Great Books and Liberal Education: Why Should We Still Read the Works of Dead White Men?

Great Books and Liberal Education: Why Should We Still Read the Works of Dead White Men?

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:30 pm EDT to 8:30 pm EDT

Virtual event

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Join us for a conversation about how classic texts are used in today’s education system. 

At a time when “great books” are increasingly viewed with suspicion, Roosevelt Montás and Zena Hitz argue that the “great books” curriculum is as relevant and vital for a liberal arts education today as ever before. They articulate different arguments about what it is that makes ancient, foundational texts so universally accessible, intellectually rewarding, and potentially life-changing for a diverse new generation of college students.

Panelists include:

  • Dr. Roosevelt Montás, senior lecturer for Center for American Studies at Columbia University and author of Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation
  • Dr. Zena Hitz, tutor at St. John’s College and author of Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life

The conversation will be co-moderated by Dr. Adam Davis, director of the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement,  and Dr. Heather Pool, associate professor of politics and public Affairs.

All alumni, families, students, faculty, and staff of Denison can attend.

This event is part of the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement‘s Minds Wide Open series which promotes civil discourse and intellectual engagement.