An interview with Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's social ambition.You can support my work by becoming a paid subscriber on my Substack: johnathanbi.comSome links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-stephen-greenblatt-on-shakespeare-social-ambitionCompanion lectures and interviews:* Lecture on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: https://youtu.be/wTVCgnorJFE* Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's views on Love: https://youtu.be/v9wB6RDla80* Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's literary genius: Coming soon.Professor Greenblatt's book:* Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, Amazon (affiliate) Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

A lecture on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.You can support my work by becoming a paid subscriber on my substack: johnathanbi.comSome links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-lecture-on-shakespeare-julius-caesarCompanion lectures and interviews:* Katharina Volk on the lives of Cicero and Caesar:* Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's Guide to Love:Recommended books:* David Lowenthal, Shakespeare's Thought, Amazon (affiliate)* Chapter 4 explores the “Caesar wanted to die” thesis* John Alvis, Shakespeare's Understanding Of Honor, Amazon (affiliate)* Colin Burrow, Shakespeare and Classical Antiquity, Amazon (affiliate)* René Girard, Theatre of Envy, Amazon (affiliate)* Scott F. Crider, With What Persuasion, Amazon (affiliate)* Frank Kermode, Shakespeare’s Language, Amazon (affiliate)* Paul Cantor, Shakespeare’s Rome, Amazon (affiliate) Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Christopher Kelly on Rousseau's case for censorshipSome links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-christopher-kelly-on-censorshipCompanion lectures and interviews:* My lecture on Rousseau’s First Discourse: https://youtu.be/C8ucJ29O1kM* Christopher Kelly on Heroes: https://youtu.be/OMwm-FbzHesProfessor Kelly's Book: * Rousseau as Author: https://amzn.to/4bX9JQD (affiliate) * My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/rousseau-as-author-by-christopher Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

Interview with Brian Leiter on Nietzsche's Moral AntirealismSome links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-brian-leiter-on-moral-antirealismCompanion lecture:* Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morality Explained: https://youtu.be/M0w2eQ-FcEProfessor Leiter's books with relevance to this interview: * Nietzsche on Morality: https://amzn.to/3x4QQMc (affiliate) * My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/nietzsche-on-morality-by-brian-leiter* Moral Psychology with Nietzsche: https://amzn.to/3yL9fy3 (affiliate) * My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/moral-psychology-with-nietzsche-by Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

A lecture on Rousseau's Discourse on the Origin of InequalitySome links to further guide your study: * Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io * Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-rousseau-second-discourseCompanion lectures and interviews:* My lecture on Rousseau’s First Discourse: https://youtu.be/C8ucJ29O1kM* Frederick Neuhouser on Self-Esteem: https://youtu.be/bhzg5qbXXVg* Christopher Kelly on Heroes: https://youtu.be/OMwm-FbzHesRead the Second Discourse:* Preferred Translation: https://amzn.to/3XIaMPm (affiliate) * My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/discourse-on-the-origin-of-inequality* Secondary Reconstruction: https://amzn.to/4ekByDc (affiliate) * My book notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/rousseaus-critique-of-inequality Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Katharina Volk on Roman EpicureanismSome links to further guide your study: * Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-katharina-volk-on-epicureanismCompanion lectures and interviews:* Lecture on Shakespeare's Caesar: Coming soon.* Katharina Volk on Cicero & Caesar: https://youtu.be/I5qQztnTVPQ* Katharina Volk on Stoicism: https://youtu.be/tHbdG_Q4hbYProfessor Volk's Book:* The Roman Republic of Letters: https://amzn.to/4fsFD9K (affiliate)* My book notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/roman-republic-of-letters-by-katharina Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

Interview with Katharina Volk on the intellectual life of Cicero & CaesarSome links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-katharina-volk-cicero-caesarCompanion lectures and interviews:* Lecture on Shakespeare's Caesar: Coming soon.* Katharina Volk on politically-engaged Epicureans: https://youtu.be/HkPd2A0jQY8* Katharina Volk on Stoicism: https://youtu.be/tHbdG_Q4hbYProfessor Volk's Book:* The Roman Republic of Letters: https://amzn.to/4fsFD9K (affiliate)* My book notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/roman-republic-of-letters-by-katharina Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's views on love.Some links to further guide your study: * Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io * Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-interview-with-stephen-greenblatt-on-loveCompanion lectures and interviews:* Lecture on Shakespeare's Caesar: Coming soon.* Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's social ambition: Coming soon.* Stephen Greenblatt on Shakespeare's literary genius: Coming soon. Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Katharina Volk on the Stoicism of Cato.Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/transcript-for-interview-with-katharina-volk-on-stoicismCompanion lectures and interviews:* Lecture on Shakespeare's Caesar: Coming soon.* Katharina Volk on politically-engaged Epicureans: https://youtu.be/HkPd2A0jQY8* Katharina Volk on the intellectual life of Caesar & Cicero: https://youtu.be/I5qQztnTVPQProfessor Volk's Book:* The Roman Republic of Letters: https://amzn.to/4fsFD9K (affiliate)* My book notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/roman-republic-of-letters-by-katharina Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

