Polybius and Lucian

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Dr. Michael Sugrue earned his BA at the University of Chicago and PhD at Columbia University.

[@trevorbaier7072]

Dr. Sugrue, thank you for doing these live sessions following our recent course! I feel like I am back in class again. Your teaching is a profound gift to humanity and we are incredibly grateful for sharing your gifts with us.

[@austinmackell9286]

Well said Trevor.

[@ai_serf]

Dr Sugrue, you're looking healthier! Keep up whatever you're doing.

[@jasoncherry3404]

I’m currently traveling for work, tuning into your lectures has helped keep me sane. Thank you professor.

[@havefunbesafe]

Professor Sugrue, your lectures have changed my life. I am sincere sir.🙏🏼

[@mb8kr]

Hi Mr Sugrue.

[@ok-kk3ic]

He has a PhD, in case you didn’t know.

[@BadTracer]

@@ok-kk3ic so? Some people here respect him because of his titles and following, some others due to their estimation of his intellect and purpose. Either way, if he was to be insulted by a greeting with the wrong societal label, then he is nothing more than a philosophical parrot.

[@Elbownian]

Chill

[@mini_worx]

Looking good and vibrant Mr Sugrue. Glad to see that.

[@thattimestampguy]

1:02 Greek and Roman Culture 2:14 Aristotle's Categories: 1 few many, 3:22 Structure, Pattern of Growth and Decline 3:59 Alpha Male --> Legitimate Monarchy --> Aristocracy --> Democracy 7:02 Anacyclipsis - The Cycle of History, Man and Restraint 8:38 Elected Monarchs, A Selection of Executives from The Patristic Class 9:56 The Plebian Tribunes balance the polity 11:20 Hobbes - Any Order > Chaos 14:55 Fragments of brilliance, much intellect lost to time and destruction. *Philosophy in Rome* 16:47 Romans focus on practicality and satirical humor 18:19 Lucian The Skeptic 19:54 Philosophers for sale 21:04 Pythagoras: Math 🧮 Worship 23:13 Diogenes: Reject Humanity 24:52 Cyrenaic: Hedonism 25:20 Democritus, Heraclitus, don’t appeal to Romans. Socrates gets bought by Dion 27:40 Epicurus - Rational Pleasure Seeking (moderated enjoyment) 28:58 Cresipitus: Organization and Discipline to pursue virtue 30:08 Parapatitics: Necessity of approximation 31:34 Pirro: Skeptic suspension of certainty *Harmonious Balance of Groups of Mankind*

[@ok-kk3ic]

Youre a legend

[@joelgodoy1604]

I love your work man. You have really improved my thoughts. Greetings from Argentina.

[@kranjcat]

the king is back, with full force!

[@cheri238]

Hello, Professor Sugre. Just got this. Love all your lectures and yes you are looking well. Affectionately ❤️You are amazing to listen and learn from. I giggle throughout your lectures, you make it fun. I also love also the ones on literature, poetry . My papa had me reading many books starting at the age of 5 years old. Nonetheless I must thank my papa , he has been passed quite a number of years. He made me an iconoclast at a very young age. He never went to college, nor did I but what a library he left me. Books 📚

[@hamzaalikhoso6688]

So happy with the improved audio. Thank you for these gems, Professor :)

[@yavarnikanjam7954]

I have not listened to this lecture yet, but I want to emphasize my gratitude to Mr. Sugrue for many reasons. 1. Kept me sane in hard times. I was Homeless, Battling mental health and addiction, and an immigrant in English speaking country without having any knowledge of the Language and costumes. I had one thing, Love. I have listened to The Marcus/Stoic Lecture almost over 1000 times without understanding it well. It took me 3 years. Just 4 hours of KZbin Videos one by Mr. Sugrue. Listening every day, without any intention of using a dictionary. That happened 6 years ago. 2. I must gratitude again for finding a reason to do good for myself and others. Love. I wished to chat with that person about my philosophy. I am an agnostic a philosopher-poet, a Sort of Political animal, knowing it is unknowing in the form of metaphysics, yet not giving it to the beauty or the beast. I do not know much but I know I have no choice but to take action to save philosophers. I do not mean teachers, Those they know. Philosophy happens always in the most unlikely places. I have to say, true philosophers never had a chance to articulate their thoughts because they have been brutally oppressed. The glowing pain and suffering of those motivate those who now we call philosophers. With all respect and Love. 🙏

[@GuitarBard96]

love your lectures! I listen over and over. so many interesting people and ideas.

