Socrates in the City

How can we learn to use AI creatively and responsibly for human flourishing? In this episode of Socrates in Oxford, host Eric Metaxas is joined by John Lennox, long-time friend of SITC, mathematician, philosopher, and author of 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, for a timely conversation about one of the most consequential technologies of our age. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the world around us, how do we separate the realities of AI from the science-fiction scenarios that increasingly seem less fictional? Lennox demystifies the mathematical and technological language surrounding AI, exploring its different forms and the extraordinary rise of large language models—and asking what their growing influence means for education, human creativity, and the way we think. From the frightening possibilities of AI’s capabilities to the profound questions it raises about what it means to be human, Lennox considers the surprising connections between artificial intelligence and the biblical book of Revelation, and how imagery, metaphor, and prophetic language may offer a framework for understanding the world taking shape before us. The conversation asks if we are already beginning to see hints and traces of Revelation playing out across the world, and what kind of spiritual battle might be unfolding alongside the technological revolution, and what wisdom will we need to navigate it?The post Eric Metaxas and John Lennox: Will Technology Change What It Means to be Human? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

In this episode of Socrates Dialogues with Mary Harrington, our host is joined by professor, philosopher, theologian, and author Carl Trueman for a thoughtful conversation on the ideas shaping our modern identity. Drawing on his book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” and his latest work”The Desecration of Man,” Trueman explores how our understanding of the self has been transformed by expressive individualism, technology, and the cultural forces that increasingly detach us from enduring commitments.  What does it mean to imagine ourselves rightly in the world around us? From the emergence of the “laptop class” and the decline of rooted communities to the quiet, countercultural act of planting roots and embracing lasting commitments, Trueman argues that resistance begins with recovering a richer vision of what it means to be human. Grounded in the biblical doctrine of the imago Dei, this conversation considers how our view of humanity shapes our relationships, our families, our children, and ultimately the kind of society we are building.The post Carl Trueman and Mary Harrington: How Should We Live in an Age of Radical Individualism? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What is education truly for? In this episode of Socrates in the Studio, host Eric Metaxas sits down with Stephen Blackwood—founding president of Ralston College, distinguished scholar, and champion of classical education—to explore why so many young people today are searching for meaning in an age of uncertainty. Reflecting on his journey to establish a new kind of college, Blackwood makes the case for an education that forms character as much as intellect and revives the timeless pursuit of truth, wisdom, and beauty. They dive into Blackwood’s work on The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, the philosopher who penned one of history’s most influential books while imprisoned on the eve of the fall of the Roman Empire. A bestseller for centuries and often considered the original self-help book, Boethius’s masterpiece wrestles with questions that remain as urgent today as they were fifteen hundred years ago: Is there an order beneath the world’s apparent chaos? Can we find meaning in suffering? And what can the wisdom of the past teach us about navigating the crises of the present?The post Eric Metaxas and Stephen Blackwood: Can Classical Learning Save the Modern University? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What happens when Silicon Valley begins to rethink some of its deepest assumptions? In this episode of Socrates Dialogues, Mary Harrington is joined by Michael Solana—CMO of Founders Fund, founder of Pirate Wires, and once dubbed “the most opinionated man in America”—for a wide-ranging conversation on the ideological shifts reshaping technology, politics, and culture. Together they explore the changing political landscape within the tech industry, where a new wave of wealth and executive leadership has sparked a growing openness to conservative ideas, even as much of the broader workforce has remained more politically balanced. Solana examines what California’s political evolution reveals about the future of American politics and economic thought, while unpacking his provocative concept of the “Luigi Left,” the surprising folk hero status of Luigi Mangione, and what it says about rising economic populism and an increasing acceptance of political violence. As their conversation turns toward innovation, ambition, and America’s future, they explore whether our changing relationship with technology demands a renewed spirit of exploration—and perhaps the biggest question of all, whether the United States should set its sights on owning the moon.The post Michael Solana and Mary Harrington: Is Silicon Valley Becoming Conservative? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What makes a good interview, good? In this episode of Socrates in the Studio, Eric Metaxas sits down with writer, cultural commentator, and Socrates in the City contributor, Mary Harrington to explore the mission and heart behind Socrates in the City and the enduring value of meaningful conversation. Harrington reflects on her journey—from a mother writing a political blog to becoming one of the most compelling intellectual voices of our time—and discusses the surprising path that led her there. Together, they delve into the craft of interviewing, the mutual discovery that unfolds through genuine dialogue, and the fascinating science behind Mary’s “mind palace” as a tool for memory and learning. The conversation explores the wisdom of the medieval worldview, what modern society has forgotten about scholarship, intellectual formation, the pursuit of truth, and why the oldest forms of wisdom may be more timely than ever.The post Eric Metaxas and Mary Harrington: The Lost Art of Conversation first appeared on Socrates in the City.