quintus Ennius Livius Andronicus St. Boniface Jerome Charlemagne Alcuin of York Boniface Lorenzo Valla Desiderius Erasmus - Novum Instrumentum Omne Nietzsche - The Birth of Tragedy Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff - Philology of the Future Friedrich August Wolf - Prolegomena ad Homerum Derrida Plato - The Phaedrus Roland Barthes - The Death of the Author Wilhelm von Humboldt Heidegger - Being and Time Camus Shakespeare Marsilio Ficino Nick Bostrum - Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World Ray Kurzweil

Ralston College presents a talk by Christopher Snook, Lecturer in the Department of Classics at Dalhousie University, on St. Augustine's great autobiographical text The Confessions. This talk offers a detailed walk through of Books VII and VIII of Augustine's text in light of Augustine's "abiding preoccupation with the nature of the created order." Snook explores how Augustine absorbed the insights of Platonist philosophers like Plotinus and Porphyry but also moved beyond them as he sought a more embodied account of the nature of the human person. Augustine's own conversion stresses the importance of encountering models for life and reveals the centrality of the incarnate Logos to the Christian understandings of self-realization. This lecture was delivered on January 9th, 2025 at Ralston College's Savannah campus during the third term of the MA in the Humanities program. Support Ralston College's mission to revive the conditions of a free and flourishing culture. Authors and Works Mentioned in this Episode: Dante, The Divine Comedy Cicero, Hortensius T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock St. Ambrose Plotinus Porphyry Gaius Marius Victorinus Plato, The Republic Virgil, The Aeneid Iamblichus Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol St. Anthony the Great John Scotus Eriugena Anselm of Canterbury Martin Luther Rene Decartes

Douglas Murray, revered cultural critic and author, delivers the highlight of Ralston College's symposium of "Renewal and Renaissance," a lecture exploring the theme of cultural reconstruction. Delivered from one of the beautiful, stately galleries of Savannah's Telfair Academy, the audience is treated to an intimate address that is both deeply moving and inspiring of hope. Murray's talk begins with the sober reflection that civilizations are mortal and share the fragility of life. He recounts how the loss of confidence experienced after the catastrophes of the World Wars led to the development of modernism, postmodernism and finally deconstructionism. The lecture then takes a more optimistic turn as Murray confidently asserts that after decades of deconstruction, especially in the field of higher education, we are now entering an era of reconstruction. He explains how this process of cultural renewal can come about through both the opportunities afforded by technology and the process of going back into the great literary treasures of the past, finding our place amongst these works and adding to them. Murray shares his love of books, describing himself as "not only a bibliophile but something of a bibliomaniac," and expresses how literature, and especially poetry, can ground us in the world and make us feel that we are never alone for we will always have "friends on the shelves." Traversing through Byron, Gnedich, Stoppard, Auden and Heaney, Murray recounts three powerful stories that reveal the lengths certain individuals will go to recover, preserve and transmit our cultural treasures. The talk was followed by a captivating Q&A session which ranged from the current status of poetry to the topics of writing, war and human nature. As part of the stirring introduction to the lecture from Stephen Blackwood, President of Ralston College, soprano Kristi Bryson performed Handel's Lascia ch'io pianga, accompanied on the piano by Ralston alumna and fellow, Olivia Jensen. A splendid performance showcasing perfectly the ability of culture to transcend the difficulties of life through the power of beauty. A reminder for us all of exactly what it is that we are seeking to preserve and renew. Mr Murray's books, including his most recent, are available here: https://douglasmurray.net. To watch the first conversation of the day—the roundtable from the Ralston College Renewal and Renaissance Symposium, featuring multiple speakers discussing the future of education, culture, and human flourishing—click here.

Join James Orr, a philosopher from Cambridge, alongside David Butterfield, a Latin professor, and Harvard's Renaissance historian James Hankins. They delve into what ignites a cultural Renaissance, examining the significance of literature, music, and architecture. Joseph Conlon advocates for the power of language learning, while Gregg Hurwitz emphasizes literature's broader resonance beyond academia. The conversation weaves in thoughts from various thinkers on how communal experiences and beauty in our surroundings can foster renewal and inspire future generations.

