Guest presenter: Dr. Roosevelt Montás

Dr. Roosevelt Montás, senior lecturer in American Studies and English at Columbia University and former director of Columbia’s Center for the Core Curriculum, will present on his book Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation, a compelling account of how the Great Books transformed his life and continue to resonate with people from all backgrounds. Watch his introduction to the book.

Presentation description:

What is the value of a liberal education? Traditionally characterized by a rigorous engagement with the classics of Western thought and literature, this approach to education is all but extinct in American universities, replaced by flexible distribution requirements and ever-narrower academic specialization. Many academics attack the very idea of a Western canon as chauvinistic, while the general public increasingly doubts the value of the humanities. In Rescuing Socrates, Dominican-born American academic Roosevelt Montás tells the story of how a liberal education transformed his life, and offers an intimate account of the relevance of the Great Books today, especially to members of historically marginalized communities.

This event is part of 2024 Symposium Day.