Classical Wisdom Speaks

Throughout the ages people have imagined “apocalypses”... but how they determined the end of the world shaped their philosophies... as is still the case. From natural disaster and moral revenge to our modern situation of increasing AI and anthropogenic concerns, contemplating the ‘end of days’ can help us cope with the world as it is... or prepare us for difficult times ahead. In an actually not morbid at all conversation, Christopher Star, professor of classics at Middlebury College and author of Apocalypse and Golden Age: The End of the World in Greek and Roman Thought, discusses how the ancients thought about catastrophe and why we should think about it now. You can find Professor Star's book, Apocalypse and Golden Age: The End of the World in Greek and Roman Thought, Here. This conversation is brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. To learn more about Classical Wisdom and to sign up for our free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

How aware are we when we make choices? From playing rock paper scissors and gambling to complex ethical decisions like the trolley problem and self-driving cars, game theory and choice theory are hugely important and impactful in our modern era... but so too did they play an essential role in the ancient world. Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with Josiah Ober, the Mitsotakis Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, Professor of Political Science and Classics and Senior Fellow Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is also the author of the recently released book, "The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason." You can find Josiah's book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520380165/the-greeks-and-the-rational This podcast is brought to you by Classical Wisdom. You can learn more about Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

In 45 B.C., the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero embarked on an almost impossible task... He wrote a philosophical dialogue trying to understand the gods, their nature, how they interact with the world of human beings... and indeed, if they care about humans at all! On the Nature of the Gods (De Natura Deorum) tries to answer these eternal questions through the ancient philosophical approaches of Epicureanism, Stoicism and Skepticism. While Cicero is present in all the dialogues, he does not participate... instead three speakers represent the three differing perspectives and help illuminate his thoughts. Containing profound psychological and moral insights, this seminal text - recently translated by George J. Thomas (with the pen name Quintus Curtius) - is a compelling testament to the necessity of human agency in an indifferent universe. But what do these approaches say... and what can they teach us today? Famed translator George J. Thomas and Professor of Classics at Cornell University, Michael Fontaine, discuss the Nature of Gods and how ancient philosophy can help us understand the divine. You can enjoy George's new annotated translation here: https://qcurtius.com/books/on-the-nature-of-the-gods/ For more information about Classical Wisdom and to sign up for our free newsletter, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.com

What is the future -as well as the past - of literary fiction? It is time for a Renaissance? Destined for the dustbin of history, to be discarded along with so many quaint anachronisms, or is the genre itself bound for a long overdue renaissance? Author and self-confessed “hopeless optimist,” Joel Bowman joins us for an in-depth discussion about these subjects in the context of his newest novel – the classically inspired Night Drew Her Sable Cloak. About the Speaker: A journalist by vocation, Mr. Bowman’s essays and columns have appeared in numerous news outlets and academic journals in the US and abroad. After two decades writing and speaking publicly about politics, economics and international living, Mr. Bowman turned his hand to fiction. His first novel – Morris, Alive – received critical acclaim from multiple New York Times bestselling authors. Night Drew Her Sable Cloak is his second work of literary fiction. You can find Joel’s books here: https://joelbowman.substack.com/s/books This event is brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing Ancient Wisdom to Modern Minds. You can learn more about our mission to promote and preserve the Classics and sign up for our free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Though it was the largest religion in the ancient world by both the number of adherents and geographical scope, Zoroastrianism is still vastly understudied in religion, history, and especially classics. What is Zoroastrianism? How has this Iranian religion impacted the Classical World? And why is one of the world's oldest organized faiths so often over looked? Pablo Vazquez, a noted scholar of and convert to Zoroastrianism, provides an introduction to one of the oldest continuously practiced faiths in history, how the faith influenced the ancient world, and what it is like today. Central to this will be the Gathas and the Old Avestan texts which are said to be composed directly by the religion's enigmatic founder, Zarathushtra, and thus form the core of Zoroastrianism. You can order Pablo's book, The Sacred Gathas of Zarathushtra & the Old Avestan Canon: A Modern Translation of Ancient Wisdom, here: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Gathas-Zarathushtra-Avestan-Canon/dp/1785359614 This podcast was brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. To learn more about Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

