Leo Strauss is a polarizing figure to some; those who have never read his works and indulge in wanton conspiracy theories assert he was some sort of closet fascist and the godfather to the neo-conservative movement in America. The accusations of Strauss as a war-mongering imperialist has been refuted by many scholars, so there is … Continue reading Leo Strauss: Natural Right and History
History
Islam, Islamism, and the Crisis of the Political
Is Islam a political threat? That might depend on where you live. Is there a distinction between Islam and Islamism. Some say yes. Others say no. Naive leftists who are anti-political (in the Schmittian sense) believe the universal ark of fraternity triumphs over the tribalisms of politics. The boisterous liberal right, spearheaded by anti-religious libertarians … Continue reading Islam, Islamism, and the Crisis of the Political
Understand Hegel in a Half Hour!
Georg W.F. Hegel is the most influential and consequential philosopher of modernity. In this half hour lecture (37 minutes, actually), I provide a concise summary of the whole of Hegel's systematic philosophy by bringing together his Phenomenology of Spirit; Elements of the Philosophy of Right; Lectures on the Philosophy of History. In reading Hegel we … Continue reading Understand Hegel in a Half Hour!
Literary Tales Ep. 10: Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”
In this lecture of literary tales we explore Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, principally in Shakespeare's dialectic of the coldness of politics (embodied by Ocatvian/Augustus Caesar) and the rapturous ecstasy of love (embodied by our titular tragic protagonists Antony and Cleopatra). This lecture explores the theme of love and politics (covered in this lecture) in fuller … Continue reading Literary Tales Ep. 10: Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”
Hegel and Napoleon: On Heroes and the Sublime in History
There are two great stories concerning Hegel and Napoleon. The first, undeniably fantastical and romantic, is that Hegel was finishing up his draft manuscript of the Phenomenology of Spirit as the Battle of Jena roared behind him as he escaped the hellfire of the morning; the second, true, relates to Hegel’s encounter with Napoleon which … Continue reading Hegel and Napoleon: On Heroes and the Sublime in History
Ovid’s Reminder to Love in the Midst of War (“Amores” 1.9)
Concern about the end of the world is as old as sapient man. No doubt the trauma of the Romans who lived through the brutal sack of their city in 410 A.D. led them to believe the sky had fallen and the sun would not rise the next day. Even the early Christians, followers of … Continue reading Ovid’s Reminder to Love in the Midst of War (“Amores” 1.9)
Literary Tales Ep. 7: Gulliver’s Travels and the Art of Philosophical Satire
In this episode of Literary Tales we examine Jonathan Swift's incredible mock and satirical travel work, Gulliver's Travels. In this lecture we explore the work as principally a philosophical satire through Gulliver's journeys leading to his insanity and dehumanization. Ruminations on philosophy, theology, and John Milton are included. This lecture is based off my essay, … Continue reading Literary Tales Ep. 7: Gulliver’s Travels and the Art of Philosophical Satire
Literary Tales Ep. 6: Virgil’s Aeneid
In our next episode of Literary Tales we focus on the grand Latin epic that T.S. Eliot called "our classic." Virgil's Aeneid is a grand construction of history and memory more-so than mythos and pathos. The imagery Virgil uses to drive the story forward is the principal focus in this lecture; we discuss how Virgil … Continue reading Literary Tales Ep. 6: Virgil’s Aeneid
Karl Marx’s Dialectical Historicism
One of the core elements to Karl Marx’s philosophy was his dialectical materialism and historicism, which come together in his dialectical historicism. Most people are probably familiar with it. There are five distinct stages (or epochs) of history: slavery, feudalism, capitalism, socialism, and communism. But the movement of history is not linear-progressive, it is cyclical; … Continue reading Karl Marx’s Dialectical Historicism
Virgil’s Use of Consciousness, Memory, and History in “The Aeneid”
The grandest image of Virgil’s Aeneid is the shield forged by the god Vulcan in the eighth book of Aeneas’ adventure to “Lavinian shores and Italian soil.” Virgil pays homage to Homer, his master and mentor, who also describes a grand image on a shield forged by the gods for Achilles. But where Achilles’ shield … Continue reading Virgil’s Use of Consciousness, Memory, and History in “The Aeneid”
