First Things Podcast

Mary Harrington, author and journalist known for cultural criticism and Feminism Against Progress, presents a lecture on how modernity lost metaphysical categories. She explores motherhood’s invisibility, scholastic concepts like form and potency, the Pill’s technicizing of bodies, and warnings about AI and treating humans as rearrangeable matter. Calls for reclaiming language of form, telos, and the logos.

Matthew B. Crawford, author and social critic who writes on work, culture, and political thought, discusses hospitality, boundaries, and why political communities need particular formation. He contrasts sentimental humanitarianism with demanding Christian neighbor-love. Conversation covers nationhood, borders, cultural inheritance, and how Christianity’s universal claims are embodied in particular peoples.

Elizabeth Corey, writer and university teacher known for her essay "On the Pleasure of Admiring," discusses admiration, education, and cultural habits. She explores how admiration counters self-promotion and competition. She recounts classroom sparks, defends connoisseurship, and links admiration to generosity, gratitude, and a calm, receptive disposition.

Spencer A. Klavan, writer and commentator on literature and culture, discusses Virgil's elevation of Aeneas into Rome's founding hero. Short scenes cover divine patrons, the Dido episode, and Virgil's cinematic, Hellenistic style. They trace Aeneas' moral transformation, the poem's violent finale, and why Virgil's cultural project resonates with modern nations facing civic uncertainty.

Scott Yenor, political philosopher focused on family and social policy, discusses gay liberation as a symbol of freedom and its ties to the sexual revolution. He traces three waves of activism, how marriage shifted expectations toward government and technology, and the rise of transgender and school controversies. The conversation examines cultural mainstreaming, public backlash, and possible conservative responses.

Aaron Renn, author and cultural commentator, argues evangelical Christians lack a cohesive elite in key institutions. He maps where evangelicals are underrepresented and why institutional distrust and biblicist tendencies matter. He discusses reviving prestige congregations, vocational ambition, and practical pathways for talented young evangelicals to enter leadership. Conversations cover history, culture, and concrete advice.

Jaspreet Singh Boparai, a writer and critic known for his insightful analysis of art, joins R. R. Reno to explore the revolutionary legacy of Caravaggio. They delve into Caravaggio's rejection of Renaissance ideals in favor of raw naturalism and his unique ability to depict shock and emotion in his works. Boparai discusses the artist’s turbulent life, recurrent themes of violence, and how his gritty realism continues to resonate with modern audiences. The conversation highlights Caravaggio's impact on the art world, challenging traditional norms and shaping future artistic expressions.

Nathan Pinkoski, a reviewer and commentator on international relations, dives into the complexities of U.S. foreign policy with R. R. Reno. They explore Paul Schroeder's skepticism about the Gulf War and the economics of geopolitical leverage. Pinkoski contrasts hegemony and empire, arguing that post-war power dynamics reveal troubling realities. He warns of moral escalation from economic coercion and examines the impact of this on domestic governance, questioning whether the republic can reclaim its purpose amidst growing globalism.

Damian Thompson, a British journalist and commentator known for his insights on religion and culture, explores the intricate dynamics of the Church of England. He delves into Sarah Mullally's remarkable rise within the church, assessing her administrative skills despite controversies. Thompson discusses the impact of sexuality debates on global Anglicanism and contrasts the distinct perspectives of Anglo-Catholics and evangelicals. He highlights the financial influence of evangelical churches and warns of cultural polarization's effects on church leadership.

In this engaging conversation, philosopher Edward Feser shares insights on John Searle's influence within analytic philosophy. He details Searle's defense of common sense against reductionist views and critiques eliminative materialism. Feser discusses the implications of the Chinese Room argument, asserting that mere symbol manipulation lacks true understanding. The dialogue also touches on the complex relationship between language and reality, Searle's stance on social facts, and his political moderation regarding free speech and campus radicalism.