199 – Getting Friendly with John von Heyking
Friendship is one of the last words you might associate with politics these days. Yet John von Heyking believes recovering a proper, classical understanding of friendship is precisely what our civic order needs to function. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis and John discuss the differences in how the ancients and medievals viewed friendship and how it’s been undervalued by us moderns. They also discuss the important need for civic education and why America has to import Canadians like John to teach American civics.
About John von Heyking
Bio from Arizona State University
John von Heyking is Associate Director and Professor at the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, where he teaches courses in political philosophy. He is author of Comprehensive Judgment and Absolute Selflessness: Winston Churchill on Politics as Friendship (2018), The Form of Politics: Aristotle and Plato on Friendship (2016), and Augustine and Politics as Longing in the World (2001). He has coedited numerous volumes including two volumes of the Collected Works of Eric Voegelinand, most recently, Friendship Studies: Politics and Practices Across Cultures (2024). He has published scholarly articles on topics including liberal and civic education, friendship, personhood, resistance to totalitarianism, cosmopolitanism, empire, Islamic political thought, punishment, and religious liberty. His scholarly essays and articles have appeared in numerous volumes and journals, including Cambridge Journal of China Studies, Review of Politics, History of Political Thought, Supreme Court Law Review, Perspectives on Political Science, Political Science Reviewer, History of Human Sciences, International Political Anthropology, and the University of British Columbia Law Review. His popular writing has been published by Finest Hour, Voegelinview, American Oxonian, Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald, C2C: Canada's Journal of Ideas, Troy Media, and Convivium.
Transcripts
Enjoy these podcast conversations but prefer to read them instead of listening to a podcast? Episode transcripts are now available here: https://www.savingelephantsblog.com/blog/categories/transcripts
I enjoyed reading this post because it presents friendship from an interesting angle and connects it with civic life. The discussion of how earlier thinkers viewed friendship caught my attention. I also found the focus on civic education meaningful. The podcast seems worth exploring for anyone interested in political philosophy and how relationships influence communities and public life today too.Cambodia visa requirements depend on your nationality, travel purpose, and length of stay. Many visitors need a visa, and eligible travellers can apply online through the e-Visa portal: https://cambodia-evisa.info/visa-requirements/. Check current passport-validity rules, fees, processing times, and entry points before travelling.
I found this podcast discussion quite interesting because it looks at friendship from a historical and philosophical perspective rather than treating it as just a simple personal relationship. The comparison between older ideas of friendship and modern life gave me something different to think about. I also liked the focus on civic education, as learning how ideas have developed over time can make wider discussions easier to understand.
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