The New Thinkery
The New Thinkery is a podcast devoted to political philosophy and its history, along with its many guises in literature, film, and human experience generally. Named after Socrates’ infamous “Thinkery” in Aristophanes’ Clouds, The New Thinkery strikes a balance between the seriousness of academia and the playfulness of casual conversation among friends.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 64 minutes
- Episodes
- 262
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Averroes and al-Ghazali
In this rerun of the inaugural episode of The New Thinkery, join the guys as they analyze Averroes' Decisive Treatise and al-Ghazali's Decisive Criterion. Their readings of these great works of medie…
Devin Stauffer on Leo Strauss' Natural Right & History, Chapter 4
This week, David has once again died, but Alex and Greg have brought back Dr. Devin Stauffer, Professor and Associate Chair of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Together, the group div…
Christopher Nadon On Classical Education and Why Kids Can't Read Good No More
This week, Alex and Greg meet up at UATX and are joined by Dr. Christopher Nadon, Associate Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and teacher of Western Civilization and humanities at …
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on Strauss' Debate with Jacob Klein
This week, the guys are back and joined once again by Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov to further discuss their latest edited volume, Leo Strauss' Published but Uncollected English Writings, which s…
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on the Intention of Rousseau
This week, David has been brought back from the dead, but that didn't stop Greg and Alex from bringing two guests on for the show this week: Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov. The two have a new volum…
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part II
Happy New Year from The New Thinkery! This week concludes the Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium panel from two weeks ago. The group jumps right into it with questions on tragedy and comedy, explores t…
Adam Carrington on John Ford's Three Godfathers
In this special Christmas edition, Greg and Alex delve into John Ford’s poignant Western, Three Godfathers. A tale of redemption, faith, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season, the film offers…
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part I
This week, Greg and David take a break and let Alex do the talking, joined by multiple respected academics as the group gather to discuss Strauss' views on Plato's symposium, in part informed by pane…
Roosevelt Montás on the Virtues of a Liberal Education
Is the ideal of a liberal education still achievable in the modern era? Roosevelt Montás, celebrated author and scholar at Columbia University, joins Greg and Alex to examine both its enduring virtue…
Thomas Powers on the Civil Rights Movement
Join the guys, minus David who has inexplicably gone missing, for an empassioned conversation with Carthus College's Professor Thomas Powers of Carthus College, and author of American Multiculturalis…
Samuel Stoner on Kant’s Conjectural Beginnings and the Story of Genesis
This week, Professor Samuel Stoner steps in for David and helps guide Alex and Greg through Immanuel Kant's thought-provoking short essay Conjectural Beginnings of Human History, where philosophy and…
Giovanni Ferrari on Plato the Writer
This week all the guys are back in the saddle, and joined by Prof. Giovanni R. F. (John) Ferrari, the Melpomene Distinguished Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a professor of Classi…
Damian Jungerman on Hannah Arendt's "Philosophy and Politics"
David and Greg dive into Hannah Arendt's influential essay "Philosophy and Politics" this week alongside returning guest Damien Jungerman, exploring Arendt's insights on the complex relationship betw…
John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright
While you are either celebrating or lamenting who appears to be the victor of the 2024 election, the guys are showing their election season spirits, taking a look at John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright…
Charles Butterworth on Al-Farabi's Book of Letters
This week, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Charles Butterworth, emeritus professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, College Park. The group convene to discuss Butterwor…
Patrick Deneen on Strauss' Three Waves of Modernity
This week, Alex and Greg temporarily replace David with friend of the show Professor Patrick Deneen, who teaches at the University of Notre Dame. The group dive right into Strauss' Three Waves of Mod…
An Overview of Homer's Odyssey
A full complement of hosts are back this week and primed to deliver an overview of Homer's Odyssey. In addition to a plot synopsis, the guys dispel common myths about Odysseus, take a closer look at …
Jonathan Swift's Battle of the Books
This week the guys are back to discuss Jonathan Swift. Everyone has heard of Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal, but he has another work worth looking at: The Battle of the Books. Plus: the aud…
Sabrina Little on Athletics and Virtue
This week, the guys are joined by Sabrina Little, assistant professor in the department of Leadership and American Studies at Christopher Newport University. The group discuss athletics, especially r…
Leo Strauss' "On the Interpretation of Genesis"
This week, the guys return once again to the prophetic teachings of Leo Strauss. This time, the focus is on Strauss' understanding of Genesis, which the guys dissect in an effort to disentangle the A…