T.S. Eliot’s Praise for Privilege | Episode XVI

Send us Fan MailIt is tempting to dismiss T.S. Eliot’s musings on class, society, and education as the complaints of a cranky reactionary. But the great Anglo-American poet is worth reckoning with - if for no other reason than how profoundly he challenges the democratic norms that in the 21st century we simply assume as first principles. Jonathan and Ryan take a look at Eliot’s chapter on education from his book Notes Towards the Definition of Culture, and they try to square Eliot with the egalitarian promises of the American Dream.T.S. Eliot’s Notes Towards the Definition of Culture: https://amzn.to/3fkKCLJAlan Jacobs’ The Year of Our Lord 1943: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780190864651New Humanists episode on Jacobs’ book (Part I): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transhumanism-in-the-year-of-our-lord-2021-pt-1-episode-ii/id1570296135?i=1000525644529New Humanists episode on Jacobs’ book (Part II): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transhumanism-in-the-year-of-our-lord-pt-2-episode-iii/id1570296135?i=1000527530441Richard M. Gamble’s The Great Tradition: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781935191568Scott Newman’s The Liar’s Club: Looking Back on Princeton: https://quillette.com/2021/12/09/ivy-league-liars-club/Peter Hitchens’ A Church That Was: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/05/a-church-that-wasThomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44299/elegy-written-in-a-country-churchyardAnthony Esolen’s The Boy Genius: https://www.touchstonemag.com/touchstone-conference/2018/the-boy-genius-esolen.phpKurt Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House (contains the Harrison Bergeron story): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780385333504T.S. Eliot’s Usk: https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/uskNew Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/Links may have referral codes, which earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. We encourage you, when possible, to use Bookshop.org for your book purchases, an online bookstore which supports local bookstores.Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.comSupport the show