In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 04, Episode 15, we tackle the profound and often grim reality of conflict as explored in the 'On War' chapter of Will Durant's Fallen Leaves. Join us as we dissect the historical panorama of warfare, from ancient battles with primitive tools to modern global conflicts. We'll delve into Durant's exploration of war's fundamental causes, tracing them back to basic human instincts like acquisition, fighting, action, and association, which can evolve into a lust for power. The episode will also cover the biological roots of conflict, such as protective fertility leading to group hunger and the development of armament, alongside the economic drivers like rivalry for land and markets, exacerbated by the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, we'll discuss the political ambitions of states, driven by self-preservation and self-extension, and the constantly shifting balance of power among nations. Finally, we'll examine Durant's skeptical view on traditional peace efforts like vague appeals to conscience or past international bodies, and his call for a more realistic, specific, and detailed approach to mitigating conflict through dedicated international commissions.

Why are we so profoundly drawn to the opposite sex, and what does it reveal about our nature and our civilization?

Join us on CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 04, Episode 14, as we explore the profound insights from the "On Sex" chapter of Will Durant's 'Fallen Leaves'. This episode unravels Durant's reflections on the enduring power of sexual infatuation, questioning why men react almost as "Pavlovian automata" to sexual stimuli. We'll examine how concealment can intensify physical attraction and delve into the evolutionary imperative of the sexual instinct, noting its intensity, surpassed only by the quest for food, and its dominance once basic needs are met. The discussion will cover how civilizations have historically labored to control this "swelling surge" through institutions like marriage, and how Durant posits that sexual sensitivity is "half the zest of life," being the likely origin of our sense of beauty and the "richest roots of art". Finally, we'll explore Durant's proposed "panacea": the development of intelligence to temper instincts with reason, offering a path to retain the stimulus of sexual feeling while ensuring "a decent respect for public order" and achieving the "quiet content of lasting love"

Join us on CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 04, Episode 13, as we explore the deeply reflective chapter "On Women" from Will Durant's 'Fallen Leaves'. In this episode, we unpack Durant's passionate 'hymn in praise of women,' delving into his unique perspective on beauty, which he claims often transcends physical desire. We'll discuss how Durant acknowledges historical criticisms of women while ardently defending their virtues and the immense burdens they carry, from the complexities of adolescence and choosing a partner to the sacred responsibility of motherhood. Discover his admiration for the diverse allure of women across cultures and his profound conviction that motherhood reveals life's ultimate meaning and a form of divine presence

Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 4, where we explore the timeless wisdom of Will Durant’s Fallen Leaves. In Episode 12, we uncover Durant’s inspiring firsthand account of the civil rights era and his bold vision for a more united humanity — rooted in harmony, education, and mutual respect.

In this powerful episode of CSS Breakdown, we dive into Will Durant’s reflections on civil rights, racial harmony, and his personal efforts toward building unity across cultures and creeds — as chronicled in Fallen Leaves.

📜 Durant shares his experiences:

From delivering civil rights lectures in 1914 New York

To co-founding the Declaration of INTERdependence in Los Angeles in 1943

And unveiling the Declaration at the Hollywood Bowl in 1945, calling for global unity

The episode explores the idealism that fueled the movement — and the hard truths faced in its aftermath. Yet, Durant remains hopeful, advocating for education as the most powerful force to heal racial divisions and prevent future strife.

📚 Key themes:

The origin and meaning of the Declaration of Interdependence

Durant’s civil rights activism and philosophical convictions

Why education, not violence, is the true path to racial equality

A timeless message on building bridges — not walls

This is a must-listen episode for anyone preparing for CSS exams or simply seeking deeper insight into human dignity, equity, and coexistence.

Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 4. In this episode, we continue exploring Will Durant’s timeless reflections from Fallen Leaves. Today, we turn to Durant’s generational lens on morality — where he weighs youthful rebellion, evolving social norms, and the timeless values that continue to shape a healthy society."

