Welcome to Empyreon Academy, a podcast for lovers of wisdom and life. I’m Ivan, a PhD candidate in philosophy and founder of Empyreon Academy.

In this episode, I want to explore a question central to our existence: What does it mean to be a man?

To help us find an answer, we’ll look to two profound authors and their timeless insights:

• Elio Vittorini's Men and Not Men — a reflection on how violence erodes humanity, even for the oppressed.

• Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov — an exploration of the problem of evil and the impossible dilemma of human suffering.

• The Example of Father Zosima — the true answer to Dostoevsky's dilemma, found in a life of radical responsibility and forgiveness.

These ideas are as relevant today as ever, especially as we witness the ongoing cycles of violence in the world. They challenge us to reflect on our own humanity and our capacity for good.

Join me as we explore why these works matter, how they speak to our deepest questions, and why they remain essential today.

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Two important events are coming up!

1. At the end of the month, we are organizing a conference on the theme "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education". Admission is completely free; just send me a request by email: empyreon.academy@outlook.com

2. In October, we will launch a philosophy course dedicated to Martin Heidegger. The teachers will be two expert PhD candidates specializing in Heidegger.

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Hi, I’m Ivan, PhD fellow at the University of Freiburg and I'm also the founder of Empyreon Academy.To join our community and download FREE content you can subscribe here: ⁠Patreon⁠

To watch my YouTube videos: ⁠empyreonacademy⁠

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About Empyreon Academy:

1. Our primary aim is to equip individuals with the intellectual tools needed to develop their thinking by engaging in dialogue with the greatest minds in history.

2. Our secondary goal is to create a community where people can share their deep understanding for the benefit of everyone.

What We Offer:

1. Online Courses – Covering a wide range of topics in philosophy and the fine arts, our courses are distinguished by their philosophical depth. We emphasize dialogue, enabling students to critically engage, discuss, and think alongside influential authors.

2. Conferences – Every three months, we host free, live online conferences, designed to welcome a wide audience and encourage meaningful participation.

3. Magazine – We regularly publish thoughtful book reviews, philosophical articles, and curated reading recommendations.

Who We Are:

We are an international team of scholars and educators, each specialized in different authors and traditions. What unites us is a shared passion for philosophy and the arts, and a commitment to guiding others on their own path of inquiry.

To echo the spirit of this approach:

“In short, the student should not learn thoughts, but should learn to think. The philosophy teacher should not carry him, but guide him…” – Immanuel Kant

“Learning to see – accustoming the eye to calmness, to patience, to letting things come to you…” – Friedrich Nietzsche