In this episode of The TAC Podcast, John Finley sits down with longtime friend and former Apple enterprise leader Nathan Haggard to explore the intersection of classical philosophy and the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. Nathan shares his unique journey from studying the Great Books at Thomas Aquinas College to spending 16 years at the forefront of the tech industry. Together, they tackle the existential "forcing function" of AI: If technology can eventually do everything humans do, what is left for us? In this episode, we discuss: The AI Paradox: Why the rise of automation is forcing us back to fundamental questions of human value. The Theology of Work: Drawing on Pope John Paul II's Laborem Exercens, we explore why work is a fundamental human vocation, not just a means to an end. Aristotle & the Problem of Leisure: Why the "ruin of society" often stems from an inability to handle free time, and how we can avoid the trap of modern distraction. Pascal's Challenge: Examining the famous claim that all of humanity's problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone. The Integration of Life: Moving beyond "work-life balance" toward a holistic vision of human flourishing. Whether you're interested in the future of the tech industry or the timeless wisdom of the Great Books, this conversation offers a roadmap for maintaining our humanity in an age of machines. Support The TAC Podcast: Subscribe for more deep dives into the Great Books and philosophical inquiry. Visit our website: thomasaquinas.edu Follow us on Social Media: instagram @thetacpodcast

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: Pascal's Quote on Solitude

01:05 - Nathan Haggard's Journey: From Great Books to Apple

07:30 - Why "Learning How to Think" is the Only Future-Proof Skill

11:30 - The Nature of Work: What is it Actually For?

14:30 - AI as a Forcing Function for Existential Questions

18:40 - Work as an Imitation of the Creator (Genesis & JP II)

21:30 - The 40-Hour Work Week vs. Human Flourishing

25:00 - What Happens to Society When We Don't Have to Work?

30:30 - Lessons from Mozart & Bach: The Value of Constraints

34:50 - Aristotle on Leisure: The Internal Ruin of Societies

43:40 - Confronting the "World of Distraction"

46:30 - Closing Thoughts: Choosing Priorities with Head, Heart, and Gut

#Philosophy #AI #FutureOfWork #GreatBooks #TheTACPodcast #Aristotle #ArtificialIntelligence #Leisure

In this episode, our hosts discuss Shakespeare's Macbeth, one of the most haunting and powerful tragedies in the Western tradition. Set against a world of prophecy, ambition, guilt, and bloodshed, the conversation explores the mysterious interplay between supernatural evil and human freedom, asking how Macbeth becomes both agent and victim in his own destruction. Through close attention to the weird sisters, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth's own moral unraveling, the episode considers some of the play's deepest questions: How does temptation work? What is the relation between evil and self-deception? How can ambition corrupt courage, loyalty, and even reason itself? As the discussion unfolds, Shakespeare's tragedy emerges not only as a political drama, but as a profound meditation on conscience, manhood, despair, and the mystery of evil. This conversation invites listeners into a serious and searching engagement with one of Shakespeare's greatest works and the enduring human questions it raises. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

In this episode, John and Chris continue their exploration of the heavens, turning to Copernicus, Kepler, and the profound transformation of our understanding of the cosmos. What begins as a seemingly simple question—why doesn't it feel like the Earth is moving?—opens into a deeper inquiry about observation, explanation, and the nature of scientific truth. Without new instruments or discoveries, Copernicus proposes a radical shift: not new data, but a new perspective. By placing the Earth in motion, he transforms what once appeared as irregularities into intelligible patterns. Subscribe for new episodes each week.