The Classical Code of Manhood
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Podcast Summary
Political philosophy professor Waller Newell discusses his updated book "The Code of Man," which argues for recovering an ancient understanding of masculinity rooted in virtue rather than toxic behaviors. (03:03) Newell presents five classical virtues that form true manliness: love, courage, pride, family, and country, drawing from Greek, Roman, and biblical traditions. He contrasts healthy masculine development with modern extremes - the "wimp and beast" dichotomy seen in Fight Club - and emphasizes that classical manliness requires the integration of reason and passion, like Plato's chariot allegory. (20:08)
- Main theme: Recovering classical virtue-based masculinity to counter toxic masculinity and provide direction for modern men
Speakers
Brett McKay
Brett McKay is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Art of Manliness website and podcast. He has been exploring topics related to masculinity, personal development, and classical virtues for over a decade, building one of the internet's most respected resources on traditional manhood and character development.
Waller Newell
Waller Newell is a professor of political science with extensive scholarship on honor-seeking, tyranny, and classical political thought. He is the author of "The Code of Man," first published twenty years ago and recently updated, and has spent decades studying how ancient Greek, Roman, and biblical traditions can inform modern masculine virtue. His academic work bridges classical philosophy with contemporary challenges facing men.
Key Takeaways
Love as the Gateway to Virtue
Newell argues that love, not aggression, should be the entry point into masculine development. (27:07) Drawing from Plato's Symposium, he explains that true love involves being attracted to nobility in another person's character, which then motivates us to perfect ourselves to earn their admiration. This creates an upward spiral where romantic love leads to loving virtue itself, then to loving truth and beauty. Modern culture has reduced love to immediate physical satisfaction and self-gratification, missing this transformative potential. When young men learn to love something greater than themselves, they naturally develop the motivation to become worthy of that love through virtuous action.
Balance Reason and Passion Like a Skilled Charioteer
Using Plato's chariot allegory, Newell explains that healthy masculinity requires the mind (charioteer) to guide powerful passions (horses) toward noble ends. (20:08) The horses represent erotic and ambitious energies that are essential - without them, the chariot goes nowhere. But ungoverned, these passions plunge us into chaos. Modern men often fall into the "wimp and beast" dichotomy: either suppressing all masculine energy or letting it run wild in destructive ways. The classical approach demands integration, where reason directs passionate energy toward serving others and the common good rather than domination or self-absorption.
Cultivate Thumos Through Constructive Competition
Thumos - the aggressive, competitive drive in men - must be channeled constructively rather than suppressed or unleashed chaotically. (37:06) Newell argues that educational systems often try to make boys learn like girls, discouraging natural competitiveness and aggression. Instead, young men need outlets that honor their natural energy while directing it toward excellence: competitive sports, challenging academics, reading heroic literature, and biographies of great leaders. Without proper channels, thumos either atrophies into listlessness or explodes into destructive behavior. Parents and educators should encourage healthy competition and expose young men to stories of classical heroes who used their drive to serve others.
Practice Virtue in Family Before Public Life
Aristotle taught that family life serves as a "school of virtue" where we first learn to love and serve others before extending those qualities to civic engagement. (43:03) The family requires all the classical virtues: love for spouse and children, courage to protect and provide, appropriate pride in achievements, and preparation for responsible citizenship. Newell contrasts Odysseus (who fought to return to his family) with Achilles (who remained isolated and self-absorbed). Marriage should be a partnership of equals working together to raise virtuous children, not a hierarchical command structure. Strong families create the emotional foundation necessary for men to later serve the broader community with genuine care rather than mere duty.
Engage in Responsible Patriotism, Not Blind Nationalism
True patriotism requires both love of country and willingness to criticize it when necessary - it cannot be uncritical loyalty. (54:14) Drawing from Tocqueville, Newell emphasizes starting with local civic engagement: school boards, community organizations, volunteer groups. These serve as "laboratories of democracy" where men learn to work with others despite frustrations and disagreements. Healthy patriotism requires maintaining distinct nation-states with borders and particular traditions, rejecting both left-wing and right-wing forms of globalization. This doesn't mean narrow isolationism but rather using local roots as a foundation for engaging the wider world constructively.
Statistics & Facts
No specific statistics were provided in this episode.
