Episode 11: Classical

La Bonne Vie

Kyle and Deacon Conque talk this week about the meaning of the term 'classical' and why it's so important to our mission at John Paul the Great Academy. We use this term often as a community; it's familiar to anyone whose been around. Join us as we get behind the veil of familiarity and ask: What do we mean by Classical?

Show Notes and Outline of Topics

Quote from Pope St. John Paul the Great, Fides et Ratio. “A pioneer of positive engagement with philosophical thinking--albeit with cautious discernment--was St. Justin. Although he continued to hold Greek philosophy in high esteem after his conversion, Justin claimed with power and clarity that he had found in Christianity “the only sure and profitable philosophy.” Similarly, Clement of Alexandria called the Gospel “the true philosophy,” and he understood philosophy, like the Mosaic Law, as instruction which prepared for Christian faith and paved the way for the Gospel."

1. Historical Meaning of the Term Classical

𐄁 look at the meaning of classical in terms of its historical, role in the liberal arts revival, and cultural meaning

𐄁 classical as referring to a particular moment in time, the classical moment: the ancient Graeco-Roman world

𐄁 important common beliefs from the classical moment: a view that truth was objective, could be known, and virtue too was objective and could be pursued

𐄁 an example of "classical" as an adjective: Coca-Cola Classic

𐄁 classical worldview requires a belief in what is most noble and good

𐄁 other examples of the significance of "classical" as an adjective

2. Classical Philosophy as a Basis of the Classical World

𐄁 avoiding the temptation to romanticize the past

𐄁 the foundational principles of classical philosophy are timeless, not relegated to a particular time

𐄁 David Hicks, Norms and Nobility, the tyrannizing ideal

𐄁 Why value these pagan philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, etc.)? They are great thinkers acting nobly in pursuit of the natural law written on all of our hears, Christian and pagan alike.

𐄁 Man's transcendental nature: essential for meaningful happiness

𐄁 freedom through duty

𐄁 Classical world and the language of the Gospel

𐄁 virtue demands human excellence being an objective value

𐄁 post-modern world-view demolishes the foundation of what paved the way for the Gospel

3. Truth, Objective Reality, and Christ: a pearl of great price

𐄁 Why we choose the classical world view at John Paul the Great Academy

𐄁 virtue of docility: justice applied to a teacher

𐄁 docility and the starting point

La Bonne Vie is a podcast offering from John Paul the Great Academy dedicated to discussing the joys, triumphs, struggles, and issues with boldly living out our Catholic, classical mission in Acadiana through vibrant family lives.

Our theme music, "Vive La Bonne Vie," is by L'Angelus.