Classiscal Pedagogy Article

Classiscal Education Article

“To be always seeking after the useful,” said Aristotle, “does not become free and exalted souls.” In the spring of this year, education in our country was set into chaos. Teachers and administrators scrambled to find ways of delivering instruction in a remote setting. The fall rolled around, and the educational process had been revolutionized. With less class time for students, many teachers have pared down on their class material to “just the essentials.” This, then, would be a good time to question what those essentials are. When it comes to the education of our children, what is most necessary? What [...]

Dr. Mortimer J. Adler In 1983, Dr. Adler, who had been a lifelong student of Plato, Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas (and a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Assiociation), formally converted to Christianity, specifically to the denomination of his wife, who was Episcopalian. Sixteen years later, in December, 1999 in San Mateo, California where he lived and shortly thereafter passed away (d. June 28th, 2001), he was formally received into the Catholic Church by His Excellency, Bishop Pierre DuMaine, of San Jose, CA, who was a long-time friend and admirer of Dr. Adler.

By Robert M. Hutchins The tradition of the West is embodied in the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day. Whatever the merits of other civilizations in other respects, no civilization is like that of the West in this respect. No other civilization can claim that its defining characteristic is a dialogue of this sort. No dialogue in any other civilization can compare with that of the West in the number of great works of the mind that have contributed to this dialogue. The goal toward which Western society moves is the [...]

From one of our first students...If it's anybody's fault that I'm doing this crazy PhD thing now, it's you – Great Books opened the lid of my world and set me on fire. I'm forever grateful for the program and the education I received from it; it is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received, and one that continually bears fruit and enriches my life in new and beautiful ways. I can never repay you for believing that 15-year-olds are capable of reading as much as graduate students! In a way my serious relationship to the Western canon [...]

A Broader View SUMMARY: American Catholic families increasingly cannot afford Catholic higher education. Private college, including room and board, cost an avg. of  $1,187 per credit hour. Great Books Program credits cost only $250 per hour for the first 48 hours of college credit; The remaining Great Books Program college credits cost from as little as $250, depending upon the participating college selected. The Great Books Program helps make Catholic higher education affordable. Most Catholic parents hope to avoid sending their children to public, secular colleges with the attendant dangers to faith and morals so prevalent there. They hope to send [...]

Our Great Books students were very fortunate this past semester (2018) to have Fr. Fessio as a moderator for some of their classes! "This was a very informative and inspiring [Angelicum Great Books class on Brothers Karamotsov]. I hope you keep doing this kind of work. It is going to form you people to be very solid citizens of both the earthly and heavenly kingdoms. God bless you all." – Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, Th.D. "This particular [Angelicum Great Books class on Leviathan] session has been brilliant.  It should be recorded and used in advertising for the program.  The comments are excellent, well [...]

What is the Socratic Method? by Norris Archer Harrington Never before has there been such a great opportunity for parents seeking the best education for their children." - Norris Archer Harrington In recent years there has been an increased interest in the great books approach to education. Nowhere is this approach more realized than at schools such as St. John’s College and Thomas Aquinas College. As four year, great books programs, both of these schools focus exclusively on the original texts of the greatest writings in the history of the Western world. After reading these works, students and tutors engage in Socratic discussion [...]

KRESTA IN THE AFTERNOON with Angelicum President, Patrick Carmack Please note: Interview with Patrick Carmack runs approximately from minute 8:25 to 18:00. Patrick S. J. Carmack Wisdom is generally acknowledged to be the highest good of the human mind, whether this be recognized as knowledge of first principles and causes or as a contemplative gaze at Wisdom itself. How does one obtain wisdom? The means is primarily conversation with great and wise persons who have already advanced far along the paths of knowledge and understanding to wisdom. As Angelicum Chairman, the philosopher Dr. Peter Redpath succinctly puts it [...]