The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
A Philosophy Podcast and Philosophy Blog
Combat and Classics is a series of podcasts and online seminars that explores the nature of man in conflict and cooperation through Socratic dialogue and the great books. Former Marine Corps officer Brian Wilson is joined by Shilo Brooks (Princeton University) and Jeff J.S. Black (St. John's College, Annapolis) and occasional guests.
For more info visit combatandclassics.org.
We've reached Book 5, and Diomedes isn't playing around. He even stabs Ares himself. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff ask: what does it mean to have a war in which men and gods fight one another? We consider whether war is an uncanny world where the gods can be wounded, where men act like gods and gods act like men, and where the one can be mistaken for the other. Are the Homeric Continue Reading …
Athena appears to cause an end to the truce by wounding Menelaus. Brian, Shilo and Jeff look at how "the will of Zeus is fulfilled" through the wrath of Achilles and through Zeus' lying. In Book 1 we framed the wrath of Achilles in terms of his mortality, and achieving immortal greatness. And we see Zeus, an immortal, using duplicity to continue the conflict so his promise Continue Reading …
In the last book of Xenophon's "Anabasis" we look back at the three challenges Xenophon has experienced: going to war alongside Cyrus, marching the Greeks through enemy territory, and controlling the army by the sea trying to get home. We explore what Xenophon wants and the idea of leadership in these three situations and ask "what's the difference between a military leader Continue Reading …
Would Agamemnon have made a bad Marine? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as we discuss Brian's question: why does Agamemnon get a dream from Zeus telling him to test his troops before Troy, but the Trojans hear from a disguised messenger direct from the gods? We think about the different physical and moral situations of the Greeks and the Trojans after nine years of fighting. Continue Reading …
We embark on our journey through Homer's "Iliad," humanity's longest surviving poem on war. We ask "why is human rage a good subject for a war poem, and not the wrath of gods?" You can ask us questions on our pod by emailing us at combatandclassics.org and follow us on social media @combatandclassics. Continue Reading …
How are dance parties related to diplomacy? The schisms continue in Book 6 within the Greek army, but some schisms seem better than others. Some try to make friends with the locals, some go for help, some go raiding. Xenophon turns down the generalship of the whole army. Continue Reading …
The rebels have arrived at the Black Sea, but through betrayal and bad decisions, things go awry..... Xenophon leads an expedition for provisions, but the ships they are waiting for don't show up. We flash forward to Xenophon the writer, who's bought some land in exile and wants to build a temple to Artemis. Xenophon toys with the idea of founding a city where the army is Continue Reading …
Xenophon and the Greek host begin their march north, out of the Persian king's territory, through the icy highlands of Armenia, until at last, from a mountain, they catch sight of "the sea! the sea!" So how do the demands of the terrain and weather impose necessities on the Greeks, and how does Xenophon deal with these necessities? Is this easier, or harder, than Continue Reading …
The Greek army has been beheaded: all its generals are dead. The remaining soldiers lie down on the ground in despair. And Xenophon has a dream, one that somehow leads him to reanimate the Greeks and start them on their march north out of Persia. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff talk about how Xenophon revives the troops, why he's in Persia, and whether he disobeyed Continue Reading …
At the beginning of Book 2, Cyrus is dead, but the Greeks are victorious. By the end of Book 2, every Greek general is dead through Tissaphernes' treachery. How did this happen? What does this have to do with Clearchus, the de facto Greek general, and in particular with his piety? And what is the hidden meaning of... palm trees? Join us for the Continue Reading …
Brian, Shilo, and Jeff start their reading of Xenophon's great adventure story, "The Anabasis" -- or "Ascent" -- "of Cyrus." We have a new Cyrus; is he the same as the old Cyrus? How is Cyrus the Younger different from Cyrus the Great? (Is he Cyrus the not-so-Great?) And whose ascent is Xenophon's title talking about, since Cyrus the not-so-Great (spoiler Continue Reading …
Brian and Jeff are joined by Michael Grenke, St. John's College - Santa Fe, to discuss Lise van Boxel's posthumously published book "Warspeak" from PoliticalAnimalPress.com. Purchase your copy here. Continue Reading …
All good things must come to an end -- but so must all bad things, and Cyrus' empire ends badly. Was Cyrus happy? Is it possible to rule human beings the way he did, like a god, and also make yourself and them happy? And why did such a cold king have two sons? Brian, Shilo, and Jeff have answers, and these answers raise new and interesting questions, and point to another of Continue Reading …
Abradatas is hacked to pieces, and Panthea kills herself over his corpse. Croesus is defeated by Cyrus, and tries to teach him what "know thyself" means. And Cyrus surrounds himself with a bodyguard... of eunuchs? In this episode, Brian, Shilo, and Jeff finally confront the question of what "the education of Cyrus" really means. To suffer is to learn... but do any of these Continue Reading …
Brian, Shilo and Jeff get together to talk more about the difference between sexual and political love, or eros, and about the connection between eros and gratitude. We end on another cliffhanger, as Cyrus' army, complete with siege engines, is about to attack the Assyrian host. And Jeff admits to a crackpot theory about the connection between love, chariots, and... Continue Reading …
Shilo Brooks returns for the next podcast in our series on Xenophon's Education of Cyrus. We talk about Book V, the love book -- easy now -- and especially about the differences between sexual and political love. Cyrus' special friend returns, as does his boyfriend, and the Susan woman. And the book ends with another kiss! We also learn the secret of when Cyrus, and Continue Reading …
Shilo Brooks returns for Book IV of Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus." We discuss Cyrus' attack on the Assyrians, consolidation, cavalry, and Cyrus' first boyfriend returns (::kiss::kiss::) and the Susan woman. For more info check out combatandclassics.org. We now have a newsletter, Instagram (@combatandclassics), and twitter (@combat_classics). Continue Reading …
Shilo Brooks returns for another episode of "The Education of Cyrus" by Xenophon. We discuss moderation, virtue, risk and a brief mention of the ugly boyfriend. Continue Reading …
Dr. Joseph Wood (Institute for World Politics and Cana Academy) joins Brian and Jeff to discuss Pierre Manent’s “The Metamorphoses of the City,” Chapter 2: The Poetic Birth of the City. We discuss the relationships between war and politics, especially as it relates to The Iliad. Continue Reading …
Shilo Brooks returns to continue our exploration of Xenophon's "The Education of Cyrus" Book II where Cyrus goes to war against the Assyrians and we try to tease out what fundamentals of warfare Cyrus discovers versus what he's taught by the Persians. Continue Reading …
