Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dr. Jason Baxter and Dcn. Harrison Garlick come together to introduce Dante's Purgatorio and Dr. Baxter's new translation!
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And thank you to the Center of Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College for promoting this reading of the Purgatorio!
Dr. Baxter first describes the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College as a fellowship program (Angelico Fellows) that immerses students in beauty across the arts, music, literature, and theology—through concerts, museums, and pilgrimages—to foster interiority and the conviction that “beauty can save the world.”
The conversation then contrasts Purgatorio with the Inferno: while the latter is dark, lurid, and focused on judgment, Purgatorio is a place of hope, mercy, transformation, and “eternal New Year’s resolutions,” where repentant souls engage in spiritual exercises to purify their tarnished mirrors, learn authentic love and prayer, and prepare for Paradise. Baxter likens the shift to moving from heavy metal to Schubert, emphasizing greenness, brightness, and unexpected mercy.
Baxter explains that his translation began as a personal quest for mastery—going word-by-word to internalize Dante like memorizing a piano piece—but evolved into a philosophy capturing Dante’s “fugue” of style: ascending, prolix syntax with lofty classical allusions layered over humble, earthy words that reflect Franciscan humility and incarnational Christian poetics. Examples include goats ruminating on the “foco d’amore” (fire of love) amid elevated star imagery, or Statius calling Virgil’s Aeneid “una mamma” (translated “mommy”).
He describes Purgatorio as spiritual surgery—painfully removing the soul’s “carcinogenic” elements through grace-filled cooperation—and a map for configuring to Christ beyond mere sin avoidance. Baxter advises first-time readers to pause at puzzling images or word choices, ask “why would Dante do that here?,” trust their instincts, and consider his audiobook for the text’s soundscape, while Deacon Garlick stresses the canticle’s role as a spiritual guide that mirrors one’s own maturation toward God.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ascend and Dante's Purgatorio
03:43 The Center for Beauty and Culture
05:40 Understanding Dante's Purgatorio
07:54 The Nature of Purgatorio
14:54 Dante the Pilgrim vs. Dante the Poet
19:32 The Spirituality of Translation
20:14 The Philosophy of Translation
30:02 Dante's Christian Poetics
34:22 Exploring Dante's Poetic Style
36:51 Juxtaposition in Dante's Imagery
41:42 The Concept of Spiritual Surgery
44:49 The Journey of Holiness
48:13 The Role of...

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Justin Jackson host a Q&A on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. They explore major themes such as the role of femininity, the moral dilemmas faced by Gawain, and the significance of the girdle.
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The conversation highlights Gawain's character development, the tension between chivalric ideals and Christian morality, and the Green Knight's role as a tempter. Through a detailed analysis, they uncover the layers of meaning within the poem, emphasizing the intentional tension crafted by the poet.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
03:13 Teaching 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'
06:34 The Role of Women in the Poem
12:27 The Tension Between Pagan and Christian Elements
21:57 Gawain's Moral Dilemmas and Compartmentalization
28:05 The Confession Scene and Its Implications
37:02 Confession and Contrition
40:56 The Green Knight's Dual Role
51:58 Chivalry, Cowardice, and the Girdle
01:02:50 Symbolism of Colors in Gawain
01:07:31 The Intensity of the Green Knight
01:08:36 Gawain's Confrontation and Internal Conflict
01:11:29 The Symbolism of the Green Girdle
01:17:24 The Ending: Bliss and Blunder
01:26:19 Final Thoughts on Gawain's Journey
Keywords
Sir Gawain, Green Knight, themes, femininity, chivalry, morality, confession, literature, medieval, analysis, Sir Gawain, Green Knight, chivalry, medieval literature, symbolism, courtly love, Morgan Le Fay, color symbolism, moral lessons, literary analysis, great books, philosophy, Catholic, Catholicism
Takeaways
The tension in the poem is intentional and significant.
Gawain's character is complex, showcasing both strengths and weaknesses.
The role of femininity is prominent and influential in the narrative.
The girdle symbolizes Gawain's internal conflict and moral struggles.
Gawain's confession scene raises important questions about sincerity and contrition.
The Green Knight serves as a tempter, challenging Gawain's virtues.
The poem explores the interplay between pagan and Christian ideals.
Gawain's journey reflects a maturation of character and understanding.
The hunting scenes parallel Gawain's temptations and moral choices.
The...

