Herodotus: The Greek Invention of History
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Release Date: 12/03/2024
The Dawn of the West: Hellenism and the Jews
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The Hellenistic era will open the door for Greek and Jewish thought to finally meet and begin to wrestle with each other. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: How did Jewish life shift following the conquest of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture? How did the translating of the Torah into Greek pave the way for the development of western civilization? What were the different schools of thought that were established in the Hellenistic era, and why did they develop?
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Greece and the Fine Arts: The Legacy of Greek Art and Architecture
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
No discussion of Ancient Greece is complete without talking about its influence in the worlds of art and architecture. Today, we’ll address the following questions: How does Greek sculpture try to depict human nature? Why are Greek columns so compelling that they have been consistent in the world of architecture for thousands of years? Why did Jews accept and adopt Greek architecture?
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Aristotle: On Politics
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
To Aristotle, moderation is the key to happiness, both for the individual and in the political arena. As we explore Aristotle’s Politics, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: What was Aristotle’s goal in studying different forms of government? To Aristotle, what was the mutual need that grounded the relationship between master and slave? How does Aristotle explain the gods of the Greek myths? Recommended Reading: Aristotle. . Translated by T.A. Sinclair and T.J. Saunders. New York: Penguin, 1992.
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Aristotle 101: A Counter-View to Plato
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The next great thinker in the world of philosophy was Plato’s greatest student, Aristotle. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: What are the differences between Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophical schools of thought, and why are both important to western philosophy? If Aristotle’s scientific discoveries have been overturned by modern science, why is he still important to that field? How did Aristotelian philosophy become the barometer for religion in later periods?
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Xenophon: The One that Got Away
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Socrates had another student who, unlike Plato, has been relegated to the dusty shelves. As we learn about Xenophon, we’ll explore the following questions: Who was Xenophon, and why did he fall out of favor such that he is far less known than Plato? How does Xenophon define excellence, and how is his view unique? To Xenophon, what is justice? How similar is that Plato’s understanding of justice?
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Plato's Dialogues: Crito, Phaedo, Euthyphro, Symposium, and the Laws
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The questions that animate the spirit of the west can be found in Plato’s dialogues. As we discuss five of them, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions: How is Socrates’ refusal to escape an act of justice? According to Socrates, how does the philosophic life prepare someone for death What is the difference between the Greek and Jewish notions of love?
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Plato's Apology II: The Un-Apologetic Philosopher
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
In his closing arguments, Socrates will continue to insist that the unexamined life is not worth living. In exploring that issue, we’ll address the following questions: How does Socrates try to convince the jury that it is their loss if he is put to death? Why would Socrates refuse to beg the jury for his life? How does Socrates see himself as a Greek hero? Recommended Reading: Plato. Translated by H. Tredennick and H. Tarrant. New York: Penguin, 2003.
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Plato’s Apology I: Philosophy Under Fire
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The death of Socrates sets off a new phase in the world of philosophy. In today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How is Socrates’ death a continuation of the traditional Greek tragedy? Why is winning his case not a priority for Socrates? How does Socrates define wisdom? Recommended Reading: Plato. . Translated by H. Tredennick and H. Tarrant. New York: Penguin, 2003.
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Plato's Republic II: The Individual vs. Society
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Our study of Plato’s Republic continues with Socrates’ remarkable insight into human nature. Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions: To Socrates, what is the relationship between the form of government in a city and the ideal man within that city? How does Socrates imagine cities transitioning from one form of government to another? What does Socrates see as the potential dangers of the liberties that come along with a democratic society? Recommended Reading: Plato. . Trans. Allan Bloom. New York: Basic Books, 1968.
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Plato's Republic I: On Justice, Truth, and Wisdom
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Plato’s Republic is one of the most foundational texts in the western canon. To help us unpack why that is, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: What was Socrates’ goal in this very long conversation with his students How does the individual fit into Socrates’ “city in speech”? What is the role of knowledge in the pursuit of the good and the true? Recommended Reading: Plato. . Trans. Allan Bloom. New York: Basic Books, 1968.
info_outlineHerodotus is sometimes called the “father of history,” because he fundamentally changed the way humanity viewed its own story. As we read Herodotus, we’ll uncover answers to the following questions:
- Why did Herodotus decide to write history? What made it different than other stories that had been written until then?
- How does Herodotus’ including the Persian perspective reflect a particularly Greek way of thinking?
- What does it mean when we say that the Greek culture is concerned with culture?
Recommended Reading: Herodotus. The Histories. Trans. Aubrey de Sélincourt. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003.