How does the relationship between Odysseus and Telemachus play out? What does the son think about the murder of the suitors? And why exactly has this story of the Trojan Cycle captivated its listeners and readers throughout the millennia... to this very day? Today’s Podcast is with TAD CRAWFORD, founder and publisher of Allworth Press as well as author of A Floating Life: A Novel, The Secret Life of Money and most recently, On Wine-Dark Seas: A Novel of Odysseus and His Fatherless Son Telemachus... Now, is this the sequel to the Odyssey? You decide... You can find Tad's book, On Wine-Dark Seas: A Novel of Odysseus and His Fatherless Son Telemachus, here: On Wine-Dark Seas: A Novel of Odysseus and His Fatherless Son Telemachus This podcast was brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. To learn more about Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

The saying “History is myth and myth is history” is something we have been discussing a lot of late at Classical Wisdom. Where does the story of Aeneas lie? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Anthony Adolph, a professional genealogist, broadcaster and writer of numerous books on ancestry and general history, including his most recent, In Search of Aeneas: Classical Myth or Bronze Age Hero?, of which we’ll discuss today. You can find Anthony's book here. This podcast is brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient Wisdom to modern minds. You can learn more and sign up for our free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Marcus Aurelius is generally regarded as one of the "Five Good Emperors" and is often praised for his Stoic philosophy, particularly as expressed in his "Meditations." However, like any historical figure, he is not without criticisms both in his own time and in ours... But are these insignificant issues? Or do they undermine his position as a philosopher and disciple of Stoicism? His reign was marked by military conflicts, political intrigues, and compromises that may not align perfectly with Stoic ideals. Was he truly a Stoic? About the Panelists: Angie Hobbs gained a degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and in 2012 she was appointed Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. She is author of many books, including’ Plato and the Hero’ (C.U.P) and ‘Plato’s Republic: a Ladybird Expert Book’. She contributes regularly to radio and TV programmes and other media, including 26 appearances on In Our Time on Radio 4. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey and been the guest on Desert Island Discs, Private Passions and Test Match Special and has most recently been filmed with Mary Beard discussing Marcus Aurelius. You can follow Angie at @drangiehobbs and learn more about her at angiehobbs.com. Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. Massimo publishes regular columns in Skeptical Inquirer and in Philosophy Now. His books include ‘How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life’ (Basic Books) and ‘Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk’ (University of Chicago Press). Massimo’s latest book is ‘The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders’ (Basic Books). More by Massimo at https://newstoicism.org. Donald Robertson is an author and psychotherapist, specializing in the relationship between modern cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and ancient Greek philosophy. He is one of the founding members of the Modern Stoicism organization and the author of three books on Marcus Aurelius. ‘How to Think Like a Roman Emperor’, a self-help book; 'Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius', a graphic novel; and, most recently, a biography titled 'Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor' due to be released by Yale University Press as part of their Ancient Lives series on February 6th. He has also edited the Capstone Classics edition of the ‘Meditations’ and contributed a chapter on Marcus Aurelius and psychotherapy to the forthcoming 'Cambridge Companion to Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.' Donald is also the president and founder of the Plato's Academy Centre nonprofit, based in Greece. Moderated by Anya Leonard, the founder and Director of Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. Author of the children’s book, "Sappho: The Lost Poetess", dedicated to the life, works and remarkable recent discovery of a poem written by the 7th century Poetess, Sappho, Anya has also recently launched Classical Wisdom Kids, a program bringing ancient wisdom to future minds. You can see Classical Wisdom's Books here: https://classicalwisdombooks.com/

Plagiarism versus Forgery... Economic versus Individualistic Incentives... Virtuous copying versus pride in originality... In an era where the discussion of Plagiarism has become all the rage, it's important to look back over the history of Plagiarism, of institutions, of authority and of knowledge itself. Dr. James Hankins, professor of History at Harvard University and Peter Scott Adamson, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and host of the weekly podcast History of Philosophy without any gaps discuss what Plagiarism is and how these allegations can be seen both now - and throughout history. This podcast was brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. You can find out more (as well as sign up for our free newsletter) here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ About the Speakers: Dr. James Hankins, professor of History at Harvard University and an intellectual historian specializing in the Italian Renaissance and author of many books, including, Virtue Politics: Soulcraft and Statecraft. Peter Scott Adamson, professor of philosophy in late antiquity and in the Islamic world at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; and professor of ancient and medieval philosophy at King's College London. He is also host of the weekly podcast History of Philosophy without any gaps and author of Don’t Think for Yourself: Authority and Belief in Medieval Philosophy. Moderated by Anya Leonard, founder and Director of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

