What is an “ideal society”? Is it possible, and if so what would it look like? How might it develop and would it be sustainable? We’ll examine a selection of writings to discover what each is saying, how to interpret it, and then how we evaluate it. This course is structured using the "shared inquiry" method, where a trained leader asks questions to help participants interpret the text through critical thinking and discussion.
Required Reading: Our text for the year is Imperfect Ideal: Utopian and Dystopian Visions, available from the Great Books Foundation Bookstore https://store.greatbooks.org/ for $24.95. Students are expected to read each selection and participate actively in the conversation.
Our schedule will be:
- January 27: Le Guin, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
- February 10: Dostoevsky, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man
- February 24: Nozick, A Framework for Utopia
- March 10: Herzl, The Jewish State
- March 24: Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism
- April 7: Saunders, Jon
Registration Deadline: Jan. 25
| Name | Session Dates | Location | Format | Registration Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Books Discussion Group | 01/27/25 - 04/07/25 | McKimmon Center | Classroom | 12/11/24 - 01/26/25 | REGISTER NOW |