CS Lewis offers poignant observations in his essay ‘Learning in War Time‘ for why learning under duress is of immense value, significance, and importance. Human life has been and always will be under duress. If we only pursued truth, goodness, and beauty when times were pleasant or secure, then the search would never have begun in the first place.
On Thursday, 20 April 2023 at 1400 UTC, Prof Zena Hitz, Tutor at St John’s College in Annapolis, MD and author of the book Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life, will discuss why we have many stories of people who turned to learning in times of great difficulty or systematic diminishment: prisoners, those living in poverty or under totalitarianism. In doing so, Prof Hitz maintains that learning is revealed as a source of dignity, which is the root of liberation — when liberation is possible, and consolation, when it is not.
Prof Hitz is also founder and president of the Catherine Project, a non-profit designed to build communities of learning based on conversation and hospitality. She invites you to join some of their course offerings, which are tuition free and focus on many of the ‘Great Books’ of the western tradition.
NB: Immediately following the webinar, you will have the opportunity to connect and catch up with colleagues from around the world. So plan to stay on the call for another 30 minutes or so if possible.
Hope you will be inspired, encouraged, and challenged in your academic vocation!
