Great Books #2: Homer and the Invention of the Human

The podcast explores the qualities of a great book through the lens of Homer's Iliad, particularly focusing on how such works enable readers to deeply understand themselves and the world. It argues that great books feature characters capable of "hearing themselves speak," demonstrating a high level of self-awareness and consciousness. This concept is illustrated through an analysis of the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles, highlighting their self-justifications and attempts to control the narrative. The podcast then speculates on how Homer was able to create such realistic characters, proposing a theory that Homer accessed universal archetypes through a heightened state of consciousness, portraying poets as prophets who convey eternal truths.