))
Living Well at the End of a World: James Hankins on “Restoring Classical Civilization in the Renaissance”
Manage episode 480092356 series 3549305
Content provided by The Morningside Institute. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Morningside Institute or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
In this talk at Living Well at the End of a World, James Hankins draws parallels between our contemporary anxieties about civilizational decline and the late medieval Renaissance period, specifically the 14th and 15th centuries, which also faced profound institutional crises. He highlights the humanist movement, spearheaded by Petrarch, as a historical response that sought societal reform by fostering virtue and wisdom in leaders through a renewed emphasis on classical learning. Hankins argues that the Renaissance represented a radical re-centering of civilization, advocating for a meritocratic leadership grounded in moral excellence and a commitment to community welfare.
The Morningside Institute hosted a two-day conference on April 4–5, 2025. On its first day, the conference examined some of the radical changes that Western societies are undergoing. On the second day, we explored in greater detail historical examples of how communities have navigated periods of intense cultural change and even devastation. For more information about Living Well at the End of a World, please visit https://www.morningsideinstitute.org/living-well.
56 episodes
Share
