The TAC Podcast

Is it possible to have a "just war" in an era of nuclear and biological weapons? How does a U.S. Ambassador navigate the "media-induced war" between the Pope and the President? In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we sit down with Brian Burch, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and founder of Catholic Vote, following his commencement address at Thomas Aquinas College. We dive deep into the concept of "soft power," the "tranquility of order," and the spiritual validation of public service. From the geopolitical threats of a nuclear-armed Iran to the philosophical challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence, Ambassador Burch provides a rare look at the intersection of faith, reason, and statecraft. Key Topics Covered: The Calling: Brian's story of receiving the presidential appointment on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Geopolitics: The "soft power" of the Vatican in Cuba, Lebanon, and Nigeria. Just War Theory: A substantive look at the morality of force and the "legitimate sovereign's" responsibility. The AI Revolution: Why Silicon Valley is looking to the Vatican to define the limits of machine reasoning. Family Life: The adventure (and logistics) of moving a large family from Chicago to Rome. Support the Podcast: If you value these deep dives into the ideas that shape our world, please like, subscribe, and share! Learn more at thomasaquinas.edu/podcast #TheTACPodcast #Vatican #Geopolitics #JustWar #AI #FaithAndReason #ThomasAquinasCollege Timecode Chapter Markers 00:00 – Introduction: The complementarity of Sovereigns 01:10 – The Appointment: A call from the President 03:15 – Moving to Rome: Raising 9 kids in the Eternal City 07:40 – What does an Ambassador to the Vatican actually do? 09:50 – Global Hotspots: Cuba, Lebanon, and Nigeria 11:30 – The True Meaning of Peace: Augustine's Tranquility of Order 16:10 – Utopia vs. Reality: Peace in a Fallen World 20:15 – Just War Doctrine in the Age of Modern Weaponry 25:10 – The Legitimate Sovereign's Decision: Prudence and Intelligence 28:10 – Rubio's Visit: Correcting the Media's "War" Narratives 37:00 – Catholic Identity in the U.S. Administration 43:00 – The Value of a Liberal Arts Education in Diplomacy 47:00 – The AI Revolution: Can Machines Reason? 50:30 – The "Imago Dei" vs. Silicon Valley 54:00 – Digital Slavery and the Importance of Leisure 1:02:00 – Fatherhood: Time, Adventure, and Reading Narnia 1:09:40 – Hope for America: Relying on Divine Providence

In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we dive into the dark and radical world of Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan. We explore Hobbes's view of the human being as a machine, the terrifying reality of the "State of Nature," and why he believes the Sovereign is the only thing standing between us and total chaos. Is Hobbes a realist or a cynic? Join us as we unpack his views on materialism, speech, and the eternal tension between political power and religious authority. Subscribe for more deep dives into the Great Books and the ideas that shaped the West.   00:00 - Introduction: The Artificial Animal 01:24 - Man as a Machine: Hobbes's Radical Materialism 05:15 - Sense and Imagination: How We Perceive the World 08:34 - The Root of Desire: Appetites and Aversions 12:50 - The Power of Speech and Reason 16:13 - Perpetual Restlessness: The Human Drive for Power 21:25 - The State of Nature: A War of All Against All 25:50 - The Birth of the Sovereign: Why We Create the Leviathan 28:30 - The Challenge of Religion: Secular vs. Divine Authority 35:45 - Hobbes's Legacy: Realism in the Modern World 42:36 - Closing Thoughts

Are the writings of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass merely American, or do they belong among the great texts of the Western tradition? Dr. Adam Seagrave joins us to explore how the American founding contributes to the perennial questions of justice, freedom, and human dignity. At the center of the conversation is slavery—not only as a historical reality, but as a contradiction within the American project itself. Rather than being resolved by force alone, we examine how it was ultimately confronted at the level of principle, rooted in the claims of the Declaration of Independence. We also consider the role of divine providence in the thought of Lincoln, Douglass, and John Brown, and how their ideas about God and history helped shape the course of the nation. About the Show: The TAC Podcast offers a window into the intellectual life of Thomas Aquinas College, where students and faculty engage the great books and first principles in pursuit of truth.

