Here is what we are planning for January:
Brian C. Wilson’s course “Nationalism vs. Globalism” continues this Wednesday, January 6th, with a lecture comparing Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front and Ernst Jünger’s Storm of Steel. While these works are meant to show, to the extent possible, what the individual experience of war looks like from the inside, they do much more than this, as they make sharply contrasting cases for what kind of political life we ought to hope for and aspire to, and indeed on what LIFE itself is and should be.
You can take a look here to see the spirited, thoughtful, and serious comments made by some of the class participants on the first session. The atmosphere and energy created by these guys is beautiful. We will be carrying out our first live (audio only) class discussion later this week over the first three sessions—a unique opportunity available only to subscribers of the college.
Finally, parts of some lectures will begin to appear for subscribers only. The fourth session is on Trotsky and Larteguy; the Trotsky half will be available to all, but the juicy and daring interpretation of Larteguy will be reserved for the MCC elite.
Phocaean Dionysius has launched two different outstanding essay series. His first series is devoted to introducing Rousseau’s Social Contract (the first two installments are here and here). His purpose is to disclose Rousseau’s intention in an accessible way, without a cumbersome scholarly apparatus, and without jargon. The thoughts that Phocaean brings out of Rousseau, on sovereignty in particular, pair extremely well with the “Nationalism vs. Globalism” course. In Phoc’s words: “Sovereignty is ultimately about honesty and courage. Men must have the courage to recognize their situation: acquisition of safety only comes through virtue rather than obedience.”
Phocaean’s other series is on the Straussians and their approach to politics and political philosophy. He aptly describes their virtues and very soon, he will discuss some of their shortcomings. In addition he plans a new essay on Leo Strauss himself, and the move from Positivism to Historicism in Natural Right and History (and the West).
A friend of the college, Herodotean Dreams, produced a phenomenal essay introducing Heidegger’s thought on art. He somehow manages to make Heidegger accessible without distorting the fundamental questions at stake. He also brings out striking departures and parallels to classical Greek and Christian thought. He will return soon with a companion essay introducing Heidegger’s thought on technology.
And a final note: plans for the in person summer program in 2022 are making progress! I can’t confirm very much now, except to say that we have narrowed down the potential locations to a very short list, and that we will be visiting them in person in 2021. We won’t yet have a permanent location of our own, but we see a couple years of successful in-person programs as crucial steps toward proving to students, collaborators, and investors, that the United States is in need of a new kind of educational institution, and that Montana Classical College can ably answer that call.
Finally: we infinitely appreciate the support of casual readers, email list subscribers, and (especially) paid subscribers. Your generosity, candor, and friendliness greatly increase the pleasure of our own attempts to learn through putting together these classes and essays.