In Episode 11 of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we explore Will Durant’s reflections on generational morality from his posthumous work Fallen Leaves. With his signature wisdom, Durant bridges the moral contrasts between the puritanical past and our technological present, offering a candid but optimistic vision for society’s moral evolution.

💡 What you'll learn:

• Why youthful rebellion is a necessary part of social transformation
• The enduring importance of continence, marital fidelity, and family structure
• Durant’s nuanced take on issues like divorce, child-rearing, and crime
• The idea that education, not dogma, will guide future generations toward harmony
• A call for balanced morality — one that honors tradition while embracing change

This episode invites CSS aspirants and philosophy lovers alike to rethink what it means to be "moral" in a world that never stops changing.

Welcome back to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 4. We’re diving into the reflections of Will Durant in his posthumously published masterpiece, Fallen Leaves. In Episode 10, we examine Durant’s powerful insights into the evolving relationship between morality, religion, and modern society — a journey through belief, upheaval, and renewal."

In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we unpack Chapter 10 of Fallen Leaves by Will Durant, focusing on the dynamic and often contentious relationship between morality, religion, and the forces of industrialization and modern warfare.

🧠 Key themes include:

The definition of morality as public-interest conduct shaped by customs

The Church’s historical role as a moral compass — both its contributions and contradictions

How industrialization and modern warfare disrupted traditional moral frameworks

Durant’s argument that morality hasn’t decayed, but evolved with new societal needs

A call for secular ethics, grounded in education, reason, and human progress

This chapter challenges the nostalgic view that society is in moral decline and instead offers a hopeful, reasoned case for an adaptive and intelligent morality, fit for modern times.

Welcome back to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 4. In today’s episode, we explore a bold and hopeful chapter of Will Durant’s Fallen Leaves — a vision for a reawakened Christianity, built not on doctrine, but on compassion and shared human values.

In Episode 9, Will Durant examines the spiritual and moral vacuum left in the wake of modern skepticism and philosophical upheaval — from Nietzsche’s “God is dead” to the decline of traditional religious authority.

But rather than mourning this decline, Durant calls for a Second Advent — not a literal return of Christ, but a revival of Christ’s moral vision: love, humility, and universal compassion.

✝️ Key themes include:

• The cultural impact of philosophical secularism, particularly Nietzsche’s influence on Western thought
• A critique of dogmatic and divided Christianity, which Durant sees as weakening faith’s relevance
• A proposal for a new spiritual movement centered on Christ’s ethics, not creeds — inviting people of all backgrounds
• How shared moral values, rather than theological agreement, can unite diverse societies
• A call for religious institutions to reclaim their moral voice and help rebuild hope, compassion, and harmony in the modern world

This episode is both philosophical and deeply practical — a reflection on how faith can evolve to meet the needs of a fractured, post-religious age.

Welcome back to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 4. In this episode, we walk with Will Durant through one of the most personal chapters of Fallen Leaves — his lifelong reflection on faith, Catholicism, and the tension between belief and reason."

In Episode 8, we join Will Durant on a deeply personal journey through the complexities of faith, doubt, and philosophy. Reflecting on his Catholic upbringing and seminary training, Durant explores what he gained, what he left behind, and what still lingers in his view of religion.

⛪️ Key themes include:

• His early immersion in Catholic doctrine and the intellectual crisis that emerged from philosophical inquiry
• A thoughtful departure from inherited theology, not out of rebellion, but through rigorous and respectful questioning
• An enduring respect for the symbolic value of religious teachings and their power to provide meaning, order, and consolation
• Concerns about the Catholic Church’s political and educational influence, particularly in the context of American democracy
• A hope for a future where religion and philosophy can coexist — where tolerance, reason, and spiritual tradition work hand in hand

This episode is not just about faith — it's about wrestling with legacy, truth, and the search for meaning in a modern world. Perfect for CSS aspirants exploring comparative religion, Western philosophy, or the role of belief in public life.