Can You Teach Metaphysics to Skeptics? | James S. Cutsinger – A Socratic Dialogue

“The Noble Lie” —Prof. James S. Cutsinger on Tradition, Truth, and Teaching in a Secular Age. In this powerful excerpt from a talk by the late Dr. James S. Cutsinger, renowned Professor of Theology and Religious Thought at the University of South Carolina, we witness a unique dramatized dialogue between Socrates and a modern professor. The setting: a fictional academic conference on Tradition in the Modern World. The challenge: how to convey metaphysical and spiritual truths to students who are intelligent, skeptical, and agnostic. Through this imagined exchange, Cutsinger showcases the Socratic method at its finest—sharp, reflective, and relentless. This isn’t just a lecture: It’s a philosophical exploration of how Traditionalist teachings can still reach modern minds, even in a climate of doubt. Dr. Cutsinger presented this unique ‘lecture’ to a unique audience: attendees at the 2006 Sacred Web Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, which was titled “Tradition in the Modern World.” Many in the audience were teachers in precisely the position of Cutsinger’s fictional professor, and many others were on a path to become educators in their own right. Throughout his career as an extraordinary educator, Dr. Cutsinger used this ancient method to the great benefit of many of his students. If you’re drawn to comparative religion, Perennial Philosophy, or the challenge of speaking eternal truths in today’s secular world, this video is for you.