[@noesalinas3866]

love your lectures!! would love it if you could give one on Cicero! :)

[@mattiasvangbo7536]

We thank the old scribes that propagated the manuscripts...and we thank you for propagating the scholarship through this channel!

[@angelinekebeguilavogui6323]

Thank you, Dr. Sugrue! You are an extraordinary gift to the world! You are my Thomas Aquinas,by that I mean the best Teacher!

[@mrkyburzy]

Dr. Sugrue I appreciate everything you've done to help mankind conceptualize some of the greatest ideas in history. You do such a great job, we are forever indebted. Thank you.

[@FunnyVideosLover]

Always a delight to hear you speak and learn about this treasure trove of not so well known history. I can see you enjoying this just as much. You look a lot spirited and healthier now. 🙏

[@gradualpull2171]

Good to see him in health and spirits.

[@bingolittle8725]

A new Sugrue video is always a treat.

[@johnnypingsmusic]

Thank you for your time, dedication, and wisdom. Your knowledge and insight is invaluable

[@jonathantrautman]

Thank you Dr. Sugrue!

[@classicalgarse]

"Form no covetous desire, so that the demon of greediness may not deceive thee, and the treasure of the world may not be tasteless to thee." - Zarathustra, the pre-Epicurean

[@seansolidworks4736]

Glad to see you’re back at it. Thanks for sharing this.

[@ryanbarrios7933]

Thank you for all that you do.

[@kirstinpotts4387]

Thanks Mr.Sugrue!

[@MrBernardthecow]

I am ploughing through all the videos and its great to see these new videos. I can't wait! Thank you!

[@imadinosaur5042]

Thank you Doctor Sugrue. Your videos are truly a blessing.

[@fredsalvador1111]

I enjoy this new content! Hope we get more!

[@alexandrslobodyanik1704]

Thanks Dr. Sugrue! I was introduced to Anacyclosis in the Discourses on Livy, ever since I've been trying to figure out where the Goldilocks zone for good government is.

[@RobertCEakins]

No one else has, you won’t either

[@joemcdermott1213]

Maybe it has multiple answers depending on the context and no universal answer. The character of the people, or perhaps their culture, might be a decisive variable. I imagine having an environment where there are sufficient hardships and potential rewards to motivate people and force them to gain experience and have life experience in practicality. Not so easy as to breed decadence, but not so difficult as to encourage cynicism and giving up. This leads me to wonder what the origin of the Roman embrace of practicality was. Back to the original question of the Goldilocks zone, I'm tempted to say that any form of government can work given a suitable context. It's consistent with Polybius saying a King is really good, temporarily. Or the views of the founders of the US Constitution, for example, who said it would not be useful for governing an immoral people. Also with Montesquieu's ideas - who I learned about from another great Sugrue lecture - that theorized the government form should vary drastically based on context like size and geography of a nation, and the related ideas predicted the US civil war due to its size and disparate components.

[@brianmckibben619]

Part of my battle rhythm. I was waiting all week.

[@ChaoticSatire]

Loving the consistency and quality of these

[@hjimenez26]

Thank you for doing these videos.

[@cyama8679]

Dr Surge, Thank you for this lessons we need this so desperately to educate more people in a falling society.

[@BigVillyStyle]

Keep tending the flame flickering low in these darkening days, ember to us unkindled all among cinder and ash...

