Ep. 117 - Purgatorio and Love? with Dr. Anthony Esolen

When one thinks of Purgatory, especially as described in Dante's Purgatorio, love is not the first thing that comes to mind. In this episode, Dr. Anthony Esolen leads a seminar from his Magnus Fellowship course "Into the World Beyond, With Dante" on the theme of love through the purification in Dante's Purgatorio, much like our own purging that purifies our love during the season of Lent.

We are closing the year with a big introduction: meet our new Executive Director: Joshua Mazrin! Join John and Joshua as they discuss the excellent experience that Joshua is bringing to AMI, authentic Liberal Arts education, and the exciting future we have ahead of us.   Join the Fellowship today: It's free and always will be.  Will you please consider making a gift to AMI as we close out our end of year fundraiser: The Great Campaign? With your help, we can continue to offer courses that are as free as they are freeing.   

Alec Bianco of the CiRCE Institute joins John to discuss the state of higher education. Where did colleges go wrong? Why are colleges choosing to drop their humanities programs in favor of niche degrees? What is the future of institutions who choose a mediocre and sentimental education over an education rooted in rigor and truth?  Learn more about Alec Bianco and the CiRCE Institute. Follow Alec on X @alecmbianco At AMI, we are in the midst of the Great Campaign: our end of year fundraiser where we are seeking to raise $100,000, funds that go directly towards our courses that are as free as they are freeing.  Can you help us reach our goal? Magnusinstitute.org/give 

Producer Sam Sorich joins us to discusses his documentary Things Hidden: The Life and Legacy of René Girard, an award-winning and full length production about the French- American philosopher and historian. John and Sam discuss the importance of Girard’s work, mimetic theory, and the implications for the world today. Watch the documentary for free on youtube: Want to learn more about René Girad? The Magnus Fellowship offered an 8 week course on the philospher with Dr. Patrick Downey. Watch the first class on our YouTube channel: Join the Magnus Fellowship today for more great courses.

Please enjoy listening in on the first seminar of the first Magnus Cohort! The 2027 Cohort began their three year journey with Dr. David Arias in September of 2024, and they will finish their third year in the summer of 2027! The 2028 Cohort will begin this September. Do you want to be apart of something like this? Find out how you can join the 2028 Cohort this Fall!  

Dr. Travis Cooper recently facilitated this lively discussion on Shakespeares classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  If you weren't there live, here is your chance to listen! At AMI, we believe in the power of great questions that lead to more questions, in an education that focuses on discernment and freedom. Senior Fellow, Dr. Jospeh Hattrup sums it up beautifully, "In our culture nowadays... there's just so much of a reality where you're being fed ideas. This is what you're supposed to think about the world. This is what you're supposed to think about all sorts of human issues- whatever they might be, political, moral, religious. There's so many questions. And it really is a serious question... in developing yourself as a person in your education... Am I really developing myself into somebody who sees truth as independent of fashion, independent of fads, independent of current events? Can I see it... as timeless and everlasting, but as something that I can really possess with other people as a common good through the discipline of my own mind? Do you want this form of education for yourself? See how the Magnus Fellowship can provide just such an education.   

What is the value of Latin, really? John Johnson joins Father Peter Hannah to discuss why all the cool people are studying Latin, as well as the Novus Ordo vs traditional Latin mass; Father Peter reminds us how latin is a time honored way to return our culture to the traditions we have discarded. They also discuss his experience in the Magnus Fellowship teaching the Latin course that broke the internet.  Watch the first of 8 classes from Introduction to Ecclesial Latin here: Join the Fellowship today!  

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate our country’s independence with this extra special discussion with Dr. Richard Ferrier, tutor at Thomas Aquinas College. John Johnson and Dr. Ferrier discuss the complex question of, “Is history a liberal art?” They discuss this question by looking closely at American rhetoric, creeds, conspiracies, great people and cornerstone events from our founding until now. If you can’t listen in one go, break it up. You don’t want to miss the end. Calvin Coolidge’s speech on the 150th anniversary of our country’s independence: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-the-celebration-the-150th-anniversary-the-declaration-independence-philadelphia   You can find his book here:https://tanbooks.com/products/declaration-statesmanship-a-course-in-american-government-course-book/?gc_id=17487855346&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17496032570&gbraid=0AAAAADyykAyarNMii1oK9uRemCTQYR5cu&gclid=Cj0KCQjw953DBhCyARIsANhIZobmrCDpOj6t0IwqRpbk7LY4LYx4vlHvK_dEkkT6OSxge2TBhrqdo7gaAnT0EALw_wc   Join the Magnus Fellowship today!

John is back to discuss AI and the digital world, this time with AI thought leader and entrepreneur,  Drago Dimitrov. They discuss how binary AI fits into our symbolic world and continue to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists respond to this instrumental end of AI?”   Follow Drago on X: @Dragodimitrov holyhabits.app

Ryan Khurana, AI technologist, strategist, and thought leader, joins John Johnson to discuss AI and the digital world. They compare the personhood, creativity, and relationships gifted to man to the counterfeit personhood of AI. They begin to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists rightly respond to the instrument that is AI?” Stay tuned for Part II of the AI conversation with another special guest.  Join the Fellowship today! magnusinstitute.org/fellowship