University Core Hosting Talk on the Transformative Power of Text-Based Teaching: “Rescuing Socrates”

02/20/2024

The directors of the University Core curriculum’s Confluence Project invite SLU faculty, instructors, and community members to a talk by Roosevelt Montás, Ph.D.

The Senior Lecturer and Director of the Center for American Studies’ Freedom and Citizenship Program at Columbia University will be present his recently published monograph, "Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation" on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 4:30 p.m. at the Samuel Cupples House.

Taking the query, “what is the value of a liberal education," as his starting point, Montás will examine the state of core education and inquire whether there is still a place for humanities coursework rooted in the classics of Western thought. Drawing on his background as a Dominican-born American scholar, Montás will tell the story of how a liberal education transformed his own life, offering an intimate account of the relevance of the “Great Books" today, especially to members of historically marginalized communities.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A and short reception.

This event is part of the Confluence Program’s larger mission to promote interdisciplinary conversations among faculty and build pathways to the humanities rooted in text-based pedagogy.

For faculty interested in getting involved with teaching with transformative texts, contact the Confluence Program’s leaders: Harold Braswell, Ph.D.; Pascale Perraudin, Ph.D.; and Katherine McKenna, Ph.D.

Montás visit to SLU was made possible by a Teagle Foundation “Cornerstone Learning for Living” grant as well as co-sponsorships by the Departments of English, History, Philosophy, Sociology & Anthropology, Women and Gender Studies, Languages, Literatures & Cultures, African American Studies, Political Science, Healthcare Ethics, Theology and the Schools of Social Work and Education.