In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we begin our journey through one of the most influential works in Western philosophy: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. We start at the very beginning—Book One—where Aristotle sets an extraordinary aim: to define the "human good" and discover what it is that all human beings are truly aiming at. Is happiness just a feeling, or is it something more? We discuss Aristotle's famous definition of happiness as "rational activity in accordance with virtue" and explore why he believes that living well is a practice, not just a product. We also tackle the "political" nature of man and the sobering reality of how much of our happiness is within our control—and how much is left to chance. In this episode, we cover:  00:00 – The most controversial question: What is human happiness? 04:30 – Aristotle vs. Plato: Practical goods vs. the "Good itself." 07:30 – Why the "human" part of the "human good" matters. 09:50 – Candidates for happiness: Pleasure, Wealth, Honor, and Virtue. 15:00 – Why a good upbringing is a prerequisite for ethics. 20:30 – The Function Argument: What is the "work" of a human being? 31:10 – Happiness as self-sufficient and the social nature of man. 45:10 – The role of luck and "happenstance" in a good life. Key Takeaway: "Happiness is not a state of mind, but a way of living. It is the fulfillment of our nature as rational beings, perfected through activity and virtue." If you enjoyed this deep dive into the roots of moral philosophy, make sure to Subscribe to The TAC Podcast and hit the notification bell for our upcoming episodes!

How can God tolerate such evil in the world, especially the horrors inflicted upon the innocent? In Episode 10 of The TAC Podcast, we dive deep into Dostoevsky's final masterpiece, The Brothers Karamazov. We explore the "unassailable" arguments of Ivan Karamazov, the psychological "coiling" of the brothers, and why the novel puts its readers through an emotional and spiritual ringer. From the "Grand Inquisitor" to the heart-wrenching sub-story of the child Ilusha, we discuss whether Dostoevsky provides a philosophical answer to the problem of evil, or a narrative one found only in the active practice of love and compassion. In this episode, John and Chris enter Dostoevsky's most unsettling terrain. Through Ivan's rebellion, the novel gathers its most forceful indictment of faith, confronting the horrors of injustice not in the abstract, but in the concrete suffering of children. Every attempt to explain it seems to collapse under its own weight. If even forgiveness cannot undo what has been done, what kind of world are we living in? Yet Dostoevsky does not answer Ivan with a counterargument. Instead, he offers a response that is lived rather than proven. Through Alyosha, through acts of compassion, and ultimately through the silent figure of Christ in the Grand Inquisitor, the novel proposes that suffering is not solved, but entered into. Not erased, but transformed. What emerges is not a neat resolution, but something more demanding: a vision of human life in which love bears what reason alone cannot. Whether you're a long-time fan of Russian literature or new to the Karamazov family, join us for a conversation on the "stain of the earth" and the hope that remains despite our fallen condition. In this episode: The psychological depth and "exhausting" nature of Dostoevsky's characters. Ivan Karamazov's "irrefutable" rebellion against God. The Grand Inquisitor: Why the world often chooses bread over freedom. The parallel between Ivan's abstract suffering and Alyosha's active compassion. The mystery of the father-son relationship and the "Karamazov" legacy. Chapters: 0:00 The Irrefutable Argument: Suffering and Forgiveness 0:26 Why The Brothers Karamazov is an "Exhausting" Masterpiece 1:10 The Coiled Souls: Morality, Theology, and Soap Opera Tensions 4:21 Why Dostoevsky Brings the "Storminess" to the Surface 7:35 Analyzing the Brothers: Temperament and Life Paths 8:10 Ivan's Notebook: The Problem of Innocent Suffering 11:30 Transfiguring Suffering Through Active Love 14:42 The Contrast Between Abstract Rebellion and Real Relationships 18:18 The Story of Ilusha: Sin, Guilt, and Compassion 21:50 The Absent Father: A Common Denominator Manifested in Three Ways 26:30 The Grand Inquisitor: Bread, Power, and the Three Temptations 33:10 Alyosha as a Christ Figure: Fumbling Toward the Good 37:10 The Murder of Fyodor: Guilt in the Heart vs. External Evidence 43:00 The Odor of Corruption: Alyosha's Crisis of Faith and Grushenka's Mercy 46:00 Love as a Harsh and Terrible Thing Visit our website: ThomasAquinas.edu Connect with The TAC Podcast: instagram.com/TheTACPodcast #TheBrothersKaramazov #Dostoevsky #TheTACPodcast #Philosophy #Literature #ProblemOfEvil #GrandInquisitor #ClassicBooks

