The Classical Mind

“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) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

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! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

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. The Classical Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

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? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

Explore the philosophical questions surrounding piety, ethics, and the divine in this enlightening discussion. The hosts delve deep into Plato's dialogue and examine the concept of piety and its relationship to morality. They also explore the presence of discord in the Iliad and compare polytheistic understanding with Christian divine ethics. The dilemma of whether God gives commands because they are good or because he is striving to act in a good way is discussed, along with the relationship between God's nature and his ability to act differently. The hosts address a critique of their argument and share personal influences on their understanding of the Euthyphro dilemma.

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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

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 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

On today’s special episode, Junius and Wesley select the books that will make up our reading list in season 2. One of the reasons to support us for $5 is that you can access the video of the draft which came out a few weeks ago.Thank you to all of you who support us, financially or otherwise. We appreciate you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

Today we discuss The Iliad by Homer. End Notes: -Hesiod, Theogony and Works and Days-Statius, Thebaid-The Blues of Achilles by Joe Goodkin This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe

In today's episode, Fr. Wesley Walker sits down to discuss Robinson Crusoe with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior. Dr. Prior's forthcoming book is The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis. It comes out on August 8. You can find more of her work at her website: https://karenswallowprior.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theclassicalmind.com/subscribe