Mahon McCann

Folks,

We have finally arrived at the final lecture of the course on Plato’s Republic on book 10!!!

In this final lecture, we survey Plato’s ontological critique of imitative art, the paradoxical case of Plato's frequent use of images despite his critiques, his arguments for the immortality of the soul and, finally, the famous Myth of Er.

The Platonic case against AI Slop: https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/11/14/the-platonic-case-against-ai-slop/

Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Setup00:17 Why Book Ten Exists01:29 Being Versus Appearance02:39 Art Third From Truth05:16 Poets Without Knowledge09:33 Redeeming Images11:57 Myth of Er Begins13:14 Choosing Next Lives14:59 Lethe Rebirth and Wrap

FYI, this will be my last post until the end of September!

I am both getting married and finishing my PhD in the next month, so I’m going to take a back seat on the content until I emerge as a husband and a philosophy doctor.

However, we will be back come October time with some exciting announcements and additions to the future of the publication, so stay tuned and keep living the examined life in the meantime. 🍻

Best,

Mahon.

We are back with Book 9 of Plato’s Republic, which deals with the genesis of the tyrant!

This book returns to the core question from Book 2: why the just person is happier than the unjust and whether the tyrant is wretched or blessed.

We will explain Plato’s account of how a tyrant develops from democratic permissiveness, losing the ability to distinguish necessary from unnecessary desires and becoming ruled by insatiable appetites, like someone living out the lawless impulses revealed in dreams.

The tyrant’s rise is enabled by a chaotic city, but his inner disorder makes him miserable, friendless, and unfree, contrasted with the philosopher-king who is ruled by reason. Mahon then outlines Plato’s further defences of justice: an argument from the tripartite soul and an argument about true vs illusory pleasures, culminating in the claim that justice is 729 times better than injustice.

Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Series Context00:16 Book Nine Big Question01:37 Dreams and Lawless Desires03:32 How a Tyrant Is Made04:51 Tyrant’s Addictions and Misery06:07 Political Rise of Tyranny09:03 Tyrant vs Philosopher King10:53 Tripartite Soul and True Judge14:10 Real vs Illusory Pleasure17:08 Dopamine Nation and Addiction20:11 The 729 Times Proof20:50 Conclusion: Justice Wins

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Hello there!

This interview has been a long time coming; I’ve always been a fan of Paul’s work, so it’s really great to get him on the pod for a chat on his latest book, ‘Against the Machine’.

In this episode we are discussing the history and concept of the machine, its spiritual and historical and philosophical roots, and most importantly, what a better story than the machine might look like? We explore how we return to tradition, our own conversion journeys, and how to counteract the dehumanising effects of modernity.

Chapters:00:00 Introduction and guest introduction01:05 What is the machine? Its history and systemic nature04:13 The spiritual and theological dimensions of the machine08:40 The modern pursuit of power and the myth of progress12:21 The fall, pride, and the desire to become gods16:40 The technological religion and the quest for immortality22:37 AI and the final stage of the machine30:07 A better story: returning to roots and tradition36:30 The Christian story, repentance, and living rightly48:49 The role of the Eucharist and spiritual renewal57:28 Conclusion: hope and returning to the eternal

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There is very little that is happening in the world today that is not contained already in the pages of Plato’s Republic. Particularly, in book eight. In book eight, Plato deals with decline of democracy into tyranny…

In this lecture, we will meet the five regimes: aristocracy (love of wisdom), timocracy (love of honor), oligarchy (love of money), democracy (love of freedom), and tyranny (love of gain). We will meet the five characters that both create and are created by these various regimes and depict the psychological portraits of their decline.

Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Setup00:16 Back to Republics Main Question02:28 Five Regimes and Characters04:46 Aristocracy Ideal State05:39 Nuptial Number Mystery07:11 Timocracy Honor and War08:43 Timocratic Character10:27 Oligarchy12:07 Oligarchic Soul Split13:15 Democracy14:14 Democratic Decadence and Desire15:19 Necessary vs Unnecessary Desires18:48 From Democracy to Tyranny19:29 Making a Tyrant20:52 Wrap up

Super-excited to have hosted an interdisciplinary discussion between two legends, the biologist Michael Levin and metaphysician D.C. Schindler.

In the conversation we discuss Levin’s “Platonic Morphospace” research programme, which treats morphogenesis, physiology, and behaviour as pattern navigation by goal-directed cellular collectives. We discuss how these discoveries question the foundations of the mechanical philosophy for science and highlight alignments with neo-Platonic philosophy.

