Professor Jacob Howland from Austin University presents on “Philosophy and Ideological Tyranny in Plato’s Cleitophon: Lessons for our Time.”
Read more: Plato’s Cleitophon: Lessons for our TimeThe Classical Forum for Contemporary Issues: A Space for Thoughtful Debate
Thank you all for joining us at the first public meeting of the Classical Forum for Contemporary Issues. I extend my deepest gratitude to my co-organizers—Sophia Stone, Alexander Rosenthal, Puble Alai, Kosin Fiorenza, and Bevi Laa—for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks as well to Dr. Ricardo Gans for his ongoing support and to Professor Jacob Howland of Austin University for agreeing to lead today’s discussion.
This forum was established in response to the massacre of Israelis on October 7th and the global reactions that followed, particularly on university campuses. Long-simmering tensions have now erupted, challenging the integrity of our society and academic institutions.
Historically, avoiding discussions about politics and religion was considered a social norm. However, the absence of open discourse limits our ability to think critically about the issues that shape our world. As one philosopher observed, freedom of thought cannot exist without freedom of speech. In today’s polarized environment, silence is no longer an option.
The goal of this forum is to foster serious and humane discussion on difficult yet essential issues. We are honored to host a diverse range of participants from around the world and grateful for the insight of Professor Howland, whose scholarship on Homer, Plato, the Talmud, and political theory offers a vital foundation for understanding human affairs.
Professor Howland’s lecture, Philosophy and Ideological Tyranny in Plato’s Clitophon: Lessons for Our Time, invites us to examine the tension between philosophical inquiry and ideological dogma. By exploring the Socratic dialogue Clitophon, he sheds light on the dynamics of political and intellectual authority, drawing parallels to contemporary struggles in academia and beyond.
This forum stands as a space where ideas can be freely exchanged with respect, honesty, and intellectual rigor. Let us seize this opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and reclaim the lost art of civil discourse.