Episode 21 Classical Philosophy and the Nicene Creed

Doug talks with Dr. Robert Schaefer about Athens and Jerusalem, the ancient confluence of classical philosophy with Christian revelation. We pay particular attention to the case of the Nicene Creed. Plus, our Top 10 works of political philosophy.

Show notes (including the Top 10 Works of Political Philosophy):

Top 10 Works of Political Philosophy

1. Plato, The Republic. Allan Bloom’s masterful translation, notes, and extensive introductory essay.

2. Aristotle, The Politics. Trans. C.D.C. Reeve.

3. St. Augustine, The City of God. Trans. Bettenson.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

5. Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince. Trans. Wooton.

6. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

7. John Locke, Two Treatises of Government

8. Jean Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract. Trans. Cranston.

9. Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

10. Alexis de Toqueville, Democracy in America. Trans. Mansfield.

Bonus: Leo Strauss, An Introduction to Political Philosophy: Ten Essays by Leo Strauss. Ed. Hilail Gilden.

If you would like the brief introduction to political philosophy by Harvard’s Harvey Mansfield, you can find it here. The ISI guides are always a great starting point.

We mentioned the great Neo-Thomist Jacques Maritain’s work on the natural law.

Almost forgot…classic video on “St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies” (for the Trinity)