Skip to content
Opens in a new window
Erotics and Harmonics, feat. Patrick Downey | Episode CXVII
08 September 2026

Erotics and Harmonics, feat. Patrick Downey | Episode CXVII

New Humanists

About

Send us Fan Mail

Patrick Downey, professor of philosophy at St. Mary's College of California, returns to New Humanists to discuss Book Three of Plato's Republic. Why does Socrates permit lies in his city? And why does he kick Homer out? Downey gives answers to these questions, as well as raising others about Plato's attempt to transcend comedy and tragedy in the form of dialogic philosophical drama. We also discuss the ideal location in which to conduct philosophical inquiry (California, obviously), good and bad music, and how to keep your kids young and innocent at heart.


Previous New Humanists episode with Patrick Downey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ren%C3%A9-girard-myth-and-the-bible-feat-dr-patrick-downey/id1570296135?i=1000543650312


Plato's Republic (trans. Allan Bloom): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780465094080


John Steinbeck's East of Eden: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780140186390


Patrick Downey's Serious Comedy: https://amzn.to/4ypQhGK


Patrick Downey's Desperately Wicked: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780830828944


Two ways to support the show and unlock bonus episodes:


Download and subscribe to Ekho: ancientlanguage.com/ekho/


Subscribe to New Humanists+ for bonus episodes: buzzsprout.com/1791279/subscribe


New 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.com


Support the show