When Columbus set sail in 1492, he could not have imagined how the world would change from his voyage. To begin our journey to the New World, we'll take a look at the following questions:

1. What enabled Spain to claim so much of the New World as part of its empire?
2. What was the original impetus for the French to establish colonies in the West Indies?
3. In an era of ever-expanding understandings of human dignity, how did full populations come to justify slavery?

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

Goethe is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential German-language writers. As we survey his life and works, we'll address the following questions:

1. Why is Goethe viewed as something of a Romantic outside of Germany but as a pure classicist within Germany?
2. In what sense was Goethe the last true Renaissance man?
3. Why is the difficulty of translating Goethe a reflection of his skill as a poet?

Recommended Reading: Eidt, Jacob-Ivan and Christoph Daniel Weber, eds. Goethe's Bildung: Dialog Between Tradition and Innovation. Switzerland: Peter Lang, 2018.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

Two of the most important figures in late eighteenth-century Britain were Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson. As we learn about their points of agreement and contention, we'll touch on the following questions:

1. Why was Burke in favor of reconciling with the American colonies, which was against popular opinion in England?
2. In contrast to Burke, why did Johnson argue in favor of virtual representation for the American colonies?
3. What was Burke's main argument against the French Revolution?

Recommended Reading: Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." 1775. Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France. 1790.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

One of the most celebrated military figures in recent history is Napoleon Bonaparte, yet he has something of a mixed legacy. To unpack that legacy, we'll explore the following questions:

1. How did Napoleon, who conducted himself as an enlightened despot, also try to reanimate history?
2. What was Napoleon's political goal in conquering Europe?
3. How did the Jews relate to Napoleon and respond to his conquests?

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The French Revolution was a series of cascading events that would upend the world of modern politics. On today's episode, we'll address the following questions:

1. What led the Third Estate to insist that the Estates General meet as a national assembly rather than each estate on its own, as had been done previously?
2. Why did the ideas of the Revolution disrupt the belief structures of the church of France?
3. In what ways did the Revolution begin to push against organized religion?

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Utilitarianism was one product of the Enlightenment, but so was Romanticism. As we begin to unpack these topics, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:

1. Why did Bentham argue in favor of uncapped interest rates even if it would not be good for individuals?
2. How do Bentham's final wishes—for his body to be dissected and his skeleton put on display—demonstrate the limits of the Enlightenment?
3. What was novel about Blake's approach to children, particularly in his poetry?

Recommended Reading: Blake, William. "Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time)." 1804.

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The Biblical underpinnings of Judaism give us some important insights into modern economics. To help us explore the topic, we'll address the following questions:

1. In what sense can general economic productivity be understood as Biblical?
2. Why did the Dutch currency become the world's first reserve currency?
3. How can the Biblical covenant be seen as the animating spirit behind the Dutch, British, and eventually American economic prowess?

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Immanuel Kant is widely regarded as the greatest of the Enlightenment philosophers. Today, we'll learn more about him and address the following questions:

1. How did Kant's Protestant background influence his approach to philosophy?
2. In what way did Kant influence the Romantic era?
3. Why did Kant reject Judaism as irrational?

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The Scottish Enlightenment was markedly different than the Enlightenment on the European continent. To help us explore this topic, we'll take a look at the following questions:

1. How did David Hume influence the way in which history is recounted?
2. Why would later philosophers see Hume as more reasonable than his French and German counterparts?
3. Why was post-Enlightenment Britain more open to organized religion than the continent?

Recommended Reading: Herman, Arthur. How the Scots Invented the Modern World. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2003.

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One of the most intriguing philosophers of the Enlightenment was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. As we learn about his assertions and contradictions, Rabbi Rocklin will touch on the following questions:

1. In what sense is Rousseau at least partly responsible for the invention of the child?
2. According to Rousseau, why is society fundamental to the individual?
3. How can Rousseau, an Enlightenment thinker, be considered a Romantic?

Recommended Reading: Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract and Discourses. 1762. Rousseau. Emile: Or On Education. 1763. Reprint, translated by Allan Bloom. New York, Basic Books: 1971. Rousseau. Discourse on Inequality. 1755. Rousseau. Reveries of a Solitary Walker. 1782. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.