Thank you for joining us LIVE for our monthly Silk Road Seminar. In this second conversation, John Vervaeke is joined by James Matthew Wilson and D.C. Schindler for a live, unscripted dialogue exploring philosophy, theology, poetry, metaphysics, beauty, freedom, and the recovery of wisdom in contemporary life. James Matthew Wilson is a poet, literary critic, and philosopher whose work explores the intersections of classical philosophy, theology, and aesthetics. He is the Cullen Foundation Chair in English Literature and the founding director of the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of St. Thomas. His writing engages questions of form, beauty, and the recovery of classical realism in contemporary thought. D.C. Schindler is a philosopher and theologian known for his work on metaphysics, freedom, and the nature of reality. He is a professor at the John Paul II Institute and the author of numerous works exploring the relationship between truth, being, and the good. His thought draws deeply from Plato, Aristotle, and the Christian philosophical tradition. Silk Road Seminars are live, exploratory dialogues where John engages leading thinkers across philosophy, theology, cognitive science, and contemplative traditions. These conversations unfold in real time through dia-logos, inviting us into deeper participation with the questions that shape human meaning, wisdom, and transformation. This seminar, including the Q&A, is being streamed entirely on YouTube. To join future live sessions and gain access to exclusive Q&As, sign up at the Gamma Tier or above on The Lectern: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge University students, including doctoral students, receive free access. Email proof of student identity to: ethan@vervaekefoundation.org If you would like to support John’s work, please consider joining the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke Follow John Vervaeke: https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke https://x.com/drjohnvervaeke