"Why We Tell Stories" is a discussion between Greg Hurwitz & Jonathan Pageau which took place on January 31, 2025. In this exchange, two prominent professionals in creative fields discuss the place of passion, productivity, and integrity in the context of their careers, and offer insights which range from guiding, general principles to concrete, practical advice. Over the course of their discussion with each other and with the students, they field questions about the artistic process; about the public attention they've received for their work; about the lessons they've learned; and about their impression of Ralston College and its place in a broader context of cultural and educational renewal. This event was part of Ralston College's Career and Life conversations, a series of informal Friday-afternoon discussions for students enrolled in the MA in the Humanities. To apply to this program, please visit our website: www.ralston.ac/apply. Authors and Works Mentioned in this Episode: Aristotle Dante Alighieri DC Comics' Batman series The Book of Genesis Jordan B. Peterson Stephen King William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury (1929) Rashomon (1950; dir. Akira Kurosawa) Marcel Duchamp, "Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2" (1912) Sigmund Freud Carl Rogers Jackson Pollock Pablo Picasso Lucile Ball Groucho Marx Sammy Davis Jr. James Patterson John Grisham Dr James Orr Dr Douglas Hedley Douglas Murray Ben Shapiro William Shakespeare Dan Brown, The DaVinci Code Hamilton: An American Musical Harry Potter series William Goldman

Delve into the intricacies of Boethius's 'The Consolation of Philosophy' and discover its powerful insights on human suffering and meaning. Explore the enduring relevance of introspection in today's turbulent society, and how personal struggles can lead to profound philosophical reflections. Hear a heartwarming story of resilience through a chance encounter that weaves together poetry and personal connections. Ultimately, navigate the quest for individual meaning amidst chaos, highlighting the innate freedom we all possess.

In this intimate question and answer session, conducted in March 2024 with the students enrolled in Ralston College's MA in the Humanities, the world-renowned psychiatrist, philosopher, and literary scholar Iain McGilchrist explores topics that animate the collective intellectual life of Ralston's student body. Answering questions that range from the metaphysical heights of theology, liturgy, and religious life to the tangible depths of scientific inquiry and medical progress, Dr McGhilchrist challenges his interlocutors to think deeper about the relationship between mind and matter, science and religion, and, ultimately, humanity and the divine. Authors, Artists, and Works Mentioned in this Episode: Iain McGilchrist, The Matter with Things Albert Einstein Aristotle Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Meister Eckhart John Donne George Herbert Thomas Traherne Rumi Henry Moore Blaise Pascal St. Augustine William Shakespeare, King Lear; The Merchant of Venice; Hamlet; The Tempest Metrodorus of Lampsacus Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling G.W.F. Hegel Alwyn Lishman St. Francis of Assisi Plotinus Thomas Edison St. Gregory of Nyssa Carl Jung Glenn Gould

In this enlightening discussion, psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist delves into the power of imagination in shaping our perception of reality. He examines how Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Keats resisted simplistic views tied to the left hemisphere of the brain. McGilchrist emphasizes the significance of viewing existence as a dynamic interplay between the finite and infinite. He also explores the implications of AI on human values and the importance of nurturing creativity in a technology-driven world.

Dr. Iain McGilchrist, a neuropsychiatrist and author known for his insights on the human brain, delves into the concept of symmetry and asymmetry. He challenges conventional notions that favor order and simplicity, introducing the idea that asymmetry is fundamental to life and beauty. Drawing parallels from physics and biology, McGilchrist elucidates how slight imbalances create complexity. He also explores the aesthetic implications of asymmetry in art and architecture, suggesting that our understanding of beauty can be deepened by embracing irregularity.

Iain McGilchrist, a neuroscientist and psychologist, delves into the fascinating balance between division and union. He explores how wholeness transcends reductionism, highlighting the brain’s hemispheres as partners in understanding. McGilchrist draws analogies from music and nature, emphasizing that true comprehension arises from recognizing interconnectedness. He champions the idea that resistance and limitations can spark creativity, while also discussing the philosophical implications of time and existence, ultimately arguing for a synthesis of opposites to drive innovation.