What are Big and Little Caesars? Both in ancient and modern times? And are there certain political and social environments that are fertile for these sorts of Caesars in their rise to power? And should we know more about this topic before the next election series? This Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Sir William Robert Ferdinand Mount, British writer, novelist, and columnist for The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and London Review of Books as well as a political commentator. He is the author of many books, including his most recent, “Big Caesars and Little Caesars: How They Rise and How They Fall - From Julius Caesar to Boris Johnson” Of which we’ll speak about today... You can find Ferdinand's book here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/big-caesars-and-little-caesars-9781399409681/ You can also sign up for Classical Wisdom's free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ Song is Keyboard Sonata No. 47 in B Minor, Hob. XVI:32: I. Allegro moderato

Today children already have so many expectations. From excelling in school, practicing sports and hobbies, to learning languages that can give them the ‘competitive’ edge, there simply isn't enough time as it is to fit it all in. In their modern overloaded schedules, it's extremely difficult to see how ancient Greek and Latin feature in young people's lives. But if we can't inspire an interest in the next generation, do these ancient languages have a future? Watch an elite panel of ancient Greek and Latin teachers to discuss how can we instill an interest in the youth today, so we can help preserve our collective history for tomorrow. Featuring the famous Eugenia Manolidou, Greek classical composer, and course director at ancient Greek school Elliniki Agogi, Steven Hunt, from the University of Cambridge and Classics for All, as well as Gerardo Guzmàn, ancient Greek professor at the renowned Vivarium Novum Academy in Rome. This event was hosted by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. Sign up for our free newsletter here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ About our Speakers: Eugenia Manolidou is a Greek classical composer, conductor, entertainment television presenter and course director at Elliniki Agogi, a school dedicated to the ancient Greek language, History and Philosophy to adults and children since 1994. Steven Hunt, Senior Teaching Associate at the University of Cambridge, Editor of The Journal of Classics Teaching and works with the The Association for Latin Teaching, the Cambridge Schools' Classics Project and Classics for All. Gerardo Guzmàn is a professor of the Ancient Greek language and teaches at the famous Vivarium Novum Academy in Rome. Anya Leonard is the founder and Director of Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds, as well as the newest addition: Classical Wisdom Kids

How do you define a Rebel? Are should we glorify them? Or not? Are they heroes or anti-heroes? Have some done better in the history books than others? Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with Stephen Dando-Collins, the award-winning and very prolific author of over 40 books, including Rise of an Empire, on which the major motion picture 300: Rise of an Empire was based, as well as his most recent, “Seven Against Thebes”. In today’s episode, however, we discus another one of his recent book, “Rebels Against Rome”. You can purchase Stephen's book, "Rebels Against Rome: 400 Years of Rebellions Against the Rule of Rome" Here. You can support Classical Wisdom's mission of bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds by checking our free newsletter at: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Why should we say “no”? What is the importance of being able to do so? And can the ancient philosophy of cynicism help us with our modern ills? Today we’ll look at one of the most controversial philosophers from the classical world - Diogenes the Dog - and how his example can be good for us...? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with M. D. Usher is the Lyman-Roberts Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a member of the Department of Geography and Geosciences at the University of Vermont. Mark has recently published a book with PUP called, “How to Say No: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Cynicism ”, of which we’ll be speaking about today. You can find "How to Say No: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Cynicism" here. This podcast was brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. You can sign up for our free newsletter and bring the classics to your inbox here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Is Democracy dying? Polls show that Americans on both sides of the political spectrum feel it’s under attack... but does the situation have to be so dire? Professors Brook Manville and Josiah Ober offer a guide to democratic renewal in order to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity. Tracing the long progression toward self-government through four key moments in democracy’s history: Classical Athens, Republican Rome, Great Britain’s constitutional monarchy, and America’s founding, they compare what worked and what failed in each case... to draw out lessons for how modern democracies can survive and thrive. You can their book, The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives, here. About the Speakers: Brook Manville is an independent consultant who writes about politics, democracy, technology, and business. Previously a partner with McKinsey & Co. and an award-winning professor at Northwestern University, he is the author of The Origins of Citizenship in Ancient Athens (Princeton) and A Company of Citizens: What the World’s First Democracy Teaches Leaders About Creating Great Organizations (with Josiah Ober). Josiah Ober is the Constantine Mitsotakis Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is the author of The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece, Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens (both Princeton), The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason, and other books. -- This event is brought to you by Classical Wisdom. To learn more about us and to enjoy our free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Public bathhouses embodied the Roman way of life, from food and fashion to sculpture and sports. The most popular institution of the ancient Mediterranean world, the baths drew people of all backgrounds....but were all welcome there? Using the Roman bathhouse - a place suffused with nudity, sex, and magic - as a social laboratory, Professor Yaron Eliav reveals how Jews (and Christians) interacted with Greco-Roman culture... resulting in a cross-cultural engagement that shaped Western civilization as we know it. Enjoy this provocative discussion with Yaron Eliav and Anya Leonard and discover Jews of antiquity and their relationships in the Classical World. Yaron Z. Eliav is associate professor of rabbinic literature and Jewish history of late antiquity at the University of Michigan. He is the author of God’s Mountain: The Temple Mount in Time, Place, and Memory and the producer of the documentary Paul in Athens. Yaron's newest book, A Jew in the Roman Bathhouse, challenges us to rethink the relationship between Judaism and Graeco-Roman society, shedding new light on how cross-cultural engagement shaped Western civilization. You can learn more about "A Jew in the Roman Bathhouse" HERE: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691243436/a-jew-in-the-roman-bathhouse This discussion was hosted by Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom and to subscribe to our free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ *** Please note, this was recorded in June 2023***