[@joemcdermott1213]

Another interesting topic I wouldn't have expected, and one I'm surprised was already well studied. I'm very grateful for the lecture. I think if any of my history teachers were asked why the Romans were successful they would have likely said that they were strong, sidestepping the point on how the society internally improved and maintained itself. Or they may say they were at the right time and place, which is another vague answer. I often feel this after a Sugrue lecture, people don't understand what they're missing. Society could be better as a whole if more people learned of this work, and discussed it and used it.

[@marioalejandrovillalon6687]

Happy you re back Teach!

[@maddietober7981]

Thanks

[@lashropa]

1:15 Thank you, Marcus. 🥰

[@logoimotions]

Wonderful topic

[@konstantinosntinas8139]

Thank you very much for this excellent lecture. Please keep them coming :)

[@brandonbarbour8864]

New Sugrue!!!!!

[@liverspot1739]

"How's that?" Bloody awesome! Thank you Michael

[@jamesboland1499]

Keep it up, this is great 👍

[@ozzy5146]

Better volume! Thanks!

[@FatEnjoi]

thanks doc, learning a lot

[@ooooo524]

Thank you

[@charlesedwardandrewlincoln8181]

This helps clarify Polybius a lot!

[@lashropa]

My guy. ♥️

[@dorothypearlman2704]

RIP Dr Sugrue 🙏

[@abbesieyesauralian7816]

1258 not 85 for Baghdad? love your work and enthusiasm. Thanks

[@lorenzotomescu5123]

Could you do a lecture sometime explaining some of your methods for studying history of philosophy/thought? Anything uncommon that might be emulated?

[@MegaFount]

Professor Sugrue, I would love to hear whether your perspective on these great works have changed with maturity.

[@Dino_Medici]

That would be a brilliant topic to cover

[@joshuavarela304]

Hows that he asks, I sub for that thanks for another intriguing segment sir

[@jamessheffield4173]

What about Scipio's Dream by Cisero?

[@zerodreaming]

Love ya big guy!

[@jamessheffield4173]

It was the Roman Republic that really built the Empire.

[@MB-ue2rf]

Thanks!

[@brucekern7083]

Good God, that dog is driving me nuts!! Lol

[@michaelmiranda9983]

i love this!!!!

[@LetsFindOut1]

i hope you guys didn't get hit too hard by the hurricane if you're still in florida. my absolute best to you.

[@EveryCarpet]

Thank you for these lectures. Is there any way that we would be willing to write to you through a P.O. box or an email?

[@pearz420]

Nothing lasts, but nothing is lost.

[@OnerousEthic]

0:19 “The Romans were concerned with practicality.” Greeks were scientists; Romans were engineers. 4:33 “Legitimate monarchy is the proper rule of the one, With the intention of achieving the common good, and relying upon the rule of law.“ I love this! And I hope that you will begin to use “sovereign“… 9:16 “The best families, and the richest families in Rome were military…Their wealth was measured in land and slaves.”

[@FranAlbani]

Are there any plans of a Sugrue & Staloff duo?🤩

[@dr.michaelsugrue]

Possibly. Tom Rollins, the Teaching Company founder, once said he should tape our banter backstage instead of the lectures. He said we should call it "Michael and Darren Unplugged".

[@jasonmitchell5219]

Great as always. Isn't progress a Hebraic idea though?

[@goofyahhh254]

Why does everyone like Dr strangelove

[@YBladeY]

Can anyone link me to a book with Horus and Juvenile?

[@dr.michaelsugrue]

Horace and Juvenal

[@YBladeY]

@@dr.michaelsugrue it would probably help if I knew how to spell it haha

[@erickomar3152]

Yo! 😊

[@GnosticInformant]

Lucian's Civil War is a masterpiece.

[@RanchElder]

Note that's Lucan, not Lucian of Samosata who is discussed here.

[@willorn]

troubles with this recording. might be worth repeating if possible

[@jimstanz4731]

cool

[@bH-tz6ow]

Would you show us your dog?

[@dr.michaelsugrue]

Yes, when I figure out how, I will post a pic of Queenie, my faithful hound.

[@fredlinkon8857]

please do vitruvius!!!!!!

