The New Thinkery

Professor B.J. Dobski joins Greg and David this week to examine Mark Twain's Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, a work that stands in stark contrast to Twain's more familiar satirical writings. Through careful analysis, and using his latest book—Mark Twain's Joan of Arc: Political Wisdom, Divine Justice, and the Origins of Modernity—as a backdrop, Dobski illuminates Twain's treatment of virtue, heroism, and historical memory, as well as the novel's philosophical and political dimensions. The conversation situates Twain's Joan within broader questions of leadership, sainthood, and the moral imagination.

Dive into the haunting world of Aguirre, the Wrath of God, as the hosts explore Werner Herzog's chilling take on madness and ambition. They highlight the film's philosophical themes of existential isolation and the nature of obsession, all set against the unforgiving Amazon. Engaging analysis reveals the tensions between piety and ambition, while contrasting Aguirre's character with the simple flute player. Discussions also touch on religious hypocrisy and the complexities of founding an empire, offering a reflective look at Herzog's creative vision.

This week, Greg has locked David and Alex out of the recording room, and replaced them with Kierkegaard scholars Rob Wyllie & Matt Dinan. Together, they dive into Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments to examine what it means to become a self, whether truth can be received as a gift, and why Socrates might need a divine upgrade. It's a lively exploration of paradox, passion, and the mysteries at the heart of religious existence.

With the stock market tanking, Alex has fled the country to verify family artifacts are still in a vault in case we go back to bartering. Meanwhile, David and Greg have replaced him this week with The New Thinkery's most prolific guest, Eric Adler, professor of classics and chair of the department at the University of Maryland at College Park. The trio discuss Adler's latest article, The Hypocrisy of English-Only 'Decolonization', diving more into the future of language studies and the humanities in higher ed as colleges and universities race to eliminate what are often key, but misunderstood, pieces of higher ed curriculua.

Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game isn't just a classic film—it's a sharp critique of society, morality, and the masks we wear. In this episode, all three of the guys sit down to break down how the film exposes the illusions of class, love, and human nature, all under the guise of a lighthearted, bordering on flippant comedy that ends with a homicide. What does it say about the "rules" we still follow today? Listen in to find out!

This week, a full complement of hosts is joined by Prof. Patrick Callahan, Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at St. Gregory the Great Seminary to discuss Pindar's The Odes. A Theban poet for hire, Pindar's works present some unique challenges in disentangling their true meaning, and what he was actually like. Fortunately, Prof. Callahan has spent years deciphering every line we have of Pindar, and walks the cast through how to best understand his works. Plus: the first Greek reading of a work on the show!

Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. In this closing episode, Brian and Alex focus on interpretations of Bronze Age Pervert, including critique of the man himself, while also crediting him where academics have failed. Plus: Socrates' remarkable feat of remaining relevant for millennia across radically different cultures.

Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. This week, the focus shifts to a look at Hobbesian philosophy and Machiavellianism.

This week, Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. Plus, is Gen Z the most esoteric generation to date?

A full complement of the guys are joined by Spencer Klavan, repeat offender on the show, host of Young Heretics, newly minted lecturer in the Classica and Languages programs at New College, associate editor at the Claremont Review of Books, and author most recently of Gateway to the Epicureans: Epicurus, Lecretius, and their Modern Heirs. The group sit down to unpack the concept of epicureanism, its progenitor, and how it has expanded from a fringe philosophy of the ancient world into a belief system that governs nearly everyone, even if most people don't know it.