Rich Roll & Ryan Holiday on The Odyssey’s Biggest Moral Questions
Summary
Ryan Holiday and Rich Roll discuss Christopher Nolan’s film *Odyssey*, analyzing how ancient myths remain relevant through modern reinterpretation. They explore the story’s moral complexities, such as Odysseus’s hubris and the dilemma of Scylla and Charybdis, linking them to Stoic philosophy. The conversation highlights how art serves as a vehicle for timeless wisdom, urging audiences to look beyond cultural debates to find deeper philosophical truths.
Topics discussed
Intro: Ancient myths in modern culture and Nolan's Odyssey
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Interview start: The Odyssey as living art and moral truth
Interpretation debates: Emily Wilson and avoiding culture war
The Cyclops scene: Hubris, hospitality, and narrative changes
Unreliable narrators and PTSD as modern metaphors
The collapse of old ways and the Trojan War context
Moral dilemmas: Scylla, Charybdis, and the trolley problem
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