Mike's website: https://thoughtforms.life/DC's books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/D.-C.-Schindler/author/B001JRTOAU

Chapters:00:00 Introductions and Setup00:29 Levin’s Big Questions01:14 Patterns and Morphospace03:21 Beyond Evolutionary Explanations03:51 Synthetic Agents Xenobots05:04 Minimal Computational Models06:09 Actionable Research Program08:02 Schindler’s Neoplatonic Lens14:36 Machines Organicism Debate19:19 Cognition as Continuum22:03 Nonphysical Causation Example25:15 Math Truths as Causal28:35 Expanding Platonic Space30:48 Forms Beyond Matter31:29 Life Versus Death Question33:03 Dog Corpse Thought Experiment35:21 Operational Categories Spectrum37:40 Death As Shrinking Agency40:26 Hybrids Xenobots Blur Lines41:46 Embryo Alignment And Goals44:28 Soul As Organization Pattern48:19 Transformation Models And Math53:52 Phase Transitions Emergence Debate58:07 Wrap Up Future Work

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Hey Hey,

We are back with a new podcast interview!

This week I am talking to Mark Walsh ( ⁨@FeralPhilosophy_mw⁩ ) - Mark is a globally recognised embodiment trainer, trauma educator, and author who has spent over 25 years dedicated to one mission: helping people get into their bodies and stay sane. Holding an honours degree in psychology from Leeds University and an Aikido black belt, Mark founded Europe’s first specialist embodiment training company and is widely regarded as a world leader in the field. He is the CEO of Embodiment Unlimited, founder of the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching (CEC). He has qualified over 2,000 coaches across more than 40 countries. Mark hosts The Embodiment Coaching Podcast with over 3 million downloads, and led the record-breaking Embodiment Conference — featuring 1,000 teachers and attended by over 500,000 delegates worldwide.

In this podcast, Mark shares his transformative journey through spirituality, embodiment, and the crisis of modernity and back to his Catholic roots. We explore the importance of tradition, morality, and community in restoring meaning and mental health in a fragmented world.

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Mark Walsh and His Background02:53 Exploring Spirituality and Family Influence06:03 Navigating Nihilism and Materialism09:00 The Role of Embodiment in Healing11:57 The Search for Meaning in Modernity14:53 Rituals, Liturgy, and the Body18:01 Cultural Critique and the Absurdity of Modern Life20:51 The Need for Boundaries in Society23:53 The Future of Spirituality and Hope for the Younger Generation31:07 The Role of Spirituality in Recovery and Society32:01 Christianity and Modern Philosophies33:13 The Balance of Kindness and Boundaries34:41 The Crisis in Psychology and Therapy36:35 Integrating Tradition and Modern Psychology39:17 The Limitations of Modern Therapy41:03 The Importance of Community and Nature43:14 Rediscovering Meaning in Suffering48:17 Humility and Tradition in Faith51:37 Cultural Strategies for Change

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Hello there,

It’s been a while (I’m sorry) but the Plato’s Republic lectures are back!

Before the end of the year we will be getting through the last books 7-10, and if you want to catch up on the lectures so far here is the link:

In this lecture on book 7 we will discuss the following:

* The Digression of books 5-6, including the images of the sun, divided line and the Cave.

* The cave as an image of education — reorienting the soul from shadows and appearances toward reality.

* Tracking the prisoner’s painful ascent from images to objects to intelligible forms and ultimately to the Good as the source of intelligibility.

* The return to the cave, where the enlightened person is mocked and potentially killed, linking this to Socrates’ fate.

* Drawing on John Vervaeke, Karl Jaspers’ Axial Age, and concepts like salience, enkrateia, and sophrosyne, framing the ascent as moral and attentional training.

* Finally, we compare the Cave Allegory to Social Media and The Matrix, comparing the modern and ancient perspectives on transcendance.

00:00 Lecture 700:22 Recap and Digression05:41 Inside the Cave10:51 Climbing to Sunlight12:47 Divided Line Revisited18:31 Source of Intelligibility21:26 Return and Resistance23:50 Axial Age and Two Worlds27:11 How to leave the Cave 33:00 Social Media as the Cave33:46 The Matrix Retells the Cave39:15 Plato vs Matrix on Happiness

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Howiye!

