The New Thinkery

The New Thinkery is a podcast devoted to political philosophy and its history, along with its many guises in literature, film, and human experience generally. Named after Socrates’ infamous “Thinkery” in Aristophanes’ Clouds, The New Thinkery strikes a balance between the seriousness of academia and the playfulness of casual conversation among friends.

Giovanni Ferrari on Plato the Writer 11/20/2024

Giovanni Ferrari on Plato the Writer This week all the guys are back in the saddle, and joined by Prof. Giovanni R. F. (John) Ferrari, the Melpomene Distinguished Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a professor of Classics at UC Berkeley. Over the course of the episode, Prof. Ferrari unpacks his unique approach to Plato with the guys, highlighting things you don't see highlighted frequently when analyzing his works. Plus: does Prof. Ferrari's first car live up to the automotive prestige of his namesake? Find out in the lightning round! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33956452

Damian Jungerman on Hannah Arendt's "Philosophy and Politics" 11/13/2024

Damian Jungerman on Hannah Arendt's "Philosophy and Politics" David and Greg dive into Hannah Arendt's influential essay "Philosophy and Politics" this week alongside returning guest Damien Jungerman, exploring Arendt's insights on the complex relationship between philosophical thought and political action. Together, the group unpacks Arendt's arguments on how thinkers shape—and are shaped by—the political landscapes they inhabit. Plus: some details on the conflict between Strauss and Arendt. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33905467

John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright 11/06/2024

John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright While you are either celebrating or lamenting who appears to be the victor of the 2024 election, the guys are showing their election season spirits, taking a look at John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright. With a backdrop of the Old West, old timey Southern ways lead to the formation of a lynch mob, and a candidate for office must step in to save the masses from themselves. The guys break the film down in detail, unpacking the subtle messages in the film. Plus: Greg tells his story about the one and only time he ever ran for an elected office! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33764352

Charles Butterworth on Al-Farabi's Book of Letters 10/30/2024

Charles Butterworth on Al-Farabi's Book of Letters This week, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Charles Butterworth, emeritus professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, College Park. The group convene to discuss Butterworth's newest book, a of Al-Farabi's Book of Letters, discussing how the book came to be, Al-Farabi's backstory to the extent we know it, and the substance of the text itself. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33649267

Patrick Deneen on Strauss' Three Waves of Modernity 10/23/2024

Patrick Deneen on Strauss' Three Waves of Modernity This week, Alex and Greg temporarily replace David with friend of the show Professor Patrick Deneen, who teaches at the University of Notre Dame. The group dive right into Strauss' Three Waves of Modernity, dissecting its arguments and unpacking relevant backstory. Plus, if you can't get enough of Strauss, apply for UATX's upcoming and/or register for a virtual ! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33528252

An Overview of Homer's Odyssey 10/16/2024

An Overview of Homer's Odyssey A full complement of hosts are back this week and primed to deliver an overview of Homer's Odyssey. In addition to a plot synopsis, the guys dispel common myths about Odysseus, take a closer look at Penelope, discuss the appropriate time for a person to read the Odyssey in their lives, talk translations, and more! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33433907

Jonathan Swift's Battle of the Books 10/09/2024

Jonathan Swift's Battle of the Books This week the guys are back to discuss Jonathan Swift. Everyone has heard of Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal, but he has another work worth looking at: The Battle of the Books. Plus: the audience has voted on who the funniest co-host is. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33342097

Sabrina Little on Athletics and Virtue 10/02/2024

Sabrina Little on Athletics and Virtue This week, the guys are joined by Sabrina Little, assistant professor in the department of Leadership and American Studies at Christopher Newport University. The group discuss athletics, especially running, and how virtue can boost athletic performance. Little's new book, , and her accomplishments in ultramarathons serve as helpful points of ingress into a more thorough exploration of the relationship. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33257717

Leo Strauss' "On the Interpretation of Genesis" 09/25/2024

Leo Strauss' "On the Interpretation of Genesis" This week, the guys return once again to the prophetic teachings of Leo Strauss. This time, the focus is on Strauss' understanding of Genesis, which the guys dissect in an effort to disentangle the Ancient Greek and biblical influences that went into Strauss' interpretation. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33161242

Lincoln and the Founding 09/18/2024

Lincoln and the Founding This week, in observance of Constitution Day, the guys wax poetic about the virtues of the Founding... is what you probably expected this to say. Instead, Greg wrote an entire academic paper about Lincoln's hushed critique of the Founding, so the guys sit down to unpack the paper's core arguments, as well as how Lincoln was, and wasn't, successful at bringing Christianity into the political ethos of his time. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/33062157

