Liberalism and the Odyssey with Patrick J. Deneen

In this episode, we're joined by Patrick J. Deneen, professor of political science at Notre Dame and author of Why Liberalism Failed and the new book American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls. We explore how the ancient Greek epic speaks to our current moment—examining the tension between the desire to explore and discover versus the longing for home and rootedness. Deneen discusses post-liberalism, the decline of shared culture, how Christopher Nolan's recent film reflects this cultural moment, and unexpected connections to American classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Huckleberry Finn. Topics Discussed: The thesis of Why Liberalism Failed revisited What "post-liberal" really means The Odyssey as a mirror for the American soul Elite detachment from the consequences of their ideology How American literature grapples with homecoming Learn more: spesalviinstitute.com Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: Q2991NNADHOK4PJR