Great Books #3: Poets and Prophets

The podcast explores how the epic poem, the Iliad, served as a foundation for Greek civilization by establishing concepts of Arete (virtue) and eudaimonia (flourishing). It posits that the Greeks' emphasis on speech-making, exemplified by Odysseus, and war fighting, represented by Achilles, aimed to create and impose a reality onto others. The lengthy speeches in the Iliad are examined as attempts to project a new reality, using poetic techniques like imagery and metaphor to make them memorable and internalized. Drawing on Immanuel Kant's philosophy, the podcast suggests poets create language that shapes our understanding of reality, connecting individuals to a collective consciousness and enabling civilization.