Eric Adler on Livy's History of Rome, Book I Ch. 1-16 09/11/2024

Eric Adler on Livy's History of Rome, Book I Ch. 1-16 This week, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Eric Adler, Professor and Chair of Classics at the University of Maryland, to talk about the beginning of Livy's History of Rome. Given Rome's impressively long history, it's no surprise that it took Livy over 140 books to recount it just up to the beginning of the Roman Empire. The group tackle Livy's telling of the founding of Rome, as well as its monarchy. Plus: a comparison between Roman and Greek history, and why Rome's first historians wrote their books in Greek, not Latin. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32965162

Walter Sterling on T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" 09/04/2024

Walter Sterling on T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" This week, the guys are joined by Walter Sterling, the freshly minted president of St. John's College in Santa Fe to discuss one of the twentieth century's most important poems, T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land." The group work their way through the work's oppressive density and prose to get at the crucial themes and messages underlying it all. Plus: a tangential discussion about Saint John's College and Sterling's background with the college. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32855152

Pano Kanelos on Hamlet and the University of Austin 08/28/2024

Pano Kanelos on Hamlet and the University of Austin It's back to school season, and to mark the occasion, the full host complement is joined by Dr. Pano Kanelos, founding president of the University of Austin. Together, the ensemble dissect key moments in Hamlet. That includes a potential recontextualization of the best-known soliloquy in the world, Hamlet's “To be or not to be” speech. Plus: a look at the University of Austin as it prepares to welcome its inaugural class. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32726392

Robert Wyllie on Understanding Byung-Chul Han 08/21/2024

Robert Wyllie on Understanding Byung-Chul Han Joining Alex and Greg this week is Professor Robert Wyllie of Ashland University. He guides the group through the thought-provoking world of Byung-Chul Han, one of today's most interesting living philosophers, using as a baseline. Professor Wyllie delves especially into Han's early work, exploring his weighty ideas on technology, culture, and the human condition in a way accessible to newcomers and veteran listeners alike. Tune in for a thinker that bridges the gap between Korean and German thought! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32629417

Flagg Taylor on Jan Patočka's The Spiritual Person & the Intellectual 08/14/2024

Flagg Taylor on Jan Patočka's The Spiritual Person & the Intellectual This week, Alex and Greg delve into Jan Patočka's 1975 essay "The Spiritual Person & the Intellectual," exploring its profound insights on the nature of human existence and the role of intellectuals in society. Joined by Flagg Taylor of Skidmore College, the group examine Patočka's challenge to modernity and his vision for a more spiritually grounded intellectual life, as well as recounting relevant points in his personal life, including his death at the hands of communists. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32537487

Michael Davis On Greek Tragedy, and Electra 08/07/2024

Michael Davis On Greek Tragedy, and Electra This week, the guys delve into the rich world of Greek tragedy with professor Michael Davis from Sarah Lawrence College. The group explore the themes of fate, justice, and human nature as discussed in Davis' latest book, . Focusing on the powerful narratives of the Electra plays by these tragedians, they unpack the complexities of ancient drama and its continued relevance in contemporary thought. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32433247

Mary Nichols on Piety in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics 07/31/2024

Mary Nichols on Piety in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Join the guys this week as they explore the nuanced concept of piety in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics with esteemed scholar Mary Nichols. Nichols is Professor Emerita of Political Science at Baylor University, where she taught from 2004-2018, and brings her profound insights and expertise to this rich discussion. Delve into the philosophical depths of virtue, ethics, and piety with one of the leading voices in the field. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32317862

Plato's Lovers 07/24/2024

Plato's Lovers In this week's episode, the guys unpack Plato's Lovers, a dialogue centered on the question of what philosophy is. Join the guys as they explore Socrates' interactions with a jock and a nerd in competition to have their love reciprocated by their beloveds. Plus: the unveiling of The New Thinkery's merch store! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32228597

Ralph Waldo Emerson's The American Scholar 07/17/2024

Ralph Waldo Emerson's The American Scholar Join the guys as they delve into Ralph Waldo Emerson's brief essay, "The American Scholar," picking apart the diagnostic value of Emerson's view of the American mind. Through insightful discussions and thorough analysis, they explore the relevance and implications of Emerson's ideas in the modern world, offering a critique of Emerson's transcendentalism and challenging its practicality and impact on contemporary thought. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32129372

