Bruce D. Benson Center for the
Study of Western Civilization
From Shadows on the Wall to the Sun: Liberal Education and the Ascent from the Cave
Nov. 17, 2020, 6 p.m. Virtual Event
No registration necessary. Join the event on YouTube livestream.
Elizabeth Eastman is the Benson Center's 2020-21 Senior Scholar in Residence.
The idea of liberal education as an ascent to the light is from Plato’s Republic. The rising and setting of the sun in the natural world, which brings light and darkness, happens with a degree of regularity and uniformity. As human beings we share this common, daily experience. Plato’s description of emerging from the darkness to the light as a metaphor for liberal education suggests that we detach ourselves from the familiar and engage in questioning to achieve the ends of education. By considering these concepts alongside the Benson Center’s theme of Community or Disunity, this talk will pose questions about what role liberal education plays in building communities and whether questioning disrupts or strengthens our communities.
Part of the Benson Center’s 2020-21 “Community or Disunity?” series.
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