In this episode of The TAC Podcast, John Finley sits down with longtime friend and former Apple enterprise leader Nathan Haggard to explore the intersection of classical philosophy and the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. Nathan shares his unique journey from studying the Great Books at Thomas Aquinas College to spending 16 years at the forefront of the tech industry. Together, they tackle the existential "forcing function" of AI: If technology can eventually do everything humans do, what is left for us? In this episode, we discuss: The AI Paradox: Why the rise of automation is forcing us back to fundamental questions of human value. The Theology of Work: Drawing on Pope John Paul II's Laborem Exercens, we explore why work is a fundamental human vocation, not just a means to an end. Aristotle & the Problem of Leisure: Why the "ruin of society" often stems from an inability to handle free time, and how we can avoid the trap of modern distraction. Pascal's Challenge: Examining the famous claim that all of humanity's problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone. The Integration of Life: Moving beyond "work-life balance" toward a holistic vision of human flourishing. Whether you're interested in the future of the tech industry or the timeless wisdom of the Great Books, this conversation offers a roadmap for maintaining our humanity in an age of machines. Support The TAC Podcast: Subscribe for more deep dives into the Great Books and philosophical inquiry. Visit our website: thomasaquinas.edu Follow us on Social Media: instagram @thetacpodcast Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Pascal's Quote on Solitude 01:05 - Nathan Haggard's Journey: From Great Books to Apple 07:30 - Why "Learning How to Think" is the Only Future-Proof Skill 11:30 - The Nature of Work: What is it Actually For? 14:30 - AI as a Forcing Function for Existential Questions 18:40 - Work as an Imitation of the Creator (Genesis & JP II) 21:30 - The 40-Hour Work Week vs. Human Flourishing 25:00 - What Happens to Society When We Don't Have to Work? 30:30 - Lessons from Mozart & Bach: The Value of Constraints 34:50 - Aristotle on Leisure: The Internal Ruin of Societies 43:40 - Confronting the "World of Distraction" 46:30 - Closing Thoughts: Choosing Priorities with Head, Heart, and Gut   #Philosophy #AI #FutureOfWork #GreatBooks #TheTACPodcast #Aristotle #ArtificialIntelligence #Leisure

In this episode, our hosts discuss Shakespeare's Macbeth, one of the most haunting and powerful tragedies in the Western tradition. Set against a world of prophecy, ambition, guilt, and bloodshed, the conversation explores the mysterious interplay between supernatural evil and human freedom, asking how Macbeth becomes both agent and victim in his own destruction. Through close attention to the weird sisters, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth's own moral unraveling, the episode considers some of the play's deepest questions: How does temptation work? What is the relation between evil and self-deception? How can ambition corrupt courage, loyalty, and even reason itself? As the discussion unfolds, Shakespeare's tragedy emerges not only as a political drama, but as a profound meditation on conscience, manhood, despair, and the mystery of evil. This conversation invites listeners into a serious and searching engagement with one of Shakespeare's greatest works and the enduring human questions it raises. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

