Socrates in the City

In this episode of Socrates Dialogues with Mary Harrington, our host is joined by professor, philosopher, theologian, and author Carl Trueman for a thoughtful conversation on the ideas shaping our modern identity. Drawing on his book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” and his latest work”The Desecration of Man,” Trueman explores how our understanding of the self has been transformed by expressive individualism, technology, and the cultural forces that increasingly detach us from enduring commitments. 

What does it mean to imagine ourselves rightly in the world around us? From the emergence of the “laptop class” and the decline of rooted communities to the quiet, countercultural act of planting roots and embracing lasting commitments, Trueman argues that resistance begins with recovering a richer vision of what it means to be human. Grounded in the biblical doctrine of the imago Dei, this conversation considers how our view of humanity shapes our relationships, our families, our children, and ultimately the kind of society we are building.

The post Carl Trueman and Mary Harrington: How Should We Live in an Age of Radical Individualism? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What is education truly for? In this episode of Socrates in the Studio, host Eric Metaxas sits down with Stephen Blackwood—founding president of Ralston College, distinguished scholar, and champion of classical education—to explore why so many young people today are searching for meaning in an age of uncertainty. Reflecting on his journey to establish a new kind of college, Blackwood makes the case for an education that forms character as much as intellect and revives the timeless pursuit of truth, wisdom, and beauty.

They dive into Blackwood’s work on The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, the philosopher who penned one of history’s most influential books while imprisoned on the eve of the fall of the Roman Empire. A bestseller for centuries and often considered the original self-help book, Boethius’s masterpiece wrestles with questions that remain as urgent today as they were fifteen hundred years ago: Is there an order beneath the world’s apparent chaos? Can we find meaning in suffering? And what can the wisdom of the past teach us about navigating the crises of the present?

The post Eric Metaxas and Stephen Blackwood: Can Classical Learning Save the Modern University? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What happens when Silicon Valley begins to rethink some of its deepest assumptions? In this episode of Socrates Dialogues, Mary Harrington is joined by Michael Solana—CMO of Founders Fund, founder of Pirate Wires, and once dubbed “the most opinionated man in America”—for a wide-ranging conversation on the ideological shifts reshaping technology, politics, and culture. Together they explore the changing political landscape within the tech industry, where a new wave of wealth and executive leadership has sparked a growing openness to conservative ideas, even as much of the broader workforce has remained more politically balanced. Solana examines what California’s political evolution reveals about the future of American politics and economic thought, while unpacking his provocative concept of the “Luigi Left,” the surprising folk hero status of Luigi Mangione, and what it says about rising economic populism and an increasing acceptance of political violence. As their conversation turns toward innovation, ambition, and America’s future, they explore whether our changing relationship with technology demands a renewed spirit of exploration—and perhaps the biggest question of all, whether the United States should set its sights on owning the moon.

The post Michael Solana and Mary Harrington: Is Silicon Valley Becoming Conservative? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What makes a good interview, good? In this episode of Socrates in the Studio, Eric Metaxas sits down with writer, cultural commentator, and Socrates in the City contributor, Mary Harrington to explore the mission and heart behind Socrates in the City and the enduring value of meaningful conversation.

Harrington reflects on her journey—from a mother writing a political blog to becoming one of the most compelling intellectual voices of our time—and discusses the surprising path that led her there. Together, they delve into the craft of interviewing, the mutual discovery that unfolds through genuine dialogue, and the fascinating science behind Mary’s “mind palace” as a tool for memory and learning. The conversation explores the wisdom of the medieval worldview, what modern society has forgotten about scholarship, intellectual formation, the pursuit of truth, and why the oldest forms of wisdom may be more timely than ever.

The post Eric Metaxas and Mary Harrington: The Lost Art of Conversation first appeared on Socrates in the City.

For decades, Western culture has asked, “What is my purpose?” Many have been told that meaning is subjective, truth is relative, and every grand narrative should be questioned. Yet in the midst of rising skepticism, anxiety, and the rapid growth of the religious “nones,” a surprising shift seems to be taking place: people are searching for meaning once again. In this thought-provoking Socrates in the City conversation, Eric Metaxas is joined by Paul Anleitner, who discusses the ideas behind his new book “Based on a True Story: Vibe Shifts, the End of Deconstruction, and the Reboot of Meaning,” exploring why our deepest human longing is not merely for comfort or success, but for purpose. From the cultural revolutions of Woodstock to the enduring appeal of Rocky Balboa and the music of the Eagles, and from the moral worlds of The Cosby Show to the ironic detachment of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Anleitner traces how popular culture has reflected—and shaped—our changing understanding of truth, identity, and fulfillment. Why has deconstruction become such a defining feature of modern life, and why does it seem to be losing its grip? Are we finally moving beyond nihilism toward a renewed search for transcendent meaning? Together, they examine why Christianity continues to offer a compelling answer to humanity’s oldest and most important question: What is the meaning of life?

