Category Archives: Socrates

After a lengthy hiatus, Lion and Ox engage in a lazy summer dialogue in which they compare certain aspects of their own mode of eating to the habits of the philosopher.

Posted on June 29, 2021 by marklangley

Ox: Ah, summer once again Lion! A time to stand around for hours idly, yet contentedly chewing the cud in the warm summer sunshine. Think of it! All that ruminating and digesting. Frankly, I pity you, you carnivores that only … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, Shakespeare, Socrates, socratic dialogue | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Civil War Did Not End These Four Kinds of Slavery.

Posted on July 8, 2020 by marklangley

The bad news is that the Civil War did not put an end to slavery. Sure, the Civil War did end the apparent and visible slavery that made legal the ownership of human beings by other human beings, whereby the … Continue reading →

Posted in education, liberal education, slavery, Socrates | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Confusion about the Common Good

Posted on March 28, 2020 by marklangley

In the not too distant future, I am hoping that someone much brighter than I will perform the heavy philosophical lifting that it will take to state precisely what is wrong with the current approach that our Church is taking … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Aquinas, Common Good, liberal education, Modernists, philosophy, Socrates, The Mass | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Socrates and Jesus: On dangerous teaching methods and the lack of published works

Posted on September 17, 2019 by marklangley

Jesus and Socrates are alike in two striking ways. Not that we are the first to compare the two. Actually, I am singularly unversed in what other thinkers like Montaigne and Mill, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche had to say about the … Continue reading →

Posted in discussion, Socrates, socratic dialogue | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Case for Bribery

Posted on March 18, 2019 by marklangley

How appalling! I am absolutely shocked! Simply dumbfounded! How could anyone do something so wicked? I mean, can you imagine bribing an admission officer at a prestigious college or university? Who would ever dream of such a thing? How could … Continue reading →

Posted in aeschylus, catholic education, classical education, college, Socrates, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

To Hell with The Socratic Method!

Posted on February 23, 2019 by marklangley

Today I mean simply to get straight to the point. There will be no interruptions and I won’t even be taking questions! I find that this is the only way to really get things done. Sometimes we like to defend … Continue reading →

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Insipid Church Music: A Role in the Crisis?

Posted on September 19, 2018 by marklangley

As a liturgical musician I can’t help wondering to what extent the insipid and vapid music prevalent in our churches has contributed to the present crisis. That there is more than a mere coincidental connection between the squishy feel-good liturgical music … Continue reading →

Posted in Homer, Homer Sightings, Sacred Music, Socrates, The Mass | Tagged , , , | 57 Comments

Did You Know That Drinking Milk Is An Excellent Preparation For Eating Meat?

Posted on November 9, 2017 by marklangley

Sometimes St. Paul seems downright condescending! For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have … Continue reading →

Posted in aeschylus, Aquinas, Augustine, catholic education, Heraclitus, Homer, Sacred Doctrine, Socrates | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Five Good Reasons to Avoid Being Educated

Posted on October 28, 2017 by marklangley

Sometimes in life we need to face difficult truths.  If we have been on the wrong side of an issue, we need to be open to change, and open to declaring an “about-face.” Even if it hurts! And so, after … Continue reading →

Posted in catholic education, classical education, college, education, liberal education, Newman, Socrates, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

A Third Reason Why Philosophy is The Best and Most Noble Music

Posted on October 10, 2017 by marklangley

Let’s see if we can make this argument quickly and effectively! We have given two reasons why Socrates said that “Philosophy Is The Best And Most Noble Music.” We now present a third. Maybe there are more than three? But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fine Arts, Music, philosophy, Socrates, Uncategorized, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment