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Combat and Classics logoCombat 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. For more info visit combatandclassics.org

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Combat & Classics Ep. 49 Xenophon’s “The Education of Cyrus” Book VIII with Shilo Brooks

August 12, 2020 by Jeff Black Leave a Comment

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 …

Combat & Classics Ep. 48 Xenophon’s “The Education of Cyrus” Book VII

August 4, 2020 by Jeff Black Leave a Comment

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 …

Combat & Classics Ep. 47 Xenophon’s “The Education of Cyrus” Book VI with Shilo Brooks

July 21, 2020 by Jeff Black Leave a Comment

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 …

Combat & Classics Ep. 46 Xenophon’s “The Education of Cyrus” Book V with Shilo Brooks

July 14, 2020 by Jeff Black Leave a Comment

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 …

Phi Fic #19 “Death in Venice” by Thomas Mann

November 17, 2017 by Nathan Hanks Leave a Comment

In 1911, the great writer Thomas Mann (1875–1955) went on vacation with his family to a seaside resort in Venice, Italy. There, he came across a beautiful 14-year-old boy and it inspired his great novella Death in Venice. This experience sets up the central struggle in the story: where eros—or erotic love as seen in Plato’s dialogue Symposium—can lead one to recognize beauty in  Continue Reading …

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