The best way to understand the world you live in now is to read the Western canon. By reading these classic books, you’ll develop a deep understanding of why our society is the way it is, why our government operates the way it does, and how the great ideas of history have come to shape our beliefs.
You cannot truly think for yourself if you cannot recognize where your ideas and beliefs originate from. By studying the works of Western history, you’ll see that even the “modern” belief sets have been developing for hundreds of years. Once you can recognize where your preconceived beliefs come from, you become free – free to accept the knowledge that has been passed on to you or free to reject these ideas.
Each Monday I plan to post a new overview of one of the Great Books of the Western World and show you where to find it for free.
What is the Great Books of the Western World Series?
In 1952, University of Chicago President Richard Hutchins joined forces with philosopher Mortimer Adler to create a collection of works representative of the Western cannon. 54 books were published as a set by Encyclopedia Britannica.
Upon publication, Hutchins proclaimed: “This is more than a set of books, and more than a liberal education. Great Books of the Western World is an act of piety. Here are the sources of our being. Here is our heritage. This is the West. This is its meaning for mankind.” [click to continue…]
{ 2 comments }