CDC Reeve on Aristotle's Dialectic 07/10/2024

CDC Reeve on Aristotle's Dialectic This week, Alex and Greg replace David with renowned philosopher CDC Reeve. The group delve into Aristotle's Dialectic, exploring the depths of ancient Greek philosophy and its relevance today, specifically how Aristotle's method of dialogue and debate seeks to uncover truths through logical reasoning and critical questioning. Plus: don't miss the lightning round! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/32042307

Paul Carrese on George Washington 07/03/2024

Paul Carrese on George Washington Happy Fourth of July from the New Thinkery! This week, Alex and Greg are joined by Paul Carrese, professor at Arizona State University and senior fellow at the Jack Miller Center, to discuss George Washington in observance of Independence Day. The group discuss George Washington's ascendancy to power, his attempts to stop factionalism, and his impact as a global figure. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31951117

On Fitness 06/26/2024

On Fitness This week, the guys mostly put away the books to discuss the importance of fitness, both for physical longevity and mental sharpness. Led by Greg, the guys share their thoughts and experiences with exercise, including their personal exercise regimens and how they balance exercise in their daily lives. Plus: David's biggest pet peeve about exercise advertising. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31850887

Ariel Helfer on Plato's Letters 06/19/2024

Ariel Helfer on Plato's Letters In this episode, the guys are joined by Professor Ariel Helfer of Wayne State University to discuss his new book on Plato's Letters. Delve into an engaging conversation about the philosophical insights and historical context of Plato's epistolary works, as well as how we ought to contextualize the work itself. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31757933

Leo Strauss' What Is Political Philosophy?, Part III 06/12/2024

Leo Strauss' What Is Political Philosophy?, Part III The guys take this week to close out their mini-series on Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy? Listen in as they unpack Strauss' analysis of modernity, his critique of historicism, and his defense of classical political philosophy. Thankfully, there are less calls to "whip it" this time. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31664332

Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy?, Part II 06/05/2024

Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy?, Part II Join the guys for an enlightening continuation of last week's discussion on Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy? This week, they delve into part two of the book, focusing on the classical solution to political philosophy. Their exploration reveals timeless insights about the nature of political thought and its enduring relevance, as well as reminding you to "whip it." /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31570052

Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy?, Part I 05/29/2024

Leo Strauss' What is Political Philosophy?, Part I In this episode, the guys delve into the profound insights of Leo Strauss' seminal work, What is Political Philosophy? while cracking their hallmark lewd jokes. Join them as they explore Strauss' examination of the nature and purpose of political philosophy, setting the stage for a deep dive into his enduring influence on contemporary thought. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31475652

The New Thinkery at 200 05/22/2024

The New Thinkery at 200 The New Thinkery is celebrating its 200th episode this week. To celebrate, the guys convene to do a retrospective of sorts. They take the opportunity to thank listeners, guests, and others, answer listener-submitted questions, give you a peek behind the curtain, and compared to a usual week are a little more... unhinged. Tune in for a fun one! /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31376807

Marc Landy on America and Modernity 05/15/2024

Marc Landy on America and Modernity Join the guys as they welcome Marc Landy, professor at Boston College, who provides profound insights from his latest book, America and Modernity. Unpacking the complexities of American politics against the backdrop of modernity, Landy's analysis offers a compelling narrative that sheds light on the evolving nature of the American experience. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31255017

Dustin Peone on Comedy and Philosophy 05/08/2024

Dustin Peone on Comedy and Philosophy This week, the guys are joined by Dustin Peone, instructor of liberal studies at Mercer University and a fellow of the Institute for Vico Studies in Atlanta. The group use Peone's new book, Making Philosophy Laugh: Humor, Irony, and Folly in Philosophical Thought as the baseline to dive into discussion about the profound connections between humor and wisdom. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31133158

Christopher Lynch on Machiavelli on War 05/01/2024

Christopher Lynch on Machiavelli on War Join the guys this week for an engaging discussion on the art of war through the eyes of Niccolò Machiavelli in Christopher Lynch's latest book, Machiavelli on War. Christopher Lynch is Professor of Political Science at Missouri State University and head of the Department of Political Science. Lynch's work offers a fresh look at Machiavelli's timeless insights, showing how they resonate on the world stage, with a special emphasis on war and strategy. The group explore Machiavelli's cunning and political wisdom, and tease out how his ideas still influence our understanding of conflict and power. /episode/index/show/thenewthinkery/id/31011963

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