Episode 10: The City of God: A User’s Guide for the End of Civilization

01/07/25 • 41 min

Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda explore St. Augustine’s monumental work, City of God. Written in response to the Visigoth sack of Rome in 410 AD, this profound text examines the relationship between the City of Man and the City of God, offering reflections on war, virtue, and the Christian response to suffering. Emily’s hot take reframes Augustine as an early advocate for justice and equality, sparking a lively discussion about his enduring influence on Western thought.

Show Guide

00:00 Opening Quote from City of God and Episode Introduction

01:09 The Sack of Rome and Its Historical Significance

03:42 Augustine’s Views on Actors and Civic Virtue

06:35 Who Was Augustine? A Biographical Overview

10:23 Augustine’s Intellectual Journey: From Manichaeism to Christianity

13:20 The Scope of City of God: Theology, Philosophy, and Just War Theory

18:08 Augustine’s Response to Pagan Critics and Christian Doubters

22:10 The End of Honor Culture: Augustine on Women and Purity

28:12 The Rape of the Sabine Women and the Foundations of Roman Violence

31:29 The City of Man vs. the City of God: Augustine’s Vision

33:30 Emily’s Hot Take: Augustine as a “Woke” Philosopher

41:02 Closing Remarks and Teaser for Upcoming Episodes

Key Topics & Takeaways

The City of God vs. The City of Man: Augustine contrasts the eternal city, characterized by humility and peace, with the temporal city, marked by pride and ambition.
Just War Theory: Augustine introduces the foundations of just war, grappling with the ethics of violence and the role of Christian soldiers.
Defending the Faith: Augustine rebuts pagan claims that Christianity caused Rome’s downfall, using history, rhetoric, and theology to dismantle their arguments.
Raising the Status of Women: Augustine’s revolutionary stance on women’s honor challenges Roman values, laying the groundwork for modern ideas of equality.
Critique of Empire: Augustine critiques Rome’s imperial ambition, arguing that smaller, peaceful nations are preferable to empires built on constant warfare.

Questions & Discussion

What does Augustine mean by the City of Man and the City of God?
Discuss the implications of Augustine’s dual framework for understanding human society and divine order.
How does Augustine’s background shape his views in City of God ?
Reflect on how his journey from a Romanized African upbringing to a Christian bishop informs his critiques of Rome and its values.
What is the relevance of City of God to modern discussions of war and justice?
Explore Augustine’s contributions to just war theory and how they inform ethical debates today.
Why does Augustine reject Rome’s honor culture?
Analyze his defense of women’s dignity and his critique of Roman violence as incompatible with Christian values.

Suggested Reading

City of God by St. Augustine

Description

Show Guide

00:00 Opening Quote from City of God and Episode Introduction

01:09 The Sack of Rome and Its Historical Significance

03:42 Augustine’s Views on Actors and Civic Virtue

06:35 Who Was Augustine? A Biographical Overview

10:23 Augustine’s Intellectual Journey: From Manichaeism to Christianity

13:20 The Scope of City of God: Theology, Philosophy, and Just War Theory

18:08 Augustine’s Response to Pagan Critics and Christian Doubters

22:10 The End of Honor Culture: Augustine on Women and Purity

28:12 The Rape of the Sabine Women and the Foundations of Roman Violence

31:29 The City of Man vs. the City of God: Augustine’s Vision

33:30 Emily’s Hot Take: Augustine as a “Woke” Philosopher

41:02 Closing Remarks and Teaser for Upcoming Episodes

Key Topics & Takeaways

The City of God vs. The City of Man: Augustine contrasts the eternal city, characterized by humility and peace, with the temporal city, marked by pride and ambition.
Just War Theory: Augustine introduces the foundations of just war, grappling with the ethics of violence and the role of Christian soldiers.
Defending the Faith: Augustine rebuts pagan claims that Christianity caused Rome’s downfall, using history, rhetoric, and theology to dismantle their arguments.
Raising the Status of Women: Augustine’s revolutionary stance on women’s honor challenges Roman values, laying the groundwork for modern ideas of equality.
Critique of Empire: Augustine critiques Rome’s imperial ambition, arguing that smaller, peaceful nations are preferable to empires built on constant warfare.

Questions & Discussion

What does Augustine mean by the City of Man and the City of God?
Discuss the implications of Augustine’s dual framework for understanding human society and divine order.
How does Augustine’s background shape his views in City of God ?
Reflect on how his journey from a Romanized African upbringing to a Christian bishop informs his critiques of Rome and its values.
What is the relevance of City of God to modern discussions of war and justice?
Explore Augustine’s contributions to just war theory and how they inform ethical debates today.
Why does Augustine reject Rome’s honor culture?
Analyze his defense of women’s dignity and his critique of Roman violence as incompatible with Christian values.

