New Humanists

T.S. Eliot’s Praise for Privilege | Episode XVI

February 01, 2022 Ancient Language Institute Episode 16
New Humanists
T.S. Eliot’s Praise for Privilege | Episode XVI
Show Notes

It is tempting to dismiss T.S. Eliot’s musings on class, society, and education as the complaints of a cranky reactionary. But the great Anglo-American poet is worth reckoning with - if for no other reason than how profoundly he challenges the democratic norms that in the 21st century we simply assume as first principles. Jonathan and Ryan take a look at Eliot’s chapter on education from his book Notes Towards the Definition of Culture, and they try to square Eliot with the egalitarian promises of the American Dream.


T.S. Eliot’s Notes Towards the Definition of Culture: https://amzn.to/3fkKCLJ


Alan Jacobs’ The Year of Our Lord 1943: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780190864651


New Humanists episode on Jacobs’ book (Part I): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transhumanism-in-the-year-of-our-lord-2021-pt-1-episode-ii/id1570296135?i=1000525644529

New Humanists episode on Jacobs’ book (Part II): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transhumanism-in-the-year-of-our-lord-pt-2-episode-iii/id1570296135?i=1000527530441


Richard M. Gamble’s The Great Tradition: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781935191568


Scott Newman’s The Liar’s Club: Looking Back on Princeton: https://quillette.com/2021/12/09/ivy-league-liars-club/


Peter Hitchens’ A Church That Was: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/05/a-church-that-was


Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44299/elegy-written-in-a-country-churchyard


Anthony Esolen’s The Boy Genius: https://www.touchstonemag.com/touchstone-conference/2018/the-boy-genius-esolen.php


Kurt Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House (contains the Harrison Bergeron story): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780385333504


T.S. Eliot’s Usk: https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/usk


New Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/


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Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com