In this podcast, I talk to Dr. Zachary Porcu about his book, Journey to Reality: Sacramental Life in a Secular Age. We discuss why the modern secular worldview stops people from understanding ancient faiths, how Dr Zak explains these categories and concepts to his students, and the spiritual and ethical consequences of secularism.

Get the book: https://www.amazon.ie/Journey-Reality-Sacramental-Life-Secular/dp/1955890625Get the course: https://zacharyporcu.substack.com/

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Journey to Reality02:32 The Need for a Pre-Catechism05:37 Understanding Religion and Worldviews10:55 The Challenge of Changing Categories15:44 Engaging with Cultural Contexts19:16 The Role of the Internet in Faith26:33 The Future of Catechism and Pre-Catechism32:18 Exploring Orthodox Masterclasses34:12 Practical Lifestyle Changes for Spiritual Growth37:14 The Impact of Technology on Attention and Thought40:50 The Dystopian Future of Technology and AI46:49 The Church's Response to Secularization50:17 The Meaning Crisis and Mental Health54:27 The Shallow Nature of Modernity and Hedonism

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Hello!

I’m back with another podcast on the faith in Ireland/signs of renewal. This time I’m speaking with Robert Nugent from the Catholic Man YouTube channel.

In this podcast we discuss the resurgence of faith among young people, the importance of authentic community, and practical steps to renew the Catholic Church in Ireland. We also explore how the Holy Spirit is working silently amidst crises, the role of prayer groups, and innovative ways to foster faith in a modern context.

Key topics include:

* The rising interest in faith among Generation Z and the signs of renewal within the church

* The perceived crisis in the Catholic Church: challenges and signs of hope

* The role of community, prayer groups, and faith in action to foster spiritual growth

* Innovative approaches like faith-based pilgrimage walks and lay-led prayer groups

* The importance of spiritual mentorship, formation, and authentic friendship in faith development

* How Orthodox monastic traditions exemplify community and faith renewal in practice

* The need for modern digital strategies, such as QR codes and online faith formation, to connect with seekers

* The significance of sacramentally driven transformation—understanding theosis and spiritual purity

* Practical steps for integrating faith into everyday life: confession, prayer, humility, and community

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connections

02:32 The Resurgence of Faith Among Gen Z

07:16 The Role of Community in Faith Formation

11:51 Challenges in Engaging with the Church

11:56 Building Intentional Faith Communities

17:43 Learning from Other Faith Traditions

22:54 Building Community Through Faith

25:42 The Challenge of Faith Formation

27:47 Transformational Faith and Theosis

35:30 The Role of Sacraments in Transformation

41:20 The Importance of Humility in Faith

Best,

Mahon.

Hey hey, it’s been a while!!

We are back with another explosive podcast conversation with Mr Jordan Bates:

Jordan is the Founder of Council of Kings. He’s a father, husband, co-founder of Apotheosis, men’s leadership coach, and the author of six books. Jordan has been immersed in transformational work for fifteen years and in Men’s Work for the past six years, training with respected leaders and organizations in the space. He is repeatedly humbled and honored to witness the depth, beauty, and power of this work—and to contribute to the formation of the God-led masculine leaders our world truly needs.

Join Jordan’s upcoming ‘Rise of the Kings’ programme (starts April 1st): https://councilofkings.co/rise-of-kings

In this podcast, we discuss the plight of young men in the modern age from unclear gender roles to pornography and technology. Then we discuss how to find your place in the world, the skills and virtues you need and Jordan’s model for becoming the man you could be. Finally, we discuss the ideal man (Christ) and how Jordan’s own journey from cradle Catholic to wandering nomad and back to the faith inspires his men’s work. Check it out 👇

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Jordan Bates

00:26 Why Mens Work

03:57 Modern Male Isolation

08:07 Purpose In A Meta Crisis

11:27 Service Over Introspection

14:07 Missing Rites Of Passage

16:09 Brotherhood And Retreats

19:39 Finding In Person Community

24:30 Christ As North Star

31:14 Hierarchy Of Values

33:30 Attention As Worship

35:14 Ora Turning Life To Prayer

36:41 Leaving Church Finding Mysticism

43:03 Family Life Brings Christ Back

47:00 Dogma Structure And Fire

52:48 Practices For Holy Spirit Experience

54:35 Mini Monasteries And Centering Prayer

59:24 Ritual Without Living Faith

01:02:30 Breaking Materialism With Soul Tech

01:06:51 Final Reflections And Outro