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Donald Prudlo explore the intricate relationship between Plato and St. Thomas Aquinas, examining how Aquinas's thought is influenced by Platonic philosophy while also being rooted in Aristotle.
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They discuss the nuances of Aquinas' understanding of universals, the nature of evil, and the significance of the body in Christian anthropology, highlighting the complexities of Aquinas's intellectual context and the historical development of these philosophical ideas.
They discuss how Aquinas synthesized various philosophical traditions, particularly in his understanding of existence and essence, the role of beauty, and the moral implications of his metaphysics. The dialogue also touches on the early church's reception (or rejection) of Aristotle, the influence of Islamic philosophy, and the evolution of Aquinas' thought throughout his life.
Ultimately, the conversation highlights the richness of Aquinas' philosophy and its relevance to contemporary discussions on faith and reason.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
03:11 Experiencing the Papal Conclave
06:34 Plato and Aquinas: A Complex Relationship
12:43 Aquinas' Intellectual Evolution
17:02 The Importance of Reading the Great Books
24:25 Platonic Thought in Aquinas' Philosophy
34:48 The Quest for Certitude in Philosophy
37:20 Realism and the Nature of Universals
40:56 Mind-Body Dualism and the Significance of the Body
47:36 The Reception of Aristotle in Early Christianity
54:09 The Distinction Between Essence and Existence
01:04:53 The Role of Beauty in Aquinas' Philosophy
01:06:38 Exploring Beauty in Philosophy
01:11:23 The Role of Beauty in St. Thomas Aquinas
01:13:44 The Ladder of Love and Its Implications
01:19:18 Essence and Existence in Thomistic Thought
01:21:41 The Hierarchy of Being and Divine Wisdom
01:25:22 The Evolution of Aquinas' Thought
01:27:35 Understanding Aquinas Through His Influences
01:30:17 Final Thoughts on Faith and Reason
Takeaways
Aquinas is often mischaracterized as purely Aristotelian.
The relationship between Plato and Aristotle is more complex (and harmonious) than often portrayed.
Aquinas' thought is enriched by both Platonic and Aristotelian influences.
Evil is understood as a privation of the good in Aquinas's philosophy.
Aquinas' understanding of universals differs from both Plato and Aristotle.
The concept of exitus and reditus is a key Neoplatonic idea in Aquinas.
The mind-body dualism presents challenges for Christian thought.
Aquinas retained Platonic emphasis on the...

In this episode of the Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Thomas Ward from Baylor University about Plato's influence on St. Boethius.
The conversation begins with an exploration of Boethius's life, particularly his role as a Roman statesman and philosopher during a tumultuous time in history. Dr. Ward highlights St. Boethius's seminal work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," written while he awaited execution, and discusses its impact on medieval thought and the liberal arts tradition. The dialogue emphasizes St. Boethius's unique position as a bridge between Roman and medieval philosophy, often referred to as the last of the Romans and the first of the medievals.
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As the conversation unfolds, the discussion shifts to the Platonic influences on St. Boethius's writings. Dr. Ward explains how Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought, particularly in his understanding of the good and the nature of happiness. The episode delves into the themes of evil as privation, the nature of true happiness, and the philosophical journey from despair to enlightenment that St. Boethius undergoes in his work.
The dialogue is rich with references to other philosophical texts, including the works of Plato, and draws parallels between Boethius's ideas and those found in the writings of later thinkers like Dante and Aquinas. Overall, the episode serves as a compelling introduction to Boethius's thought and its enduring relevance in the study of philosophy.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
02:24 Exploring Boethius and His Influence
04:16 Who Was Boethius?
07:49 Boethius: The Last Roman and First Scholastic
10:18 The Liberal Arts and Boethius' Legacy
11:36 Teaching Boethius: A Personal Journey
14:07 Plato's Influence on Boethius
18:50 The Consolation of Philosophy: Setting the Stage
24:31 Lady Philosophy: Deconstruction and Reconstruction
29:58 The Quest for Self-Knowledge
30:51 Fortune and Its Dual Nature
31:53 The Good: Bridging Plato and Christianity
36:19 Happiness and the Divine Connection
40:00 The Paradox of Good and Evil
45:11 The Poetic and Philosophical Fusion
48:44 Evil as Privation: A Platonic Insight
52:08 Boethius: A Synthesis of Philosophical Traditions
Takeaways
Boethius is often called the last of the Romans and the first of the Medievals.
His work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," was written while he awaited execution.
Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought in his writings.
Evil is understood as a privation of good, not a substance in itself.
The journey from despair to enlightenment is central to Boethius's philosophy.

Keywords
Boethius, Plato, Consolation of Philosophy, medieval philosophy, Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Thomas Ward, liberal arts, happiness, evil as privation, philosophy, Deacon Harrison Garlick, great...

How did Plato influence St. Augustine? Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Chad Pecknold of the Catholic University of America discuss Plato's influence on St. Augustine.
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The discussion begins with the historical evolution of Platonism—from the original Academy of Socrates and Plato, through Middle Platonism (with figures like Plutarch and Apuleius), to the late or Neoplatonism of Plotinus and others—showing how it became increasingly religious, mystical, and hierarchical in the Roman Empire, complete with daemons (intermediary spiritual beings) and a strong emphasis on the soul's ascent to the divine.
St. Augustine, after years as a Manichaean and skeptic, encountered Platonic texts (likely including Plotinus) in Milan around 385–386 AD through Christian Platonists like Bishop Ambrose and Simplicianus. These writings played a crucial role in his intellectual conversion: they revealed a transcendent, immaterial God as Being itself, the eternal Word/Logos, and the soul's capacity for contemplative ascent beyond the material world—ideas strikingly parallel to the prologue of John's Gospel.
Yet St. Augustine recognized Platonism's crucial limitation: it allowed him to "catch the fragrance" of God but not to "feast" through union, because it lacked the Word made flesh—the incarnate Christ as the true mediator who bridges the gap between the divine and humanity, solving the problem of mediation and purification that Platonism itself raised but could not resolve.
Ultimately, Pecknold presents Platonism as a providential praeparatio evangelica—a promise that raises the restless heart's longing for God, truth, beauty, and eternal happiness—but one fulfilled only in Christianity. St. Augustine adopts and transforms Platonic elements (such as the ideas/forms residing in the divine mind, now identified with the Logos/Christ, and the soul's ascent through purification) while critiquing its errors, especially its inadequate mediators and inability to address incarnation, bodily resurrection, and grace. In this way, St. Augustine shows that Plato comes closest among philosophers to Christianity, yet only the Word made flesh satisfies the hunger Plato so powerfully articulated.
Plato on St. Boethius is up next week!