Socrates In The City

Distinguished Fellow of The Center for Bioethics, physician, and Consulting Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University Medical Center William Hurlbut explores how dramatic advances in molecular biology and human biology have resulted in inquiry that raises questions about the relationship between the material form and the moral meaning of developing life. After unpacking […]

Former California Poet laureate and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Dana Gioia diffuses the widely-held notion that poetry is a sophisticated, intellectual art for the elite. Mr. Gioia offers a personal and accessible look at how art does something for us that nothing else will do, and how poetry is a human […]

Host Eric Metaxas welcomes British theoretical physicist Sir John Polkinghorne to this 2003 Socrates in the City event in New York City. Sir Polkinghorne presents on themes from his book BELIEF IN GOD IN AN AGE OF SCIENCE, discussing the collegiality between science and theology and detailing what he refers to as some of the […]

Boston College Professor of Philosophy Peter Kreeft explores the ages-old question of “Why?” from a philosophical perspective, touching on themes from his book, MAKING SENSE OUT OF SUFFERING, in a lecture given in New York City in January 2003.

British theoretical physicist Sir John Polkinghorne examines how scientific discoveries of the 20th century, particularly quantum theory and chaos theory, disrupted the “clockwork universe” view of the world that prevailed for about 200 years after Newton. Polkinghorne explores how a world that does not behave in a reliable way, that is described not deterministically but […]

Eric Metaxas hosts an interview with two guests: columnist Cal Thomas and political pundit Bob Beckel are political adversaries—AND good friends. Be prepared for surprisingly poignant moments amidst lively banter in a conversation centered around Thomas’s book, WHAT WORKS: COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER AMERICA.

The legendary Roger Scruton explores the ideas, perspectives, and implications of the “New Atheism” at this New York City Socrates in the City event hosted by Eric Metaxas in 2008.

British Orthodox rabbi, theologian, and author Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks presents the case that multicultural British society requires a new approach to national identity, arguing that responsibility — specifically building and creating together — gives societies a strong sense of identity and belonging. This 2009 lecture and Q&A is moderated by Socrates in the City […]

Eric Metaxas interviews entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel on his bestselling book ZERO TO ONE. Using Apollo 11 and Woodstock as reference points, Thiel and Metaxas explore the idea that we live in an age of technological stagnation, and cover a range of topics — globalization, Greta Thunberg, academia, the worst of the cardinal sins, […]

Socrates in the City’s own Eric Metaxas turns over his hosting duties to legendary TV talkshow host Dick Cavett, for an extra special Socrates event on the subject of MIRACLES: WHAT THEY ARE, WHY THEY HAPPEN, AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

At Socrates in the City Oxford, Eric Metaxas interviews Colin Nicholl, a Cambridge Ph.D. and New Testament scholar who spent four years studying with astronomers to explore the fascinating premise that the Star of Bethlehem was actually a comet, as told in his book, THE GREAT CHRIST COMET. Filmed at St. Aldate’s Church in Oxford, […]

N.T. Wright, one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars, discusses his book SURPRISED BY SCRIPTURE: ENGAGING CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. This lecture took place in New York City in July 2011.  

Host Eric Metaxas introduces special guest Dick Cavett — adding a musical tribute on a set that nods to the decades-long Dick Cavett Show — and converses with the TV talkshow legend about experiences that went into his book, BRIEF ENCOUNTERS. This Socrates in the City event took place on New York City’s Upper West […]

Author and social critic Os Guinness examines the idea that he argues gave rise to the most distinctive features of the West, in this 2004 New York City lecture and Q&A moderated by Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas.

Eric Metaxas and Socrates in the City present an evening with John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, at the Union Club in New York City in January 2013. Dr. Lennox explores a method for reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture. Afterward Metaxas is heard asking, […]

Eric Metaxas continues his conversation in Boston with scholar Thomas Howard about C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Howard’s journey to Catholicism, and more! Eric considers Howard’s book CHANCE OR THE DANCE? one of the greatest books of the 20th century.

Eric Metaxas goes to Boston to talk with scholar Thomas Howard about the questions explored in his book, CHANCE OR THE DANCE? Eric considers this one of the greatest books of the 20th century.

Eric Metaxas interviews Stephen C. Meyer about the ultimate mystery of the universe as drawn from recent scientific discoveries in physics, cosmology, and biology, at the Dallas Conference on Science and Faith in January 2019.

Eric Metaxas interviews the perspicacious Peter Hitchens, brother of the late Christopher Hitchens, about his book THE RAGE AGAINST GOD.

Eric Metaxas interviews Canon J. John, a British apologist, author, and speaker.