“True education consists in reading old books together with one’s friends… [That is], those books which have withstood the test of time and which recommend themselves to us by the subtlety of their thought, the grace of their style, and their insight into the fundamental human problems… ” – Ernest L. Fortin, “Christian Education and Modern Democracy”
In the Honors Institute, great authors are not considered as mere echoes of the dominant thinking and prejudices of their age. What is most important about them is that they raise and answer questions of permanent importance and that their views shed light on who we are and how we ought to live.
Our consideration of texts often brings into focus dramatic clashes among great authors. In fact, their great conversation has sometimes been a debate or even a battle. They disagree, for example, over the meaning of human nature and the ultimate purpose of human life. This does not mean that truth in such matters is unavailable to us. It is rather that their disagreements challenge us to think more deeply and thereby to progress towards true understanding with greater fullness, clarity, and refinement.
Particularly noteworthy in our approach to great texts is the encouragement of slow and careful reading. It is not possible in one lifetime let alone four years of college to read all such texts with the kind of care they require. In light of this fact, we make judicious selections of a limited number of great texts, place an emphasis upon in-depth study, and seek to avoid hasty reading and superficial analysis.
Finally, the vitality and relevance of our approach to great texts is underlined by our encountering therein themes like the following:
- Essential teachings of Christianity
- Faith and reason: what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?
- The meaning and purpose of human life
- The nature of virtue and the most important virtues
- Love and friendship
- Law, government, and justice
- Religion and politics
- The place and importance of art and beauty in human life
- The nature, purposes, and benefits of science
- Work and leisure