Classical Wisdom Speaks

Cyrus the Great is considered the "Anointed One", the originator of human rights, and ruthless conqueror. Find out the true story of the founder of the Persian Empire in this week's Classical Wisdom Speaks Episode with Stephen Dando-Collins.Stephen Dando-Collins, the award-winning author of 40 books, including Rise of an Empire, on which the major motion picture 300: Rise of an Empire was based, delves into the history of Cyrus the Great, the topic of his most recent book.Get our Latest Magazine - dedicated to Ancient Persia - with our Classical Wisdom Litterae Magazine subscription Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/product/patron-member-cww-bc-20/For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comInterested in learning more? Get a FREE E-book on "Money, Gold and the End of an Empire" Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/free-e-book-money-gold-endofanempire/For information on Stephen's book, Cyrus the Great, please visit: https://stephendando-collins.com

Was there Mental Illness in the ancient world? What did people think about Suicide or Schizophrenia? How did the philosophies of Epicurus or Hippocrates help? And what can this teach us about Mental Illness today? Michael Fontaine, Professor and Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, The Department of Classics, Cornell University, New York treats us to a new perspective on the extremes of the human condition. For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comInterested in learning more? Get a FREE E-book on "Money, Gold and the End of an Empire" Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/free-e-book-money-gold-endofanempire/Get our Latest Magazine - dedicated to Statesmen - with our Classical Wisdom Litterae Magazine subscription Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/product/classical-wisdom-litterae-magazine-subscription/Here are some links to references mentioned on the podcast:1. The paper Michael gave at the American Psychiatric Association about Thomas Szasz and Epicurus (on mental illness): https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/08/religious-psychiatric-atheism-success-epicurus-failure-thomas-szasz/2. A long review essay on “Mental Disorders in the Classical World.” (It’s all about classics, and a good overview to how Michael approaches mental illness): https://www.madinamerica.com/2015/10/mental-disorders-in-the-classical-world-a-book-review/3. 2013. ‘On Being Sane in an Insane Place—The Rosenhan Experiment in the Laboratory of Plautus’ Epidamnus,’ Current Psychology 32, 348-365. – This paper is about Plautus’ Menaechmi (the twins separated at birth).4. 2017. ‘Schizophrenia, then and now:  The Libation Bearers of Aeschylus,’ in J.A. Schaler, H.Z. Lothane, and R.E. Vatz, eds., Thomas S. Szasz: The Man and his Ideas. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey, pp. 169-193. – This was summarized in the podcast.5. The world's first Lobotomy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ancient-insights/202002/did-psychosurgery-start-out-joke6. You can get Michael's latest books, How to Drink: A Classical Guide to the Art of Imbibing here: https://tinyurl.com/y6stsjjkas well as The Pig War: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732475075***Update from Michael: Also, since we did our podcast, a bombshell of a book came out that casts doubt on some of what I say about the modern experiment in article #3 down below. You can read my review of it in Psychology Today here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ancient-insights/201911/the-big-lie-psychiatry***The interview initially took place in August 2019.

Anya Leonard and Alex Barrientos discuss the Paradox of Theseus' Ship. It is an ancient riddle that asks if every part of the ship is eventually replaced, is Theseus' Ship still the same ship? We can then apply this to ourselves: In a state of constant changing, what makes you YOU? Time to don the thinking cap and get philosophizing... Interested in learning more? Get a FREE E-book on "Money, Gold and the End of an Empire" Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/free-e-book-money-gold-endofanempire/Get our Latest Magazine - dedicated to Statesmen - with our Classical Wisdom Litterae Magazine subscription Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/product/classical-wisdom-litterae-magazine-subscription/To Learn more about Classical Wisdom Speaks, a podcast dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds, check out:https://classicalwisdom.com/podcast-classical-wisdom-speaks/

Victor Davis Hanson, an American classicist and military historian, discusses ancient parallels to cancel culture and monument removals. Victor explains why he feels that the American president Trump is a tragic Greek hero, the cyclical nature of history and what knowledge of the ancient world can do to help you understand modern events. For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comFor information on Victor Davis Hanson and his books, please visit http://victorhanson.com/

Stephen Dando-Collins, the award-winning author of 40 books, including Rise of an Empire, on which the major motion picture 300: Rise of an Empire was based, delves into the history of the notorious Roman emperor, Caligula. Does Caligula deserve his reputation? How did damnatio memoriae affect our knowledge of him... and can we compare Caligula to Trump? For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comFor information on Stephen's book, Caligula: The Mad Emperor of Rome, please visit  https://stephendando-collins.com*This episode was originally recorded in September 2019*

Why should we care about Homer's Odyssey? What lessons can it teach us for our modern world? Should we like Odysseus? Or do we want to see him fail? In this funny Classical Wisdom Speaks episode, Anya Leonard and Ben Potter discuss Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey and its modern relevance. To Learn more about Classical Wisdom Speaks, a podcast dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds, check out: https://classicalwisdom.com/podcast-classical-wisdom-speaks/

David Lewis, Lecturer of Greek History and Culture at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland discusses ancient bondage. How did slavery work in the ancient Greek world? Who were the slaves and what do we really know about their lives?For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.com

Madeline Miller, the New York Times best selling author of Circe and Song of Achilles, discusses the reasons we need a new perspective for the Odyssean witch, why she evolved into an evil seductress, the role of gods and whether we should like Odysseus in the first place? For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comYou can learn more about Madeline Miller on her website: http://madelinemiller.com/circe/ You can purchase Madeline's book, Circe, here: https://www.amazon.com/CIRCE-New-York-Times-bestseller/dp/0316556343 

In today's confusing world with its conflicting reports, how do we know what is true? How can we seek it and what should we do when we hear ideas we DON'T agree with? Is there a need for controversy, debate and finding value in the opposition's ideas? In this Classical Wisdom Speaks Episode, Anya Leonard and Alex Barrientos explore what is Truth, whether can we know it and how should we seek it... To Learn more about Classical Wisdom Speaks, a podcast dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds, check out: https://classicalwisdom.com/podcast-classical-wisdom-speaks/

Anya Leonard and Donald Robertson discuss Stoicism: How it can help during the pandemic, its rise in popularity, its influence in parenting and whether or not the philosophy is too deterministic. Listen for practical techniques for dealing with isolation, anxiety and depression... For more information about Classical Wisdom's Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comFor more information on Stoicism and Donald's work, please see below: Modern Stoicism: https://modernstoicism.com/Modern Stoicism Downloads and Courses: https://learn.modernstoicism.com/Donald Robertson's website: https://donaldrobertson.name/Donald Robertson's downloads and courses: https://learn.donaldrobertson.name/