Catholic Studies Academy Podcast

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss Marxism. We cover: - The resurgence of Marxism - The historical context of Karl Marx - Kant and Idealism - Hegelian view of history - The "Geist" - The materialism of Marxism - Freedom in the thought of Marx

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith continue their discussion of the natural law. We cover: - Natural Law known in degrees - Must be cultivated - Do Good, Avoid Evil - Responsibilities derived from Natural Law - Private Property - Eternal Law, Divine Law, Human Law in relation to Natural Moral Law

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss natural law. We cover: - Christianity and Natural law - Legacy of natural law - Basic position - Known by all but to different degree - Two Hypothesis and evidence - Bonum honestum - Three ways to find bonum honestum - Natural end and supernatural end "When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not h...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss how Pope St, John Paul II stood in the breach in many different ways. We cover: - The historical context - The breach in philosophical approaches - Personalism and Phenomenology - The breach of Vatican II - The breach of secular regimes - The world is different

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the ideas ad influence of David Hume. We cover: - The period of Modern Philosophy - Who was David Hume - The influence of Hume on other philosophers - Newton and Hume - Hume's Epistemology - Impressions and Ideas - The Copy Principle - The Problem of Causation

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss his new course on Modern Philosophy. We cover: - Time period - What led to 'modern' philosophy - Historical context - Effects of Scientific Revolution - Man's ability to Reason - Autonomy and Freedom - Decline of religious authority - Overconfidence in Man's abilities Click here to support the work of Catholic Studies Academy -https://catholicstudiesaca...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the intricacies of the Principle of Double Effect. We cover: - Review of the sources of morality - The 4 rules of the Principle of Double Effect - Independent consequences and actions - Foreseeable bad consequences - Proportionality - Several Examples of applying PDE - Seriousness of judging human actions Support the work of CSA - https://catholicstudie...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the judgment of human actions according to St. Thomas. We cover: - Human actions vs Acts of man - The contribution of St. Thomas - Proximate end - The sources of morality - Everything contained in the object - Foreseeable, unintended consequences

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss some distortions of hope or misrepresentations of hope. We cover: - The rival of Christian Hope according to Pope Benedict XVI - "Exiles in the desert" - Progress and Enlightenment philosophy - Bacon and Marx - The Object and Means of Hope - Modern Hope vs Christian Hope In this episode, we use these two books: 1. Cardinal Ratzinger, Christianity and th...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss different aspects of hope. We cover: - The idea of hope - The passion of hope according to St. Thomas - The object of kinds of hope - Natural hope - The Virtue of Hope vs Passion of Hope - What hope does for the Christian - Ordering life according to hope Donate to the work of Catholic Studies Academy - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/donate-to-csa/

In this episode, Drs. Smith and Bulzacchelli wrap up their series on the capital sins. We cover: - Propensity to wrath and justified anger - Proportionality - Modern Entitlement and wrath - Forgiveness, pain, and wrath - Forms of sloth - The importance of fortitude in all of life - Why sloth is deadly - Priorities and sloth - Pride and morality - Pride and the ultimate end Click here to donate to...

In this episode, Drs. Smith and Bulzacchelli discuss envy and vanity. They cover: 1. The place of envy in the list 2. Envy in the Parables 3. St Thomas and envy – habit of grieving over the good of another 4. Being Conscious of sins 5. Detraction 6. Vanity and praise 7. Whose opinion matters? 8. Vanity and Modernity Mentioned in this podcast - Max Scheler’s Book “Ressentiment” https://www.amazon.c...

In this episode, Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss three of the seven capital sins: greed, gluttony, and lust. They cover: - The origins of the list of capital sins - Capital sins as natural vices - Sins against the proper desire of the good - Greed: Possession - What really is enough? - Gluttony: Consumption - Habitual excess and the good - Lust: a sense of possession and a sense of consumpt...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss Lent and lenten practices and most importantly, the legitimacy of the Impossible Burger during Lent. We cover: - The meaning of "lentare" - Doing more or doing less? - The example of the monks - Book recommendations for Lent - The Impossible Burger Dr. Bulzacchelli's article on Lent - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/what-should-i-do-for-lent/...

In this solocast, Dr. Smith discusses 5 philosophical and practical principles to guide life. He covers: 5 Principles for Practical Living - Philosophy is a way of life - Augustine, Christianity, and Philosophy - The Interior Life - 1. Do not react - 2. Do not judge - 3. Attend to yourself - 4. Attend to the present - 5. Accept all from God

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss what is called Post Post-Modernism or "Po-Po-Mo". We cover: - Kant and Modernism - Post Modernism - Social Constructs and Objectivity - Privileged Discourse - Post Post Modernism - Critiques of Po-Po-Mo Click Here to view the diagram used in the podcast - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/episode-69-understand-the-modern-mind/ Click here to support the...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss Sir Roger Scruton (1944-2020), a conservative political Philosopher and author of the book, "The Uses of Pessimism". We cover: - Legacy of Roger Scruton - Three Principles of Pessimism - Pessimism and Optimism - The "Best Case Fallacy" - The "Born Free Fallacy" - The "Utopian Fallacy" Roger Scruton "The Uses of Pessimism" - https://www.amazon.com/Uses-P...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss the topic of his upcoming course on the Trinity. We cover: - The difficulty of the task - The term 'Father' and other male language - The difference between 'that' and 'how' - The Foundation of the Trinity - Three-Personal Relationship with God - The difference between solving the mystery and pondering a mystery - The vital importance of a good u...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss the feast days of Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord. We cover: - Christmas, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord - The Magi - The Star - God uses the Star - Eschatological considerations to these feast days Mentioned in this podcast: CCC 528 - The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great f...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith wrap up their conversation on 'The Great Divorce'.

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith continue their discussion on C.S. Lewis' masterpiece 'The Great Divorce'.

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss C.S. Lewis' classic work, The Great Divorce.

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the idea of virtue and the soldier. We cover: - An application of the primacy of the common good - What is a soldier - Is it good to be a soldier - Combat and lethal force - The virtues of a soldier - Patriotism - The defense of the common good as a act of justice - Soft Christians - The spiritual analogy of a soldier Click here to support CSA - https:/...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the third principle or the primacy of the common good. We cover: - Review of first two principles - Man is naturally political - The political community is the 'perfect' community - The common good is a higher good than individual goods - The common good is not the multitude of individual goods - Common good is unique kind of good. - Primacy of the comm...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss what the classics have to offer us with regards to political wisdom. We cover: - Political wisdom is not political science - Man is naturally political - Politics has a natural end, therefore it cannot change - Political community is "perfect" - Some errors in political thought Support the work of Catholic Studies Academy by donating - https://catholics...