The New Thinkery

As school kicks into gear as summer is winding down, the guys take the opportunity to talk about the extent to which the common man can be benefitted or harmed by liberal education, using Herbert Storing's famous essay as a starting point.

In this week's installment of The New Thinkery, the guys are joined by Michigan State's distinguished professor emeritus Jerry Weinberger. The group discuss Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, its importance, and whether and to what extent Fraknlin is an esoteric writer.

This week, the guys return to the meat and potatoes of philosophy: Plato and Socrates. They discuss the first half of Plato's Republic Book IV, the logic of continuing an empire in decay, and the Machiavellian nature of some of Socrates' advice. Plus: don't miss Greg's hot take on country music.

This week, the guys analyze the film classic Ford Apache. They're joined by Hillsdale College's Professor Adam Carrington, who has written about the film. The group talk about the portrayal of Native Americans, the hubirs of an aristocratic mindset, and more!

This week, the guys return to Strauss to look at a pair of his lesser known, but still important essays touching on historicism, science, and the trajectory of the West. The two provide an excellent primer to The City and Man for those who are interested in reading Strauss.

This week, the guys are joined by Eric Adler, Professor and Chair of Classics at the University of Maryland. Together, the group discuss Plutarch's Life of Romulus and the history of Roman historians more generally as they compare to Greek historians.

After last week's discussion of Hiero, the guys are back this week with fare that is lighter in some ways, and heavy in others: Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. From light analysis of the boxing movie trope to the weighty topic of euthanasia, the guys cover it all. Plus: Greg was actually in a real fight once. You'll never guess where.

This week, the guys reconvene to discuss Xenophon's Hiero. Greg has published translations of Xenophon, and is especially in his element. The core question the guys focus on is the same as that of this minor work: is the life of a tyrant more pleasant than that of a commoner?

This week, the guys re joined by Hillsdale professor and David's colleague, Michael Anton. The group discuss Montesquieu's philosophy and the ways in which it proves correct, and some ways it comes up short. Plus: Professor Anton talks about Jaffa and Machiavelli.

As we leave the Televisual Age behind and enter into the Digital Age, it might seem like a paper proposing the banning or severe limiting of TV hasn't aged all too well. But Anastaplo's paper proposing just that has aged like a fine wine, and is more applicable now than ever. The guys analyze Anastaplo's paper from top to bottom.

This week, the guys are joined by one of Alex's colleagues: Dr. Paul Diduch. The group discuss whether unfettered technological progress is in fact "progress" and what we, especially in the modern age, ought to think about before we call technology an absolute good for humans and our souls. They focus on some texts from Plato, Aristotle, and Bacon.

This week The New Thinkery celebrates its 100th episode! To mark the occasion, the guys invite on Producer Jake to chime in for an analysis of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Books 8 and 9, which focus on the nature and types of friendships.

This week, the guys dive into another of Plutarch's lives. Unlike some of the other lives Plutarch describes, Theseus' is surrounded by an unusual amount of mythologizing, leaving us to speculate about why he is different from the others.

This week the guys assemble to visit a very short work of Nietzsche's that deals with extra-moral truth and lies. Specifically, the guys analyze whether or not telling the truth is always right from a philosophic perspective, and what that may show us about human nature.

Was Aristotle's view of slavery evil, idiotic, a combination, or something else entirely? The guys sit down to talk about how Aristotle viewed slavery and how that view might look today.

This week, the guys attended a panel where they interviewed Joshua Parens on the peculiar nature of Strauss' views on natural law and the philosopher. The group analyzes Strauss' wisdom-filled writings.

This week, the guys take a break from philosophy to visit the Wild West as they analyze the film Winchester 73. Revolving around who gets to own a nearly perfect Winchester rifle, the guys look at the key lessons and plot points.

This week, the guys take a look at one of the most memorable concepts from Plato's Republic, that of the noble lie. They analyze the usefulness of noble lies, and whether it should affect the way we view Plato. Plus: your mailbag questions get answered!

This week, the guys are joined by author, political commentator, and policy scholar Steven F. Hayward. The group take a look at the underlying themes of Max Weber's Politics as a Vocation, as well as some potential consequences of the line of logic used in the book.

This week, the guys take a trip back to ancient Greece to discuss the first two books of Homer's Iliad. Plus: a cameo appearance from David's son!

With Easter around the corner, the guys are joined by Dr. Catherine Zuckert, the Reeves Dreux Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame, to take a look at the first Western Christian autobiography ever written: St. Augustine's Confessions. The cast discuss the timely themes and important underlying messages, as well as talk about Dr. Zuckert's educational biography.

This week, the guys continue their running series on Shakespeare. On the docket is one of Shakespeare's early comedies, Love's Labour's Lost. To help them with the analysis, Dr. Lee Ward, Professor of Political Science at Baylor University, joins the crew to shed light on the major themes and events of the play. Shoutout to ALI for sponsoring!

In this episode of TNT, the guys are joined by distinguished professor and student of Leo Strauss, David Lowenthal. Together, the group talk about Lowenthal's academic and military career, Orwell's 1984, and Dr. Lowenthal answers lightning questions. Plus: Dr. Lowenthal explains why he was a Marxist for a little while.

This week, the guys take a break from focusing on one text to host a more personal episode. Each co-host presents a question to the others for their thoughts, and then they answer your mailbag questions! If you like this episode format, let us know on Twitter and we'll make more like it.

In this week's episode, the guys are joined by Professor James Carey. The group wade outside of TNT's philosophic comfort zone by talking with Professor Carey about Indian philosophy. Specifically, they discuss whether Indian philosophy is monolithic, and, whether it is or not, what concepts grab the attention of Indian philosophy.

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 with philosophic underpinnings ready to be illuminated.

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 for sponsoring!

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 sponsoring!

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 to ALI and ISI for sponsoring!

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!