The New Thinkery

The guys are joined by Professor Nasser Behnegar, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Boston College. The group discuss how Strauss delves into the differences between classical political philosophy and modern political thought, with an emphasis on classical philosophers seeking to discover timeless, objective truths about justice and human nature, while modern thinkers often embrace relativism and historical contingency in their approach to politics. Also highlighted is the importance of understanding these foundational differences in order to critically evaluate modern political ideas and their implications for society.

This week, Alex and Greg take over the show to speak with Shilo Brooks, Executive Director of the James Madison Program at Princeton University, about Nietzsche's essay "On the Use and Disadvantage of History for Life". The group walk through Nietzsche's argument that excessive immersion in historical knowledge can lead to a passive and unhealthy way of life, causing individuals to lose sight of the present and their own creative potential, as well as his suggestion that history should serve a life-affirming purpose. 

Continuing their mini-series breaking down Shakespeare's Hamlet, the guys sit down this week to take a close look at Act II. The guys analyze every detail, from King Claudius increasing suspicion of Hamlet's erratic behavior to Hamlet's continued feigned madness and expression of his inner turmoil in a soliloquy.

This week, the guys gather to discuss a new book written by our very own Alex Priou! The book, Musings on Plato's Symposium, is a short but powerful series of thoughts on every part of the Symposium, in lengths varying from a few sentences to a few pages. This episode doesn't go too far into the weeds, instead reamining focused on the broad themes and Alex's writing style and process. 

Continuing their mini-series on Shakespeare's Hamlet, the guys move from an overview to an thorough analysis of the play's first act. An emphasis is placed on the supernatural elements of the act, as well as the creeping dark atomsphere the act opens with, especailly when compared to the superficial joviality of the second scene that is ultimately unable to fully banish the gloom.

Jacob Howland, Dean of UATX’s Intellectual Foundations program, dives into the pressing issues facing higher education. He discusses the decline of universities and the importance of restoring trust between students and institutions. Topics include innovative solutions at the University of Austin and a critique of corporatism in academia. Howland emphasizes the need for a focus on foundational texts and critical thinking to cultivate thoughtful citizens, while celebrating the joys of learning in a supportive environment.

Imagine a Jetsons-esque home that attempts to meet all of your needs while also featuring a room that makes your imagination into reality. Add some behaviorally troubled children imagining bloodthirsty lions into the mix, and you have the setup for Ray Bradbury's The Veldt. In a dystopian tale that would make an excellent episode of Black Mirror, Bradbury explores the pitfalls of tech that robs humanity of purpose. The guys discuss and analyze the story's plot, characters, and more.

In an increasingly tech-driven world, it's easy to forget the human, and what essence of technology actually is. Heidegger's essay, The Question Concerning Technology, was his attempt to examine tech and humanity. The guys break it all down and connect it to the modern day.

This week, the guys are joined for the third time by author, political commentator, and policy scholar Steven F. Hayward, who is replacing David for this episode. The group take a trip to the silver screen to review Cloud Atlas, based on a book of the same name. Discussion ranges from the unique, nested story sequence, characters, and more.

The guys are back this week with a break from the philosophy books, opting instead for another of Shakespeare's great plays. They generally discuss the plot, characters, themes, and more in this episode. This is just the first episode on Hamlet to set the stage, so to speak. There will be deep dives into each act in the future.