In this episode, John and Chris continue their exploration of the heavens, turning to Copernicus, Kepler, and the profound transformation of our understanding of the cosmos. What begins as a seemingly simple question—why doesn't it feel like the Earth is moving?—opens into a deeper inquiry about observation, explanation, and the nature of scientific truth. Without new instruments or discoveries, Copernicus proposes a radical shift: not new data, but a new perspective. By placing the Earth in motion, he transforms what once appeared as irregularities into intelligible patterns. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

In this episode, John Goyette sits down with Matt Peterson, a TAC alumnus and media executive to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of artificial intelligence, digital technology, and the future of education. As AI reshapes the job market and disrupts entire industries, the conversation turns to a surprising claim: that a liberal education is not becoming obsolete, but increasingly necessary. What does it mean to think, write, and speak well in an age where machines can imitate these abilities? And why are employers beginning to value precisely those human capacities that technology cannot replace? The discussion also ventures into deeper territory—examining the nature of digital media, the power of algorithms, and the growing tension between human agency and technological influence. From the collapse of traditional education models to the question of how to live well in a world saturated by screens, our hosts consider whether technology will serve the human person—or quietly begin to master him. Rooted in the Great Books tradition and the lived experience of liberal education, this episode offers a timely and searching reflection on AI, media, and the enduring importance of forming the mind and character in pursuit of the good life. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

In this episode, John and Chris discuss Jane Austen's Emma, a novel at once comic, subtle, and morally penetrating. Through the story of one remarkable young woman, the conversation explores friendship, marriage, self-knowledge, social life, and the quiet but demanding work of virtue in ordinary human relationships. Set in the small world of village life, Emma may seem far removed from our own, yet its questions remain deeply familiar: How well do we really know ourselves? What does genuine care for others require? How should intelligence, affection, imagination, and pride be ordered in a good life? As the discussion unfolds, the episode considers Austen's insight into character, her portrayal of moral growth, and the ways everyday interactions can become the setting for both vice and virtue. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of Austen's greatest novels and the enduring truths it reveals about human nature, love, and the formation of the soul. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

In this episode, we explore Plato's Euthyphro, a brief but profound dialogue that raises enduring questions about piety, justice, truth, and the nature of the divine. Set in the shadow of Socrates' trial, the conversation explores what it means to live rightly before God, whether piety is grounded in divine command or in the truth of things, and why these questions still matter. The discussion offers listeners a window into the kind of thoughtful, searching conversation that defines Thomas Aquinas College. Subscribe for new episodes each week. Go to www.thomasaquinas.edu/podcast to learn more!

What is The Communist Manifesto, and what kind of argument does it advance? In this episode, we examine Marx and Engels' brief but historically consequential text as a work of political rhetoric grounded in a broader historical claim: that the "mode of economic production and exchange" constitutes the foundation of social and intellectual life, and that human history is best understood as a sequence of class antagonisms. We consider the Manifesto's attempt to present this thesis not merely as a programmatic platform, but as an ostensibly empirical account of historical development, culminating in a call for revolutionary action. The conversation also addresses Engels' comparison between Marx's proposition and Darwin's theory of evolution, exploring the implications of construing social order through struggle, competition, and material conditions rather than through appeals to universal human nature, moral principle, or transcendent ends. We discuss Marx's distinctive emphasis on praxis, including the claim that the task of philosophy is not primarily contemplative understanding but transformative action. Finally, we evaluate the Manifesto from two perspectives: (1) its underlying philosophical anthropology (materialism, the status of religion, and the critique of the family) and (2) its historical prognosis. We ask how Marx's predictions should be assessed nearly two centuries later, with particular attention to the revolutionary experiments of the twentieth century and the role of modern technological and economic development in moderating or reshaping the conditions Marx regarded as inevitable. Topics include: * The Manifesto as persuasion: thesis, objections, and political aims * Class struggle and economic determinism as historical explanation * Engels' Darwin analogy and the logic of "evolution" in history * Reform versus revolution and the rationale for coercive overthrow * Marx on property, the family, and religion * Retrospective assessment: Russia, China, and the "did it happen?" question #CommunistManifesto #Marx #Engels #PoliticalPhilosophy #Modernity #HistoryOfIdeas #ClassicalEducation 