Suggested Reading

City of God by St. Augustine

Previous Episode

Episode 9: Plutarch: Alcibiades and Coriolanus: Great Men to Love and Hate

Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh delve into Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, exploring the contrasting characters of Alcibiades, the charming yet treacherous Athenian, and Coriolanus, the unyielding Roman general. Through their discussion, the hosts unpack Plutarch’s moral philosophy, the timeless appeal of his storytelling, and the lessons these historical figures offer about pride, betrayal, and human nature. Tim’s hot take challenges our perceptions: Would Alcibiades’ charisma make him more likable than Coriolanus’ rigid pride if we met them in real life?

Show Guide

00:00 Opening Remarks and Episode Overview

01:06 Who Was Plutarch? A Moral Historian

04:18 The Art of Biography: Why Plutarch’s Stories Resonate

06:44 Alcibiades: The Flamboyant Turncoat of Athens

12:36 Coriolanus: The Proud General of Rome

17:18 Comparing Alcibiades and Coriolanus: Virtue, Pride, and Betrayal

20:52 Historical and Modern Parallels: Are We All Alcibiades?

28:12 Tim’s Hot Take: Why We’d Like Alcibiades More in Real Life

31:06 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview

Key Topics & Takeaways

Plutarch’s Moral Vision: Parallel Lives provides more than historical accounts; it offers reflections on the moral and philosophical lessons from the lives of great men.
Alcibiades’ Charisma and Betrayals: Alcibiades’ charm and adaptability allowed him to switch allegiances—from Athens to Sparta—making him a compelling but controversial figure.
Coriolanus’ Unyielding Pride: Coriolanus embodied steadfast principles but alienated both allies and enemies with his rigid pride, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Philosophy Meets Politics: Plutarch’s Middle Platonism and Stoicism inform his portraits of these figures, emphasizing the virtues and flaws of human ambition.
Tim’s Hot Take: Despite their flaws, Alcibiades’ charisma might win us over in real life, while Coriolanus’ pride would make him insufferable.

Questions & Discussion

How does Plutarch’s writing style enhance the appeal of Parallel Lives ?
Explore how anecdotes and comparisons bring moral and philosophical lessons to life.
What makes Alcibiades and Coriolanus compelling historical figures?
Examine their contrasting leadership styles and how their flaws shaped their legacies.
How does Plutarch’s philosophical background influence his portrayal of these figures?
Discuss the role of Middle Platonism and Stoicism in framing the virtues and vices of great leaders.
Why do modern readers still find Alcibiades and Coriolanus relevant?
Reflect on the timeless nature of their struggles with pride, betrayal, and ambition.
Which lessons from Parallel Lives are most applicable to modern leadership?
Consider how Plutarch’s insights into character and virtue guide today’s leaders.

Suggested Reading

Next Episode

Episode 11: Beowulf: Three Monsters and An Aging Hero

Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon epic poem about a legendary hero who battles monsters and confronts a dragon. Tim and Emily discuss the poem’s origins, its tension between pagan heroism and emerging Christian values, and why its rhythmic, alliterative style is best experienced aloud. Tim shares his hot take on the best way to read Beowulf for first-time readers and why reading it aloud unlocks the poem’s full power. Along the way, they explore Beowulf’s profound influence on modern fantasy literature and its lasting appeal as a timeless tale of courage and sacrifice.

Show Guide

00:00 Episode Introduction and Opening Quote

01:06 The Legacy of Beowulf: Tolkien’s Favorite Epic

04:18 The Origins of Beowulf: Oral Tradition vs. Single Author Theory

08:03 The Power of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: Alliteration and Rhythm

12:15 The Plot of Beowulf: Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon

18:09 Heroism and Sacrifice: Beowulf’s Final Battle

21:50 Pagan Honor vs. Christian Virtues: How to Read Beowulf

25:30 Tim’s Hot Takes: Best Translation and the Importance of Reading Aloud

29:35 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview

Key Topics & Takeaways

Epic Heroism in Beowulf: Beowulf exemplifies strength, loyalty, and honor, yet his story carries the weight of inevitable tragedy.
The Monsters as Symbols: Grendel, his mother, and the dragon embody deeper themes such as original sin, mortality, and greed.
A Cultural Mashup: The poem skillfully intertwines pagan ideals of valor with Christian virtues of humility and sacrifice, capturing the cultural tensions of its time.
Tolkien’s Beowulf Connection: J. R. R. Tolkien’s scholarship on Beowulf profoundly shaped his own writing, from The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings.
The Oral Tradition: The rhythmic and alliterative structure of Anglo-Saxon poetry like Beowulf is best appreciated when read aloud.

Questions & Discussion

How does Beowulf blend pagan and Christian themes?
Reflect on the interplay between honor-bound heroism and Christian humility within the poem.
What do the monsters in Beowulf symbolize?
Explore their deeper meanings, from Grendel’s cursed lineage to the dragon’s greed.
Why is Beowulf a cornerstone of English literature?
Discuss its lasting influence on literary traditions and modern fantasy.
How does Tolkien’s love for Beowulf inform his own work?
Identify parallels between Beowulf and Tolkien’s creations, such as The Hobbit.
Why is Beowulf best experienced aloud?
Consider the role of alliteration and rhythm in Anglo-Saxon storytelling and the oral tradition.