The post Eric Metaxas and Paul Anleitner: What is the Meaning of Life? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What if the story of the world has been told from the wrong starting point? In this episode of Socrates in the Studio, Eric Metaxas sits down with historian Peter Frankopan to discuss his groundbreaking book, The Silk Roads: A New History of the World, and the compelling case for rethinking the story of world history. Rather than viewing history through a predominantly Western lens, throughout this conversation Frankopan invites us to look eastward, where the great trade routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe shaped civilizations, economies, and empires for centuries. 

From the luxurious goods that inspired Columbus to sail in search of India and China—not America—to the surprising connections between Eastern commerce and events like the Boston Tea Party, this conversation uncovers the hidden networks that transformed the world. As global power continues to shift in the twenty-first century, the conversation explores how understanding the Silk Roads is essential to making sense of today’s geopolitical landscape, while also confronting the often-overlooked costs of empire, slavery, economics, and the countless unseen people whose labor built the modern world.

The post Eric Metaxas and Peter Frankopan: Why Was Columbus Sailing West? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

How do changing definitions of gender impact medical care? In this episode of Socrates Dialogues, philosopher and bestselling author Kathleen Stock joins Mary Harrington to examine one of the defining moral questions of our time: should society legalize assisted dying, and how do changing perceptions of gender impact this?

Stock, best known for her fearless work on gender identity and women’s rights, brings that same lens to the end-of-life debate — asking whether men and women experience pressure toward assisted death differently, how caregiving and vulnerability are gendered in ways policy rarely acknowledges, and whether the language of autonomy obscures the particular risks facing women as this option becomes normalized.

Drawing from her book Do Not Go Gentle, Stock and Harrington explore what dignity requires, what underfunded palliative care reveals about who society expects to bear suffering quietly, and what happens when death becomes another service medicine can provide. The conversation weaves together Stock’s long-standing concerns about gender and sexuality with the deeper questions of suffering, compassion, and identity at the heart of the assisted dying debate.

The post Kathleen Stock and Mary Harrington: When Gender Ideology Became Law first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What if history’s most influential figures have been misunderstood? In this special Fourth of July episode of The Revolution, Lord Andrew Roberts, Baron of Belgravia—renowned historian, professor, and bestselling biographer—joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to explore the complex humanity behind some of history’s greatest leaders. Known for bringing iconic figures to life beyond the myths and caricatures that often define them, Roberts offers fresh insight into personalities ranging from King George III and Napoleon to Winston Churchill. Together, they examine the pivotal decisions, relationships, and moments that shaped the course of history, asking provocative questions along the way: If King George III had been surrounded by better advisors, could the American Revolution have been avoided? Looking beyond the familiar narrative of the Founding, this conversation uncovers the lesser-known side of Britain’s most famous monarch, his role in the Revolutionary War, and the lasting legacy of the choices made by those who stood closest to power.

The post Eric Metaxas and Andrew Roberts: Did the Founders Lie About King George III? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Are we the heirs of Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem—or more precisely, Athens, Rome, and the Burning Bush of the desert?

In this episode of The Revolution, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas is joined by the prolific author and theologian Os Guinness to discuss his book “The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom” as America approaches its 250th anniversary and the world marks the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s English Bible. This conversation examines the spiritual and intellectual foundations of the American experiment and the ongoing legacy.

Tracing a path from the covenant at Mount Sinai through the Reformation and into the founding of the United States, the discussion explores how biblical ideas of liberty, moral responsibility, and human dignity shaped a revolution unlike those driven by utopian visions. Drawing on the insights of Alexis de Tocqueville and Os Guinness’ “golden triangle of freedom,” the conversation contrasts America’s faith-infused origins with the rise of modern secular ideologies such as Marxism and fascism, while confronting the competing narratives and cultural pressures facing young Americans today. At its heart is a question as urgent as ever: what beliefs must a people hold in order to remain both free and human?

The post Eric Metaxas and Os Guinness: Can Freedom Survive without Faith? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

In this episode of The Revolution, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas is joined by author and descendant of Benjamin Franklin, Mark Skousen, to discuss the fascinating history of one of the first Americans. Throughout the conversation, the two explore Franklin’s remarkable evolution from loyal British subject to passionate advocate for independence, including the little-known edit he made to the Declaration of Independence and why it mattered.

Skousen shares the dramatic events that shaped his political transformation, from his efforts at reconciliation to the infamous Cockpit Incident, a public humiliation that changed the course of his life—and perhaps the course of history. In this conversation, we discover the surprising story of the man often called “the First American” and the pivotal role he played in the birth of a nation.

The post Eric Metaxas and Mark Skousen: What Turned Benjamin Franklin Into a Revolutionary? first appeared on Socrates in the City.