What does Moses have to do with America? While many are concerned about theocracy or theonomy, our culture is rejecting many of the judicial principles inherited from the Christian tradition. While we need not rigidly apply the Mosaic law to our contemporary society, it expresses many principles of justice which we lose to our peril. We have to thank Moses for many of the freedoms and benefits of our legal tradition, and ought to recover the sound application of justice in our country today. 

In this episode, Austin Hoffman explains the difference between education and training. Too often our modern educational establishment mistakes training for education depriving students of essential life knowledge and skills. Have you been educated or have you been trained?

"Latin is a language,

Why study Latin? Why study a dead language? When we study Latin, we study the nature of language itself. Are words just names and labels that are slapped arbitrarily onto objects although their is no real connection? Rather, language and signs are woven into the fabric of reality and understanding language helps us to understand the nature of the world. Latin, as a dead language, helps us to think about the world in a different way. Latin orders the mind; it is the linguistic counterpart to math. There are a number of practical benefits to learning Latin. And Latin is a beautiful language. Join Austin and Max as they discuss different reasons why one should study Latin in the 21st century. 

You can find the episode on Apple Podcasts here.

Resources:

The Unique Advantages of Latin and Greek

Why Classical Schools must have a Latin Reading Program

First Things First: Classical Languages and the Soul, Part 1

First Things First: Classical Languages and the Soul, Part 2

Are Classical Languages Necessary to the Classical School?

Why do bad things happen to good people? This is a perennial question that numerous authors of antiquity have sought to answer. We all experience pain and suffering in our life. Is there a point? The Stoics thought that disaster is merely an opportunity to exercise virtue. What we see as evil are actually goods for they train us in discipline and excellence. Nothing evil can actually befall a good man. God does not give trials to those he hates, but to his favorite soldiers. In this episode, Austin Hoffman explores the Stoic philosophy of Seneca in his De Providentia. What can we learn about how to bear under trials from this Stoic author.

Sources:

Seneca, Stoic Philosophy of Seneca: Essays and Letters

The hero turned traitor. The unflinching warrior broken by a mother's tears. The lion turned lamb and sacrificed for the people. Although often overlooked, Coriolanus ought to be regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. T.S. Eliot thought so. Listen to the story of a noble man who refuses to compromise his integrity or play a part. He will not flatter the people or act in any way according to his nature. For this, he is scapegoated and exiled from Rome, only to die and become its savior once more. Shakespeare causes us to reflect on the nature of the state and the destruction of a republic. Join Austin Hoffman as he discusses this great work of the Bard.

Sources:

Coriolanus, Pelican Shakespeare

Coriolanus, Oxford School Shakespeare

Coriolanus (2011) - Ralph Fiennes -- Amazon, YouTube

Coriolanus (2013) - Donmar Warhouse, Tom Hiddleston

Coriolanus (1984) - Alan Howard

In this episode, Austin Hoffman considers the question of justice in Plato's Republic. There is nothing more necessary in life than having a good soul, but our modern world is confused both about the value of virtue and what virtue is. Plato's Republic is one of the greatest works of philosophy ever written and, when properly understood, will help you live well.

Sources:

Plato's Republic (Bloom translation)

In this episode of Handmade Humanity, Austin Hoffman and Max Pointner discuss the commonplace book. The commonplace book is a longstanding tradition stretching to Greco-Roman times. The commonplace book is a repository of wisdom and a collection of beautiful quotations. It is a repository of the sweet nectar of flowers to be mixed into a sweet substance. Join Austin and Max as they discuss their own methods for commonplacing, the reasons behind commonplacing, and some suggestions for keeping your own commonplace book.

Resources:

Harvard collection of commonplace books

Jenny Rollins method of commonplacing

Ryan Holiday on the commonplace book

John Locke's Method for Common-place

A description of Locke's method