Wilfred McClay: Dreaming of Ariadne (2026 Conference Panel) - The Sower Episode 89 (audio)
About this episode
Wilfred McClay discusses cultural restoration and the implications of AI through various literary and historical references.
Hillsdale College historian Wilfred McClay discusses: the Sorcerer's Apprentice, allusion, Ariadne, Peter Lawler, Walker Percy, Ted McAllister, Blake, Burke, Chesterton, Emerson, Jaroslav Pelikan, tradition, heritage, Dana Gioia's poem "Planting a Sequoia," Mary Austin, WH Auden, Tocqueville, The Golden Thread, and the nightmarish possibility of an AI Thomas Jefferson. Poem: https://danagioia.com/planting-a-sequoia/ Keynote address from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 13, 2026. Introduction by Claire Aguda-Baker, presentation by Wilfred McClay, question & answer period. 0:00 Claire Aguda-Baker introduces Wilfred McClay7:44 Wilfred McClay, Dreaming of Ariadne: Thoughts on Cultural Restoration53:54 How can we teach allusion to college students?1:05:27 Orality is hard for us1:10:25 History as Legend vs Fact To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026…
More episodes of The Sower
- Regent University & Spring 2027 Conference - The Sower Episode 94 (audio)
- Religious Liberty in the US Today (2026 Conference Panel) - The Sower Episode 93 (audio)
- Cultural Sanctification & the Church Fathers, with Stephen Presley - The Sower Episode 92 (audio)
- The Declaration and Derailment (2026 Conference Panel) - The Sower Episode 91 (audio)
- The Christian Roots of American Liberty - The Sower Episode 90 (audio)
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Sower podcast page.