Vital Remnants

In this introductory episode of the Vital Remnants podcast, producer Connor Tracy sits down with show host Dr. Gary L. Gregg II to discuss the inspiration, overall vision, and structure of the podcast.  Subscribe to our newsletter and receive McConnell Center updates directly in your mailbox Please share any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns with us via email at [email protected] This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. For more information, including upcoming events, please visit us online at mcconnellcenter.org or on social media at: Facebook: @mcconnellcenter  Instagram: @ulmcenter  Twitter: @ULmCenter Intro: Natalie Smith, McConnell Center Civic Education Coordinator  Host: Dr. Gary L. Gregg II, McConnell Center Director Producer: Connor Tracy, McConnell Center SBS Coordinator   

Episode Summary McConnell Center Director Dr. Gary L. Gregg II offers his thoughts on how to make the most of our time during this crisis.  Links Mentioned Dr. Gregg's op-ed pieces, including "The Gift of Solitude and Time" can be found here: https://www.theepochtimes.com/author-gary-l-gregg  Stay Connected Visit us at McConnellcenter.org Subscribe to our newsletter  Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter  Twitter: @ULmCenter This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. Views expressed in this show are those of the participants and not necessarily those of the McConnell Center.    

In this inaugural episode of our walk through Plato's Republic, Dr. Gary Gregg introduces listeners to the importance of "The Republic" and lays out a few key concepts of Platonic thought that will help inform the modern reader's understanding as they work through the text. He then walks through the various definitions of Justice presented throughout the dialogue and discusses the implications of each for both leadership and politics(20:00). The question of what is necessary to compel good people to rule is considered (36:15), followed by The "Ring of Gyges" story(46:00). He then recounts Adeimantus's assertion that society, culture and family influence our actions and shows how this contributes to the nature v. nurture argument (53:19). Dr. Gregg ends with an overview of what will be covered in Target 2 (55:47). Target 1 Reading: Book I and Book II through 367e, pp. 3-44 of "The Republic of Plato", 2nd edition, translated by Allan Bloom (Basic Books, 1968 and 1991). Download Dr. Gregg's Guide to The Republic here Subscribe to our newsletter and receive McConnell Center updates directly in your mailbox Please share any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns with us via email at [email protected] This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. For more information, including upcoming events, please visit us online at mcconnellcenter.org or on social media at: Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter Twitter: @ULmCenter Intro: Bridget Kim Host: Dr. Gary L. Gregg II Editor: Connor Tracy Music: Selected from http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/

In the second episode of this season of Vital Remnants, Dr. Gary Gregg begins by comparing Plato's philosophical assumptions about the origin of communities with those that have shaped the modern understanding, including the views of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau (5:11). Gregg then dives into the creation of Plato's city and discusses the origins of war (13:20), the need for guardians, and the question of who will guard against them. Plato's metaphor of the "noble puppies" is examined along with the education of the guardian class (17:57). Other key topics include censorship (24:22), "The Noble Lie" (32:37), culture and corruption (34:28), music (44:01), and the very important relationship between politics and culture (47:40). Dr. Gregg ends with highlights of what will be covered in Target 3 (53:19). Target 2 Reading: Books II, III, & IV pp. 40-103 of "The Republic of Plato", 2nd edition, translated by Allan Bloom (Basic Books, 1968 and 1991). Download Dr. Gregg's Guide to The Republic here Subscribe to our newsletter and receive McConnell Center updates directly in your mailbox Please share any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns with us via email at [email protected] This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. For more information, including upcoming events, please visit us online at mcconnellcenter.org or on social media at: Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter Twitter: @ULmCenter Intro: Bridget Kim Host: Dr. Gary L. Gregg II Editor: Connor Tracy Music: Selected from http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/

In this episode of Vital Remnants, Dr. Gary Gregg discusses Plato's call for the combination of political power and philosophy within our leaders (1:34), the three parts of society (5:00), Plato's tests for leadership (7:31), and the "Myth of the Metals" (15:41). He then revisits education (22:28), the four parts of virtue (26:07), Plato's definition of justice (32:05) and the burden of leadership (36:31). Dr. Gregg concludes by examining the relationship between the virtues and the parts of society (38:03), how the parts of society correlate to parts of the individual soul (39:13), the tripartite soul (42:40), C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man (50:57), and what all of this means for leadership today (54:35). Target 3 Reading: Books III, IV, & V, pp. 91-152 of "The Republic of Plato", 2nd edition, translated by Allan Bloom (Basic Books, 1968 and 1991). Download Dr. Gregg's Guide to The Republic here Subscribe to our newsletter and receive McConnell Center updates directly in your mailbox Please share any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns with us via email at [email protected] This podcast is a production of the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. For more information, including upcoming events, please visit us online at mcconnellcenter.org or on social media at: Facebook: @mcconnellcenter Instagram: @ulmcenter Twitter: @ULmCenter Intro: Bridget Kim Host: Dr. Gary L. Gregg II Editor: Connor Tracy Music: Selected from http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/