What is education for? In the episode, I speak with Heidi White about classical education and human flourishing. We discuss why classical education is important to pass down a cultural memory and why reading good literature and classic texts matters on multiple levels. We discuss the difference between a modern, contemporary education and a classical vision of education, the relationship between classical education and religious education, and how STEM and classical education can relate together. We talk about literature, poetry, science, and the idea of poetic knowledge. We also discuss some of the critiques, challenges, and weaknesses of classical education, and how classical education can provide an exit from the contemporary, utilitarian, ideological, and propagandist model that is dominant today.
Resources
The Poet’s Corner: John Lithgow — I really like this collection. See Below for Link
John Senior argued that one of the reasons the Great Books project has not succeeded is that before we read great books we need to read “Good Books.” I think there there are more reasons why the great books project has failed, but I this is a great list of books to read and Senior breaks them down into age groups. I think that some of his age groupings are a little off, but this list is a great resources.
John Senior List of Good Books from The Death of Christian Culture
Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education
By Taylor, James S.
By Lewis, C S
Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education
By Hicks, David V.
The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family
By John Lithgow
Ep. 34: Heidi White: What is Classical Education?