Liberty Lounge #2: "Natural Rights, Locke, and The Political Theory of the American Founding"12/31/2018 
In this second episode of the Liberty Lounge, we continue to explore the philosophical and political theories of the American founding fathers as we work our way through Thomas G. West's book The Political Theory of the American Founding. Jordan uses West's book as a jumping off point to explore John Locke's theory of natural rights, with the aim of answering the following questions:
-What is the difference between classical liberalism and modern liberalism? -Is there a conflict between equality and liberty? -Is inequality necessary? If so, what do we mean when we pursue equality? -How do governments emerge from a "state of nature"? -How do rights emerge from a "state of nature"? -What is a "right"? -Are natural rights universal? Are they objective facts? -Who was right--Rousseau, Hobbes, or Locke? And why? -What makes the American political system and the U.S. Constitution special? -How do property rights emerge from a "state of nature"? -Why do we need property rights to be free? -Is taxation moral? -Do men truly wish to be free? The Liberty Lounge is a segment of The Western Canon podcast dedicated to reviewing great books that focus on the principles of liberty and freedom. In the first two (2) episodes, we look closely at the brilliant enlightenment ideas--such as natural rights, ordered liberty, limited government, equality, and virtue--that typified the founders' thought and went into the drafting of documents like The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers. If you enjoyed episode #2 of the Liberty Lounge, check out episode #1 at the following link: https://youtu.be/bUfPblXVwWU. Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com for more info!
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Writer and former educator Faith Moore joins The Western Canon Podcast to discuss her new book Saving Cinderella: What Feminists Get Wrong About Disney Princesses And How To Set It Right. In this interview, Faith describes a shift that has taken place in popular culture, as a small but very vocal minority of radical feminists have seized hold of the narrative, slandering Disney princess movies as toxic, regressive, and fundamentally “anti-feminist.” Faith explains why this view is completely wrong, and makes the case that feminists have misread and misunderstood classic Disney films, which are meant to be read symbolically. In the end, listeners will learn why young people--and young women in particular--need classic Disney princess films now more than ever.
Dr. Nathan Schlueter, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hillsdale College, joins The Western Canon Podcast to discuss the great ideas of Plato's Republic. Dr. Schlueter also explains why the Republic continues to be so relevant and why Western civilization needs Plato today. Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com to listen to our catalogue of episodes, access resources, and view interviews with various guests.
Nathan Schlueter is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hillsdale College, where he directs the pre-law program and also teaches courses in social and political philosophy, ethical theory and philosophy and literature. He is a recipient of Hillsdale College’s “Daugherty Award for Teaching Excellence.” Nathan has a B.A. in History from Miami University of Ohio (1993) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas (1999). He is the author of One Dream or Two? Justice in America and in the Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Lexington Books, 2002), The Humane Vision of Wendell Berry, edited with Mark Mitchell (ISI Books, 2011), and co-author, with Nikolai Wenzel, of Selfish Libertarians and Socialist Conservatives: The Foundations of the Libertarian-Conservative Debate (Stanford University Press, 2017). His articles have appeared in First Things, Touchstone, Logos, Communio, Public Discourse and Perspectives in Political Science. Nathan has been a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities (2005) and Princeton University (2011). He is currently working on his next book Playing with Fire: The Peril and Promise of the Utopian Imagination. He and his wife Elizabeth, who is a homemaker and homeschooler, have eight children.
Plato’s Republic (380 BC) is easily Plato's best-known work, and has proven to be one of the most influential works in the Western canon. The Republic is a Socratic dialogue that focuses on questions of justice: What would a just city-state look like? How should a just man behave? But this monumental work also touches on broad variety of other themes like metaphysics, knowledge, truth, the soul, immortality, the role of the philosopher, education, poetry, and many other topics. In Episode #9 of The Western Canon Podcast, we begin our examination of Plato's Republic by speaking with Hillsdale College Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Dr. Nathan Schlueter. Also, joining us to discuss Plato's influence on Christianity is Oxford classicist Spencer Klavan. Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com for more!
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About the Show:The Western Canon is a monthly podcast dedicated to examining the timeless stories, ideas, and thinkers of the Western literary tradition. Working chronologically through "the great conversation of history," each episode focuses on a distinct canonical work, set of works, or intellectual period. Featuring lively summary, literary analysis, philosophical discussion, and guest commentary, the show also tackles social and political issues related to Western civilization, the modern university, free speech, well-being, and much more. Educate your mind and feed your soul by tuning in with Jordan Alexander Hill, Gina Santiago, and special guests on the 1st of every month! Archives
February 2021
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