[@Dino_Medici]

If he did any art history my head would explode lmao

[@patrickskramstad1485]

14:55

[@albertrequejo1655]

Roman culture is not 'derivative' of Greek culture. It might have developed in parallel simultaneously, but is definitely not 'derivative' of anything.

[@zhangcalvin341]

The audience have to get their mindset ready in 10s or going start to miss out details.

[@alexlynch8179]

You need a real video editor, my friend. Love what you're saying, some of the unnecessary things need to be removed. It's quite easy to delete the parts when you're coughing or drinking. I'd be happy to help. #PremierePro

[@lucasvarela9632]

Sup bro

[@sonnyvarioni1654]

The law of KZbin educational videos: high quality talks with low quality production or low quality talks with high quality production. Ugh.

[@kosimpson2010]

Absolutely love your lectures! Is that a dog in the background? Distracting.!

[@RobertCEakins]

Then don’t watch

[@kosimpson2010]

@@RobertCEakins Instead of Ephectic you should name yourself Pathetic, fits better.

[@RobertCEakins]

@@kosimpson2010 In what way?

[@kosimpson2010]

@@RobertCEakins In the way that when someone states that they love listening to this channel and tries to give some constructive criticism, in hopes of being able to listen to the Dr.'s wonderful,, incitefull stories, you just shit on their comment.

[@RobertCEakins]

@@kosimpson2010 I felt the criticism was a little too terse to be constructive. And, being sympathetic to the Dr.'s situation, was thus compelled to repay the ingratitude with biting laconism.

[@okwaleedpoetry]

Can historians/philosophers predict the future for countries? It’s hard to imagine the end of capitalism/America without the world also ending… I can’t see over the horizon Doc

[@okwaleedpoetry]

Also I’ll take Epicureanism for $10!

[@dr.michaelsugrue]

To a very limited degree, yes, but this domain is in fact smaller than our hybris usually allows for. Most prognostications about the future are viewed by historians the way doctors view amateur brain surgery. Here is a discussion I might be able to predict, without being Nostradamus. Have you finished Du Bois? fast forward "Busy" doing what? fast forward So to get your Epicurean money's worth, you prioritize all of these playthings and distractions and amusements over getting an education? fast forward Regardless of your protestations you don't act like you think that an education is worth obtaining. fastforward Various ideologies or institutions or structures did not decide for you not to pursue knowledge, you did. fast forward Your future self and the people you love will be better off in proportion to what you know, as the Koran might add, "If you but knew it". fast forward It is always better to live and evaluate on the basis of what you know, choosing more rather than less ignorance means harmful decisions. fast forward You can help yourself, in fact only you can help you. Your mind is diffuse, a magnifying glass out of focus. Step up and organize your soul. fast forward There is no education without the solitude and focus and sacrifice required by any serious study of anything. Knowledge comes at a cost. fast forward As Marcus Aurelius shows, once your feelings are less disorganized, your new focus will be part of your self education. Watch "The Alpinist".

[@goofyahhh254]

​@dr.michaelsugrue I have a yearning for digesting history, philosophy, and other knowledge. So I watch your lectures over and over because I know I miss something. But as you say, that's not an education, so would you suggest I continue to higher education? I had good grades in the humanities they always came naturally...I'm 21, working in a warehouse for the last 3 years. I managed to get into trading cryptocurrencies, and that will likely replace my job. Then, I may have the resources to study with financial certainty. Seems to me that a school environment allows you to interact with the material in a way you can't get anywhere else, including with likeminded people who otherwise would have never got together.

[@dr.michaelsugrue]

Current university life is deeply corrupt. Before studying books study yourself and the world. Since you have the money and the time, go to the Grand Canyon. I mean change your physical location and go there and look at it with your eyes. This will remind you of the scale of the universe and the deception of self importance.

[@davidgo8874]

Rome smashed Greece and adopted its culture, but didn't Greece do the same with the Etruscans? It's a shame we don't know more about Etruscan culture. Perhaps in the future we will.

[@elonrizal]

Let’s make it a federal crime to burn books