In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the erroneous and modern idea of "self." We cover:

- The pervasiveness of "self"

- Philosophical foundations

- Descartes and Kant

- Undefined consciousness

- Arguments against the idea of "self"

Read a sample of Dr. Smith's new book - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/books/

The Myth of Self articles - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/the-myth-of-self-3/

Podcast on Kant - https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/episode-69-understand-the-modern-mind/

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the topic of divine providence in relation to difficult and uncertain times. We cover:

- God as First Cause

- Summa Prima Pars, Question 22

- God in history

- The Patience of the Martyrs

- Eschatological Reality

- Providence gives us duties

Read Summa Prima Pars, Question 22 - https://www.newadvent.org/summa/1022.htm

Purchase Dr. Smith's NEW book on Political Philosophy - https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Modern-Political-Ideas-Christians/dp/B08M2BKBR1/ref=sr_1_3?crid=233LODR81XH90&dchild=1&keywords=benjamin+smith+book&qid=1605709015&sprefix=benjamin+smith+%2Caps%2C656&sr=8-3

In this episode, Dr. Bulzacchelli, Dr. Smith and special guest, Dcn. Bob Gorman, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, discuss Dr. Smith's new book, Understanding Modern Political Ideas: A Guidebook for Christians and Other Patriots. In this episode we cover:

- Post Modernism and Nature

- Reason and Tradition

- The Common Good and the Individual Good

- Flourishing, Happiness, and Perfection

- "The political community perfects man."

- Temporal Goods

- "Incommensurability of ideas"

Buy Dr. Smith's Book - https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Modern-Political-Ideas-Christians/dp/B08M2BKBR1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=benjamin+smith+political&qid=1604948572&sr=8-1

We discuss Dr. Benjamin Smiths new book!

In Understanding Modern Political Ideas, Dr. Benjamin Smith defines and critically evaluates the major political ideologies of the modern period in the light of classical political thought. Drawing on the insights of Thomas Aquinas, Aristotle, Plato, and others, Smith highlights the failures and shortcomings of modern political thought, including the pretensions and fallacies of progressivism, Marxism, and neo-Marxism. In contrast to these ideologies, Smith develops an alternative approach that emphasizes the common good, local community, and personal virtue. Understanding Modern Political Ideas presents a vision of politics rooted in a classical and Christian understanding of the human person.

Get your copy today! - https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Modern-Political-Ideas-Christians/dp/B08M2BKBR1/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=benjamin+smith+understanding+political+ideas&qid=1603908929&sr=8-7

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith finish their series on Marxism. We cover:

- Marx's view of the fulfillment of history

- The evolution of conscience

- Three critiques of Marxism

- Flawed Anthropology

- Reduction of the Human Person to Social Relationship

- The role of work

- Subordination of everything to politics

- Political Correctness

In this episode, Jason an Dr. Smith continue their discussion on Marxism. We cover:

- Review of Hegel's view history

- Marx and culture

- The dialectic

- Capitalism as a necessary stage

- Marx's critique of capitalism

- Revolt of the Proletariat

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss Marxism. We cover:

- The resurgence of Marxism

- The historical context of Karl Marx

- Kant and Idealism

- Hegelian view of history

- The "Geist"

- The materialism of Marxism

- Freedom in the thought of Marx

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith continue their discussion of the natural law. We cover:

- Natural Law known in degrees

- Must be cultivated

- Do Good, Avoid Evil

- Responsibilities derived from Natural Law

- Private Property

- Eternal Law, Divine Law, Human Law in relation to Natural Moral Law

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss natural law. We cover:

- Christianity and Natural law

- Legacy of natural law

- Basic position

- Known by all but to different degree

- Two Hypothesis and evidence

- Bonum honestum

- Three ways to find bonum honestum

- Natural end and supernatural end

"When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them." - Romans 2:14-16

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss how Pope St, John Paul II stood in the breach in many different ways. We cover:

- The historical context

- The breach in philosophical approaches

- Personalism and Phenomenology

- The breach of Vatican II

- The breach of secular regimes

- The world is different