New Humanists
New Humanists
Latest Episodes
BONUS: The Blessing of Babel
Have we finally escaped the curse of Babel? With one simple prompt we could have an idiomatic translation of any obscure ancient text at our fingertips. Understanding anyone's words from any time is now easier than it has ever been.
Feminism, Sexual Communism, and Philosopher Kings, feat. Daniel O’Toole | Episode CXIX
Three waves: first, equality of the sexes; second, the abolition of the family; and third… rule by philosopher-kings?In Book V of Plato’s Republic, Socrates guides his interlocutors through three “waves” of objections...
Thymos, feat. Ian Dagg | Episode CXVIII
Leontius was passing by the corpses of executed Athenians and tried not to look. But eventually, giving in, he ran over and leaned in to stare. "Have your fill!" he shouted at his own eyes. Socrates tells this story in Book IV of Plato's Republ...
BONUS: Underrated Greek Lawgivers
Everyone knows Solon and Lycurgus. But what about Charondas? How about Zaleucus?In the Bibliotheca Historica, Diodorus Siculus takes off on a tangent from the story of the Peloponnesian War to discuss these fascinating and und...
Erotics and Harmonics, feat. Patrick Downey | Episode CXVII
Patrick Downey, professor of philosophy at St. Mary's College of California, returns to New Humanists to discuss Book Three of Plato's Republic. Why does Socrates permit lies in his city? And why does he kick Homer out? Downey gives answers to ...