Introducing "Stories from the Stoa," The Inaugural Issue
Introducing “Stories from the Stoa,” a bi-monthly collection of culturally significant news, stories, and inspiration from around the world covered in one place for your reading convenience.
Stories from the Stoa
Noteworthy cultural news and inspiration featuring philosophically classical perspectives.
Volume I, Issue I
In Ancient Greece, the “Stoa” was a covered patio or walkway located in close proximity to the center of town. Beautifully built with columns adorning the perimeter, these spacious areas were open to the public and created a warm, friendly atmosphere. Citizens of cities like Athens would meet at the stoa to discuss philosophy, upcoming events, and the latest Athenian news. Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoic philosophy, would meet his students under the covered area of Athens’ stoa. That’s how the “Stoic” philosophy got its name.
My aim with “Stories from the Stoa” here at Classically Cultured is to bring you important and uplifting stories from all corners of the digital universe, and house them in one place for you to browse with a cup of coffee or while on your lunch break. In the same vein of Ancient Greece’s culturally enriched Athens, the news included will be noteworthy, culturally significant, inspirational, and in keeping with Classically Cultured’s philosophical lens, which champions reason, liberty, personal excellence, and civility.
Released a couple of times a month, I hope these “Stories from the Stoa” issues reignite hope for you for the future, because they’ll highlight the best of humanity, which I believe, still greatly outweighs the worst (contrary to what the mainstream news tells you).
I hope you enjoy reading the inaugural issue below!
“What Happened to the Polymaths?” by Timothy Sandefur
Leonardo da Vinci was perhaps the most famous “polymath” of all time. The word itself means, “a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.” An artist, inventor, science-enthusiast, and cultural icon of the renaissance, no other man represents this term better than da Vinci. But until the latter part of the 20th century, the “polymathic” way of learning was encouraged via classical education. Nowadays though, hyper-specialization is the name of the game, often with different departments at schools and universities refusing to even communicate with each other. This is detrimental to innovation, progress, and civilization. Sandefur eloquently explains why with his Discourse article, “What Happened to the Polymaths?”
“The Most Dangerous Thing in Culture Right Now is Beauty” by Ted Gioia
Writer and esteemed music critic Ted Gioia brilliantly covers a hotly debated topic not given near the philosophical real estate it deserves, Aesthetics. It’s a branch of philosophy, but one that often takes a back seat to more intricate branches like Epistemology and Ethics. As an artist, I believe the philosophical undertaking of seriously studying aesthetics is vital to flourishing individuals. So why does Gioia think beauty is dangerous? It’s not what you think. He discusses the dangerous views on beauty espoused by mainstream media outlets and universities. They can’t define beauty because they refuse to see it for what it truly is, a powerful, individualistic force that drives passion, inspiration, and personal renaissance. While Gioia advocates for cultural beauty (from a philosophical stance, rather than our traditional, modern view of it), he also tells you what beauty is not, which is equally as important as studying what it is:
“Your beloved is not the same as your neighbor’s beloved, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
But right now I want to tell you what beauty is NOT.
It doesn’t require validation by an institution.
It can’t be manipulated by a corporation.
It doesn’t need or want theory or interpretation.
It’s not mediated through a critic.
Now you can begin to understand why beauty is dangerous. It’s the closest thing to anarchy and liberation in our public lives.”
This piece is sure to awaken your inner-philosopher.
“Apollo II” by Ayn Rand
In 1969, writer and founder of Objectivist philosophy Ayn Rand was invited along with other fellow cultural greats to witness the launch of the Apollo II rocket. Featured in the anthology, The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought, and available to read online for free is her highly entertaining, inspiring recounting of that thrilling day. To Rand, the launch represented the best parts of man, and what man can do when harnessing reason, technology, innovation, and an indomitable will. But it isn’t simply just a rehashing of the liftoff, as amazing as that is to read about. The essay, communicated to the reader from an Objectivist lens, explores many different culturally relevant issues, like why the sciences (at the time) were advancing so much while the humanities were going backwards (and still are). That, Rand concludes, is because science dealing with physics and technological advancement has to be rooted in the proper nature of things, or else it will not work. Humanities departments refuse to recognize this fundamental principle, thus, they’re stuck in primitive times that predate even Ancient Greece’s early beginnings.
Read Rand’s soul-stirring essay here.
“A U.S. Marine’s Story of Archangel Michael, the Korean War, and a Miracle” by Catherine Salgado
A moving account of a young soldier’s miraculous escape from communist forces during the Korean War. The public was made aware of his heart-pounding experience via a letter the Marine wrote to his mother, detailing the day he was ambushed by several communist soldiers but somehow managed to make it out of the battle alive, and quite bewildered. According to the letter, a towering, protective figure was instrumental in his survival, which he directly credits to Archangel Michael, a spiritual symbol of protection and courage. Whether you are religious or not, this incredible story (and letter) transcends faith. It highlights the best of humanity, and is relatable to anyone who has ever had to face insurmountable battles with strength, grace, and bravery. It also leaves you grappling with the metaphysical (always a fun time).
Read the remarkable story of Michael, a U.S. Marine and Korean War veteran, at PJ Media.
“The Iron Lady of the West” - Happy (belated) birthday, Margaret Thatcher
A Hillsdale College email this past Saturday reminded me I missed Margaret Thatcher’s birthday on October 13th by one day. She’s one of my favorite leading ladies of history. The former Prime Minister of the U.K. was known as “The Iron Lady” of the west, and for good reason. She championed free markets, liberty, and western values like self-governance and civility. Former president of the United States Ronald Reagan once joked she was “the best man in England,” thanks to her unflappable resilience and unwavering principles, even against great forces like Soviet Russia. Read about how she got the nickname “The Iron Lady,”, and learn about how she turned the insult into a coveted title.
“Philosophical Songbird” - a debut nonfiction book by yours truly in serialized form
I couldn’t get through the inaugural issue of “Stories from the Stoa” without reminding you of my debut nonfiction work premiering this Thursday, October 19th, right here on Substack. I published my first book, Derelict, a crime mystery read on Amazon a couple of years ago, but I’m trying something different this time. I don’t want you to have to access my work from several different places. I want you to be able to visit Classically Cultured and read my essays, books, and poetry, and listen to my music without ever having to leave the site. It’s so much easier that way. So, beginning on Thursday, I’ll be releasing Philosophical Songbird in serialized format, with a new section debuting each week. A book of essays and poetry exploring art, business, and the ethics of man, the book acts as a roadmap of sorts for the genesis of my professional career. It’s deeply personal, and may ruffle some feathers (as I tend to do at times). And I’m very excited to share it with you. For more information on Philosophical Songbird, check out my book announcement post on Classically Cultured here.