A lecture on the intellectual history of “Innovation”I drew heavily from Benoît Godin's Book (affiliate):* Innovation Contested: https://amzn.to/3Wpp8n9* My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/innovation-contested-by-benoit-godin Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Robert Pippin on Nietzsche, Technology and Nihilism.Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-robert-pippin-interview?r=2mzsg Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Fred Neuhouser on Rousseau's amour-propre.Read the full transcript: https://www.johnathanbi.com/publish/posts/detail/146339067?referrer=%2Fpublish%2FpostsCompanion lectures & interviews:* Rousseau's first discourse lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8ucJ29O1kM&t=224sProfessor Neuhouser's Book on Amour-Propre (affiliate):* Rousseau as Author: https://amzn.to/3LdOoqd * My book notes: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/rousseaus-theodicy-of-self-love-by Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Christopher Kelly on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's case for heroes.Full transcript: https://www.johnathanbi.com/p/transcript-for-christopher-kelly Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An introductory lecture summarizing the key ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Discourse on the Arts and SciencesFull Transcript & other links at https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-rousseaus-first-discourse Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An interview with Professor Brian Leiter on Nietzsche's critique of free will.For the full video and transcript, visit: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-brian-leiter-interview?r=l66v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

An introductory lecture to Friedrich Nietzsche’s On The Genealogy of Morality.For the transcript & other links, visit: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-nietzsches-genealogy Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

Christianity exposed the injustice of scapegoating and, in doing so, robbed us of the cathartic tools which early human societies used to contain and resolve violence. Today, the Katechon which prevents violence from overflowing is three institutions that limit and channel violence: Law, Capitalism, and War. By tracing a genealogy for all three institutions, Girard comes to the terrifying conclusion that these final bulwarks against apocalypse are on the verge of collapse. More precisely, their collapse is already underway.Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-of-girard-lecture-vii Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

Rescued by Christianity, modernity is distinctly different than the violent, deceitful, and stagnant societies of yore. We are the most loving, truthful, and innovative culture ever to exist. Resting uneasily alongside this fundamental affirmation of modernity, however, is Girard’s puzzling insistence that things have barely changed at all: we now simply persecute victims under the banner of love, rigidly adhere to scientific dogmas under the guise of free inquiry, and package trivialities as radical innovations. Despite our high-minded ideals, stubborn human nature refuses to budge and, so, the perversions of modernity take on the shape of hypocrisy. Even humanity’s greatest triumph is terribly ambivalent and limited.Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-of-girard-lecture-vi Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

For Girard, Christianity is radically different from all other religions in one crucial aspect: it takes the side of the innocent victim and, in doing so, exposes the violence and deceit of worldly order. We will explore how this intuition of innocence begins to take root in the Hebrew bible and blossoms into a resounding declaration in the Crucifixion. Girard presents us with an anthropology of the Cross: a translation of Christian phenomena into this-worldly, humanistic language. Girard’s success in placing this world in the foreground, however, forces the other world and even God himself to retreat into the background. In Girard’s unorthodox Christianity, God’s absence is just as loud and jarring as humanity’s presence.Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-of-girard-lecture-v Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

Starting from lecture IV, we will move away from psychology and into Girard’s history, beginning with the very first human societies. In times of internal turmoil, these early societies would converge on an innocent victim, attribute to him all the blame, murder this scapegoat in a brutal killing, and achieve peace through violent catharsis. These founding murders gave rise to institutions, cultures, and even gods themselves. Far are we from the comfort of social contracts. Girard’s unsettling conclusion is that peace is built on the corpses of innocent victims. Worldly order demands violence and deceit.Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-of-girard-lecture-iv Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe

In this lecture, we will finish painting the picture of Girardian psychology by understanding mimetic rivalry and negative mimesis. This picture will expose humans as fallen and certain psycho-social pathologies as inevitable: fetishization, alienation, bipolarity, masochism, oppression, and inequity. Girard’s psychology, then, is also a theodicy — an inquiry into the origins of evil. For Girard, evil is not contingent on poorly designed societies but an inevitable consequence of corrupt human nature. We will never escape these pathologies no matter how much social “progress” is made. Girard’s theodicy tampers our expectations of the world and inoculates us against a whole host of, what we can loosely call, critical theories. This is a critique of critique. Some links to further guide your study:* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io* Full transcript: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-of-girard-lecture-iii Get full access to Johnathan Bi at www.johnathanbi.com/subscribe