Why devote an entire semester to Ptolemy when his cosmology is, in a fundamental respect, false? In this episode, we discuss Ptolemy's Almagest as one of the most ambitious and intellectually disciplined attempts to give a comprehensive, mathematically rigorous account of the visible cosmos. Although the geocentric hypothesis ultimately proves incorrect, Ptolemy's achievement remains exemplary: he constructs a predictive model grounded in careful observation, geometric reasoning, and a principled commitment to explaining celestial phenomena through uniform circular motion. We consider why the Almagest has enduring pedagogical value. First, it compels students to inhabit a worldview whose plausibility emerges from ordinary experience: the apparent rotation of the heavens, the fixity of the North Star, and the seasonal variation of the night sky. Second, it demonstrates how scientific inquiry proceeds through the disciplined reconciliation of theory with anomalies, as Ptolemy introduces eccentrics, epicycles, and refined astronomical parameters to preserve intelligibility and predictive power. Third, it illuminates the historical logic of discovery: Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton do not merely "replace" Ptolemy, but respond to and build upon the technical and conceptual problems his work articulates. The conversation also addresses Ptolemy's striking philosophical claims about astronomy: its proximity to theology (as an inquiry into the divine order manifest in celestial regularity), its moral significance (formation of the soul through contemplation of proportion and order), and its elevation of mathematical reasoning as a paradigmatic mode of knowledge. Topics include: * The Almagest as a comprehensive astronomical theory: observation, geometry, and prediction * Why geocentrism is initially plausible and intellectually serious * Uniform circular motion as an explanatory principle * Eccentrics and epicycles: anomaly, refinement, and theoretical tension * Precision in ancient astronomy: measuring the year and celestial phenomena * Ptolemy, contemplation, and the formative dimension of scientific study * Historical continuity: how later astronomy emerges through response to Ptolemy #Ptolemy #Almagest #Astronomy #HistoryOfScience #ClassicalEducation #GreatBooks #Mathematics #ThomasAquinasCollege

Is mainstream education failing the next generation? In this episode of the TAC Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Wayne Tate, founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), to explore how standardized testing has reshaped American education — and why a classical alternative may be the key to renewal. From the rise of the SAT and Common Core to the growing influence of AI in classrooms, Tate argues that tests don't just measure education — they drive it. As reading lists shrink, calculators replace mental math, and ChatGPT writes student essays, what happens to real learning? We discuss: • How the SAT and ACT transformed curriculum • Why great books matter more than ever • The danger of reducing education to job training • AI, cheating, and the collapse of intellectual formation • The revival of classical education nationwide • Whether this moment is a true renaissance In a time of cultural fragmentation and technological upheaval, this conversation asks a deeper question: What is education for?If the future of work is uncertain, perhaps the future belongs to those formed in wisdom, virtue, and first principles.   Subscribe for weekly conversations on Great Books and First Principles.   #ClassicalEducation #GreatBooks #LiberalArts #AI #EducationReform #CLT #ThomasAquinasCollege

Welcome to the official podcast of Thomas Aquinas College. Each week, senior members of the teaching faculty open a window into the intellectual life of the College through conversations rooted in the Great Books and the pursuit of first principles. Together, they explore the foundational questions that have shaped Western civilization. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the podcast invites listeners into the same kind of thoughtful, rigorous dialogue that defines the classroom experience. From ancient mathematics and astronomy to philosophy, theology, and modern science, each episode seeks to understand the truth of things by returning to first principles. Occasionally featuring guest scholars and educators, the show offers rich discussions on the Great Books, liberal education, and the enduring relevance of classical learning.New episodes air weekly. Subscribe and join the conversation.