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Classical Wisdom Speaks
A Podcast dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. This podcast is provided by Classical Wisdom, to learn more check out www.classicalwisdom.com
Episodes
104 episodes
A Different Take on Plato
It’s philosophy’s ultimate dinner party… and you’re invited.On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by Professor Alex Priou to discuss Plato’s most joyful and playful work, The Symposium.Discover how taking an unconvent...
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31:15
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Secrets of the Scythians
Discover the ancient nomadic tribe that helped inspire the myth of the Amazons… and their legacy in the world today.On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by Professor Christopher Beckwith, an expert on the mysterious and com...
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45:46
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The Truth About the Life of Plato
They say all philosophy is but a series of footnotes to Plato. Yet the remarkable story of the great philosopher’s life has remained untold—until now.On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by independent scholar and translat...
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38:09
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Ancient Greece's Most Complicated Women?
Take a deep dive into three of ancient Greece's most fascinating women - both historical and mythological. What can we discover about Sappho, Medea and Antigone by studying the original texts? Join Diane Rayor, an extremely talent...
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49:14
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Did Socrates Teach Morality?
In a world brimming with information and rapidly shifting beliefs, the lessons from Socrates resonate more than ever.How do we seek knowledge in an age of uncertainty? How can we engage in meaningful dialogue that encourages critical th...
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1:28:12
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How Should We Treat Animals?
The ancients had plenty of thoughts about animals... but are their insights helpful to us now? How did they treat animals? What did they think of them? And should we eat meat? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Mark Usher, ...
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40:41
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The Story of Thebes
Everyone knows Athens and Sparta...and yet, THEBES is not the common household name it should be.From its captivating mythology to its fantastic history, we’ll look at the archeology, the military, the legends and the truth of this esse...
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2:28:46
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Who should guard the guardians? Can we find rulers who don’t want to rule? With Melissa Lane
Should Ivanka Trump and Hunter Biden marry? Well, Plato might think that was a good idea... Today’’s Classical Wisdom speaks podcast is with Melissa Lane, the Class of 1943 Professor of Politics and a faculty member of the Program ...
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42:28
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Magnus Maximus & Roman Britain in the 4th Century AD
In the boom time in Roman Britain, 3rd century AD, one Roman Emperor made his mark on the chaotic island before he was canceled in his own time... and afterwards. But was the treatment of Magnus Maximus unfair? Was he just a usurper? Or absolut...
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31:44
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Should We Like the Ancient Greek Goddesses? Divine Might With Natalie Haynes
What do the ancient Greek goddesses reveal about ancient Greek culture? Why did people craft such immoral and often unlikeable gods? And what should we really think about Hera? Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with NATAL...
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44:52
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Why Myths Matter - With Stephen Fry
The famed actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, discusses the ancient languages, etymology, and the joy of discovering the Classics through ancient Greek. We question whether Odysseus... or any of the other great names were really heroes and how the...
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1:00:26
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Who Was Julian? Rome’s Last Pagan Emperor
Flavius Claudius Julianus turned the world upside down. Also known as Julian the Apostate as well as Julian the Philosopher, he ruled Rome as sole emperor for just a year and a half, from 361 to 363. Nonetheless, his impact was sub...
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53:15
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Who Was the Legendary Aeneas and Was He Real?
Is there evidence to the tales of Aeneas and the Trojan refugees migrating to Italian shores? Classical Wisdom presents Petros Koutoupis, as he explores this narrative and attempts to shed light on the archaeology of the region during the Late ...
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1:20:22
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Apocalypse Now... Versus Apocalypse Then
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 anthr...
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42:59
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Game Theory in the Ancient World
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...
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31:40
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On the Nature of the Gods: Cicero and the Philosophical Approaches to God
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 th...
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1:06:37
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The Death of Literary Fiction.... And its Resurrection?
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 ren...
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1:05:19
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The Gathas, Zoroastrianism, and the Ancient World
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 th...
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1:20:36
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The Sequel to the Odyssey? With Tad Crawford
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 ...
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40:07
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Was Aeneas a Classical Myth or Bronze Age Hero?
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 profess...
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51:17
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Was Marcus Aurelius a TRUE Stoic? Panel with Angie Hobbs, Massimo Pigliucci and Donald Robertson
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 hi...
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55:40
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Plagiarism: What's the Problem?
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...
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1:27:47
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Why do some “Big Caesars and Little Caesars” Rise to the Top?
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 b...
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38:54
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