The Classical Mind – Details, episodes & analysis

Join hosts Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson in this engaging episode of The Classical Mind as they dive into Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' contraversial work, The Communist Manifesto. Discover the historical context of the 1848 publication, the philosophy of historical materialism, and Marx’s critique of capitalism. Explore key themes like class struggle, the proletarian revolution, and the manifesto’s vision for a classless society. Whether you're a seasoned reader or new to Marxist thought, this episode offers insightful analysis of one of the most influential political documents in history. Perfect for enthusiasts of philosophy, politics, and economics!

End Notes

* Junius: The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

* Wesley:

* “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” by Walter Benjamin

* Why Marx Was Right by Terry Eagleton

* The Catholic Social Teaching Collection by Word on Fire

Join the Classical Mind podcast for a captivating exploration of Plato's Phaedo, featuring insightful commentary from Dr. John Mark Reynolds.

This episode delves into the profound dialogue where Socrates, facing his own mortality, engages in a compelling argument for the immortality of the soul. Dr. Reynolds illuminates the text with his expertise, unraveling:

* Socrates' final hours and his unwavering belief in the soul's existence.

* The philosophical underpinnings of the soul's immortality and its journey after death.

* The nature of true knowledge and its connection to the soul's liberation.

Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on one of the most influential works in Western philosophy.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds, the president of The Saint Constantine School as well as a faculty member at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and a Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute. Previously, he served as the provost of Houston Christian University and the founder and director of the Torrey Honors College at Biola University. Appropriate for today’s conversation, he has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Rochester where he wrote his dissertation analyzing cosmology and psychology in Plato’s Timaeus.

Endnotes:

* Dr. Reynolds:

* When Athens Met Jerusalem

* The Passion of Joan of Arc

* Junius: Meet Joe Black

* Wesley: Hymn #299 from the 1940 Hymnal

* Bonus (not mentioned in the episode): “Learning How to Die” by Jon Foreman

On this special bonus episode, Fr. Wesley sits down with Kristen Rudd to discuss monsters in literature. Kristen will be teaching a class this summer for adults on the topic. You can find out more at her website: https://kristenrudd.com

Kristen is a writer and literature teacher who teaches her own classes online, and serves as an adjunct professor for Thales College. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Classical Education through the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University where she wrote her thesis on Dante’s Divine Comedy. She is also the founder of the Triangle Classical Forum.

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar.”

On this episode, Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker sit down with Heidi White to talk about Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Why does Caesar appear so little in a play in which he is the titular character? How should we think about the actions of Brutus and his co-conspirators? What lessons about friendship can we learn from this work? What is the relationship between rhetoric and crowds? These are just some of the questions that get covered in the episode.

End Notes:

* Junius: Dear Brutus by J.M. Barrie

* Heidi: Caesar Must Die (2012)

* Wesley: The Ides of March (2011)

Join Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker as they discuss Artistotle's famous treatise on virtue: The Nicomachean Ethics. How can we be happy? What is virtue and how do we acquire it? Why do friends matter? Listen to find out!

Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer is the tale of love gained and love lost. Heavily impacted by the chivalric codes, is this a story about a frivolous affair or is something else going on? Dive into this work with Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker on this episode of The Classical Mind!

FYI: there are a few places where the audio might sound a tad choppy. This will be fixed in future episodes.

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What are human beings like outside of the constraints of social conventions? How do we work out the tension between state sovereignty and individual freedom? What place does religion have in society? , Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker discuss these questions and more as they delve into Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s monumental work of political philosophy, The Social Contract. Rousseau was a fascinating character whose work influenced generations of thinkers after him.

Endnotes: Wesley and Junius co-offer this lecture by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, “Faith on Modern Areopagus” in which he discusses some of the positive connections between liberalism and Christianity:

Tell us what you think below. What are your impressions of Rousseau? What do you think of his reconstruction of the state of nature? Do you think his articulation of the Social Contract, especially the way the general will and individual wills interact, is persuasive? Is his account of religion in civil society helpful, harmful, or neutral?

In this episode, Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker explore the philosophical questions surrounding the nature of piety, ethics, and the divine. Join us for an enlightening discussion that delves deep into this timeless work of ancient philosophy.

End Notes:

* God Matters by Herbert McCabe

* St. Anselm

* “With or Without You” by U2

On today's episode, Junius and Wesley discuss the timeless world of Greek tragedy! They explore the profound themes and dramatic elements of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Aristotle's Poetics. Gain insights into the complexities of fate, tragedy, and catharsis in these classical works. Whether you're a literature enthusiast or a student of ancient philosophy, this discussion promises to deepen your understanding of these literary masterpieces. Subscribe now and embark on a journey through the classical mind.

On this episode, Junius and Wesley discuss Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel Brothers Karamazov.

Endnotes

* Junius: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

* Wesley: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev