Unlimited Opinions - Philosophy, Theology, Linguistics, & More

Did Russell Kirk accurately predict the revival of conservatism in late 20th-century America and England? Not really, but his discussion of the goals of conservatism remain lovely. Join us as we discuss the need for conservative leaders to encourage spiritual revival, encourage leadership, reshape education, provide a purpose to the common man, and stabilize the economy.  Follow us on X! Give us y...

Santayana: Latin rock guitarist or materialist conservative thinker? Find out as we discuss Irving Babbitt, Paul Elmer More, and George Santayana, exploring what their critiques of early 20th-century American utilitarianism, materialism, and pragmatism mean for political conservatism today.  Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Do conservatives achieve any victories past the 19th century? Find out on this (somewhat depressing) episode of Unlimited Opinions, as we look at how conservatives struggle to make any lasting change in early 20th-century England. We discuss George Gissing's critique of "the science," Arthur Balfour's inability to make any lasting impact, and the truly great insights of W.H. Ma...

What happens to conservatism in a world full of technological and societal change? In this episode, we discuss four pessimistic American thinkers: James Russel Lowell, E.L. Godkin, Henry Adams, and Brooks Adams. While hurt by their pessimism for the American future, they still have deeply relevant thoughts on progress, the media, and economic conditions. We also discuss our run-ins with Stoicism a...

Can a coalition of people opposed to the excesses of liberalism, socialism, and utilitarianism  really be classified as conservative? At the very least, Russell Kirk sees them as relevant to the history of conservatism! Join us as we discuss the thoughts of James Fitzjames Stephen, Henry Maine, and W.E.H. Lecky, and how they relate to the idea of conservatism.  Follow us on X! Give us your opinion...

What is the best counter to Marxism? To Disraeli and Newman, imagination. To the former, a richer view of the necessity of the nation; to the latter, a view of education as being oriented toward virtue and God. Join us as we discuss the various approaches to countering 19th-century liberalism in this episode of Unlimited Opinions! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

From Unitarianism to socialism to Roman Catholicism, Orestes Brownson shows the potential of American conservatism founded on a deeper truth. Join us in this episode as we discuss the various philosophical movements in the transitional period of early- to mid-19th century America. Alongside Brownson, we discuss John Quincy Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, analyzing their relati...

How do we conserve liberty in a society? Is it by curtailing the dangers of democratization? By using religious and social institutions as a bulwark? By increasing technological capabilities? Find out this and more as we discuss Thomas Babington Macaulay, James Fenimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, Elon Musk, J.D. Vance, Josh Hawley, and more! Follow us on X!   Give us your opinions here!

Do Randolph and Calhoun make convincing arguments for a coherent southern conservatism? How can you advocate for a political philosophy while still supporting slavery? More importantly, is love really love? All this and more as we continue discussing Russell Kirk's  The Conservative Mind ! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Has conservatism really defeated utilitarianism? Or are modern conservatives just utilitarians at their core? Find out as we discuss Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, Walter Scott, George Canning, and Samuel Coleridge in their war for English politics! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Was Adams truly the most conservative voice among the Founding Fathers? How does he compare to Alexander Hamilton and Fisher Ames? What has been the impact of Adams' influence on the United States to this day? Find out all this and more as we continue discussing Russell Kirk's  The Conservative Mind ! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Is Edmund Burke really the founder of modern conservatism? What do his insights into prejudice, natural law, and divine providence mean for us today? Was he justified in opposing the French Revolution so strongly? Find out as we discuss Chapter 2 of Russell Kirk's  The Conservative Mind ! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Season premiere! Join us as we begin discussing Russell Kirk's 1953  The Conservative Mind , reading Kirk's discussion of the history of conservatism from Edmund Burke to T.S. Eliot. In this first episode, we break down Kirk's goal in writing the book, his six canons of conservatism, and the four major claims of its opponents.  Follow us on X!   Give us your opinions here!

What do we think of Plato's  Republic  overall? Find out as we conclude our discussion of this cornerstone work as we read the Book X, in which Plato elaborates on his theory of art and representation; describes how he views the soul as immortal; and provides a case for the practical rewards of being a justice person.  Give us your opinions here! Give us your opinions here!

Can you pursue happiness by chasing fleeting pleasures? If not, how can we finally demonstrate that? Join us for our thoughts on Plato's conclusion that the pursuit of knowledge leads to the highest form of happiness, demolishing any argument in favor of pursuing any lower goods! Give us your opinions here!

How does Plato's ideal state collapse? What kind of society does it become, and what does the soul of the person represented by that society look like? Find out as we discuss the origin and development of timarchy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny, as well as their corresponding faults! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

The perfect society can only be achieved by banishing everyone over the age of 10 and starting fresh! At least, according to Plato. Join us as we discuss Book VII of the  Republic , discussing what the allegory of the cave really means and Socrates' description of the ideal education for the philosopher-king. Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

What makes someone truly a philosopher? How does knowledge differ from opinion? Does evil really exist? Find out as we discuss all this and more, breaking down Plato's definition of what a philosopher is, and whether it is possible to put philosopher-kings in place.   Follow us on X!   Give us your opinions here!

Is this the worst book of the  Republic ? Does Plato think that anything he is describing is achievable? Find out as we discuss Book V, in which Socrates outlines the sameness of men and women, the benefits of having children in common, and the beginning of what it means to be a philosopher. Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Join us as we discuss Book IV of Plato's  Republic , which we (surprisingly) both enjoyed! We continue our discussion by reflecting on the necessity of education for the existence of a culture, whether a state needs to be a certain size for unity to exist, and ultimately how Socrates' imagine state reflects the soul.  Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Is Plato prescribing what he says in the Republic as literal guidance on how to run a state, or is this all just an extreme allegory for the ordering of the soul? Listen to us debate this exact question on this episode of Unlimited Opinions, discussing what messages in art ought to be outlawed; the relation of moral character and beauty; the different classes of citizens; and much more! Follow us...

Thrasymachus, didn't do that bad of a job of arguing in favor of injustice, did he? Glaucon and Adeimantus seem to think so! Join us as we consider the stronger argument in favor of acting unjustly, discussing the Ring of Gyges, the origins of society, and the beginning of Socrates' discussion of the education of the Guardians! Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Is it better to be just than unjust, and what makes something subjective? Find out as we discuss Book I of Plato's Republic , breaking down the opening discussion on old age, Polemarchus' traditional definition of justice as doing good to your friends and harm to your enemies, and Thrasymachus' view of justice as what is in the interest of the stronger party. Additionally, we consid...

Join us as we begin our discussion of one of the most foundational texts in Western history: Plato's  Republic ! In this episode, we talk about our prior knowledge and opinions of Plato, the historical background leading up to the writing of the work, and what we hope to gain from reading it again. In this season, we are reading Sir Desmond Lee's Penguin Classics translation of the work,...

In the end, what does Allan Bloom recommend in  The Closing of the American Mind ? Not much, as it turns out. After an excellent diagnosis of the problems facing American higher education, Bloom ends on a pessimistic note, stating that no reforms can fix the problems in the university. Is this true? Find out as we discuss our thoughts on Bloom's work and ideas on how to fix the university! Fo...