ThinkingWest

How Democracy Turns Men Into Beasts

Was Giambattista Vico a misunderstood prophet? He broke civilizations into 3 stages: the Age of the the Age of Gods (piety/theocracy), the Age of Heroes (honor/aristocracy), and the Age of Men (rationality/democracy). Which of these are we in? And how does it affect us? Get full access to ThinkingWest at thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe [https://thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Problem With Modern Education | EP 7

Thinkers for the greater part of Western history have consistently pointed out virtue as the primary aim of education. But the wave of the Industrial Revolution ushered in a new aim for education founded in utilitarianism. In what ways has this shift in schooling methods altered education today? How did classical schools educate the youth better? And how can we implement these strategies today? Reminder: You can support us by unlocking our members-only content: ✔️ Full premium articles every Tuesday + Free content on Thursdays ✔️ The entire archive of content: Western history, literature, and culture ✔️ The Great Books lists (Hundreds of titles that influenced Western thought)Join to start reading and support the mission today 👇 Get full access to ThinkingWest at thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe [https://thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

How Christianity Ended the Dark Ages | EP 6

Christianity didn’t cause the Dark Ages. It ended them. Christianity is often blamed for the so-called “Dark Ages”. But when the true causes of the darkness of this period are explored, Christianity instead rises as a champion for a new age of recovery and rebuilding. The unifying spirit of the Church and the preservation of ancient learning and literature by monastics were two key factors that helped reorganize Europe after the fall of Rome. Get full access to ThinkingWest at thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe [https://thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

5 Reasons the Roman Empire Helped Spread Christianity | EP 5

The Roman Empire — despite its persecution of early Christianity — in many ways accelerated the spread of the new religion. The Roman Empire provided a stable geopolitical situation where peace, safety, and their vast infrastructure helped Christianity spread quickly. Further, the structure of the Roman family itself, the empire’s initial ambivalence toward new religions, and the general spiritual unrest at the time created the conditions for the rapid spread of Christianity throughout Rome. Get full access to ThinkingWest at thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe [https://thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

What is "the West" Anyway? | EP 4

“The West” is a term often thrown around and called into question, but rarely answered. Today’s podcast is attempting to provide an answer to “What is the West”, bringing in some of the best minds of the 20th century, notably Dawson, Spengler, and Huntington. Get full access to ThinkingWest at thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe [https://thinkingwest.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]