What’s a day on one of the most exciting and famous archaeological sites in the world? Let’s take a tour with the man running the show at the Athenian Agora.. Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with John K. Papadopoulos, Distinguished Professor of Archaeology & Classics, UCLA, and the newly appointed Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations. You can learn more about this exciting project here: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/excavations/athenian-agora This Podcast is brought to you by Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. You can now find us - along with our free newsletter at https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

Why are video games set in the ancient world? What are some of the major examples? How are women represented in these games? And why does this matter? I honestly know nothing about video games, with or without classical references. And yet, I enjoyed a fascinating conversation with Professors Cook and Draycott which revealed quite a lot about both the ancient world and the modern players who love it. So even if you are a complete video game neophyte, like yours truly, or well versed in this virtual world, please enjoy this Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast with Professors Jane Draycott, Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, Scotland and Kate Cook, Associate Lecturer in Classics at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. They are also the editors of the recently released book published by Bloomsbury called “Women in Classical Video Games”, of which we will speak about today. You purchase Professors Draycott and Cook's book here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/women-in-classical-video-games-9781350241930/# You can learn more about Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds here: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

From the Corporate to the Political - how can we find our modern values in ancient lessons? What if Plato ran Facebook? Or Socrates was in charge of Apple? Can you imagine Aristotle running Amazon or General Motors? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks' guest has thought of just that... and how these ancient thinkers can help with both the corporate and the political world today.... And maybe more importantly, how they can help us find shared values in our devise world. Featuring Tom Morris, one of the world's top public philosophers and pioneering business thinkers. He is a legendary speaker whose electrifying talks reengage people around their deepest values and reignite their passion for work and life... as well as author of over 30 books, including “If Aristotle Ran General Motors”, and most recently, “The Everyday Patriot: How to be a Great American." To learn more about Classical Wisdom and to sign up for our Free newsletter, please go to: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ You can purchase Tom's book, “The Everyday Patriot: How to be a Great American.", here: https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Patriot-How-Great-American/dp/1737722712#

How did the ancient Egyptians handle war, plague and inequality? How did their unique geography shape their history? What was their community 'glue'? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Dr. Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney. Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA, Kara Specializes in craft production, coffin studies, and economies in the ancient world. Cooney produced a comparative archaeology television series, entitled Out of Egypt, which aired in 2009 on the Discovery Channel and is available online via Netflix and Amazon. Please go to Classicalwisdom.substack.com to learn more about our work and to sign up for our Free newsletter. To read Kara Cooney’s newsletter, you can also find her on substack at https://afterlives.substack.com/.

What is the role of philosophy in history? Do philosophers come up with ideas that spread and influence the world? Or are their works the cumulation of the advances of society? How do good ideas spread? And is this a time for optimism? Today’s episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks is with Robert Tracinski, editor of Symposium, a journal of liberalism, author of the The Tracinski Letter (https://tracinskiletter.substack.com/) and a Senior fellow at the Atlas Society. We’ll be looking at the relationship between philosophy and history, the "Thales Objection" and Robert’s idea on the virtuous circle. Please check out https://Classicalwisdom.substack.com to sign up for our free newsletter - We are a reader supported publication and its our wonderful community that makes our site and this podcast possible.