The New Thinkery

In this follow-up to the last episode on Plato's Republic, the guys are again looking at the concept of justice. Specifically, what issues one might take with it. The group analyze the speeches of Glaucon and his brother to get at the philosophic issues dwelling underneath what seems to be a universal concept.

This week, the guys are breaking up the nonstop philosophy with a movie with strong overtones about, what else, philosophy! The crew discuss Alfred Hitchcock's Rope —which is scarily based on a true story—and how philosophy can be dangerous when approached improperly.

In this President's Day edition of  The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Professor Diana Schaub, who teaches at Loyola University Maryland, and specializes in Lincoln. Together, the group discuss Lincoln's Lyceum Address and what Lincoln thought of himself as extracted from the text. Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!

In a first for  The New Thinkery , the guys are joined for a threepeat guest appearance by Dr. Michael P. Zuckert. Together, the guys discuss the three elements of statecraft, and to what extent Lincoln hit the marks.  Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!

This week, the guys return to Machiavelli's  The Prince , this time focusing on Chapter 6. the group discuss who, in Machiavelli's mind, were the most excellent princes, and who Machiavelli left out.  Don't blame Greg for his salty language—it's Machiavelli's fault!

In observance of the beginning of Black History Month,  The New Thinkery guys are taking a look at Frederick Douglass' memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.  Specifically, the group focus on why Douglass wrote the book the way he did, and what lessons can be taken away from Douglass' life and writings.

In this edition of TNT, the guys are joined by Anna Schmidt. Together, the group discuss religionism and astrology using Maimonides' letter on the latter as a springboard to dive deeper into the topic.

This week, the guys take a look at Aristotle's  Politics . Specifically, they explore the key types of relationships according to Aristotle, how they contributed to the formation of the city, and why the city is the perfect size for humans to flourish. 

As Nazism came to the fore in Germany following World War I, Leo Strauss delivered a lecture that would be published posthumously attempting to explain why. Specifically, he emphasized nihilism, including its sources and influences. The guys discuss and expand upon this lecture.

In the first episode of 2022, the guys come out swinging by taking on Book I of Plato's  Republic . One of the most important philosophic works of all-time, the discussion is as wide-ranging as it is entertaining. Plus: we want your ideas on what part of Plato's  Republic the guys should cover next! 

This week, the guys are joined by none other than Dr. Harvey Mansfield. The group discuss Machiavelli's satirical play, La Mandragola in a wide-ranging discussion, and is closed out by an entertaining series of lightning round questions.

The New Thinkery wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! On this Christmas Day stocking stuffer, the guys delve into an unusual Christmas short story, Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Christmas Banquet". The guys analyze the somber work's underlying philosophic meaning and its connections to the present.

In this week's classic episode of The New Thinkery, the guys discuss the Christmas classic: A Christmas Carol . They go through the book's plot, themes, underlying philosophical points, and talk about the cultural impact the book has had since its publication in the nineteenth century. 

The guys are joined once again by Prof. Richard Velkley, Celia Scott Weatherhead Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Tulane University. The guys dive into the messy subject of Heidegger's relationship with Nazism, as well as what Leo Strauss thought of Heidegger. Shoutout to Davenant Hall for sponsoring!

The guys are joined this week by Greg's colleague at Ashland University, Dr. Christopher Burkett. The group take a break from the stuffy philosophy books, and turn instead to the silver screen to analyze the Western genre, and specifically Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969) and John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). Don't fret! Westerns, and these films in particular, are replete...

This week the guys dive into French philosophy with René Descartes' Discourse on Method . They explain Descartes philosophy and scientific thought while also evaluating its strengths and weaknesses.

This week, the guys are joined by Claremont Institute Senior Fellow Glenn Ellmers, an expert on the teachings and life of the renowned Harry V. Jaffa. Together, the group talk about Ellmers' new book  The Soul of Politics: Harry V. Jaffa and the Fight for America . They touch on Jaffa's life, the biggest influences on him, and ultimately what he thought on a philosophical level.  Shoutout to ALI f...

This week, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Michael P. Zuckert. The group discuss the Gettysburg Address and its philosophic underpinnings, as well as covering the surrounding history. Shoutout to ALI for sponsoring!

This week, the guys are joined by Dr. Eric Adler, professor and chair of Classics at the University of Maryland to discuss his new book, The Battle of the Classics: How a Nineteenth-Century Debate Can Save the Humanities Today . The group tackle one of the largest questions looming over higher education: what should be the most central piece of a college education?    Shoutout to ALI and ISI for s...

  The guys finally get around to tackling Plato's Republic, the first and greatest work of political philosophy. With wide-ranging themes and topics, the Republic situates political life at the core of the question of our place in the world. The guys give a synopsis of the text and their initial impressions in this first episode of a mini-series analyzing Plato's Republic—guests to come! Shoutout...

As Halloween approaches, the guys turn their attention to some spooky literature. This time, they're joined by Dr. Justin Gottschalk as they delve into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . The group touch on the history of the book, as well as what makes it scary under the surface.   Shoutout to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!

This week the guys are joined once again by Jan Blits, professor emeritus in the University of Delaware School of Education. The group break down the play  Macbeth , going through the plot and discussing the central role of virtue in the play that is not necessarily apparent at first glance. 

This week the guys convene to discuss a short, humorous work by Mark Twain,  Extracts from Adam's Diary . Despite being so short and meant to be funny, hidden just below the surface are deep questions about existence.   Thanks to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!

In this special edition of  The New Thinkery , the guys are joined by Drs. Nathan Tarcov and Christopher Lynch. They give the guys a sneak peek at a forthcoming book on Machiavelli that you can't get anywhere else! Plus: what projects are they working on now? Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for sponsoring!

The guys are joined this week by Dr. Wayne Ambler, Associate Professor Emeritus at CU Boulder. The group dive into Tacitus' Dialogue on Oratory , covering a range of topics from the nature of oratory to how it looks in the United States today.   Shoutout to the Ancient Language Institute for sponsoring!