Shimer Great Books Blog
The Shimer perspective and contribution to the Great Conversation
Does evil exist? What is light? Is the world becoming a better place? Questions like these—that demand to be asked but seem to defy final answers—are the living heart of traditions of study and debate as old as recorded history. These traditions form the unique curriculum at the Shimer Great Books School, which we want to share with you in the form of our blog. Here we will pose questions, offer challenging insight, and give you a glimpse behind the curtain. Join the Great Conversation with us!
Shimer’s Unique College Program Taught Me to Learn Through Listening
I heard about the Montaigne Scholarship from the Shimer Great Books School admissions team. As I was applying, they told me about the opportunity to compete.
Fresh eyes: Great Books students learn to see the world through a new lens
Something weird happens to you once you begin to experience the unique college program at Shimer. You start to see things. Not hallucinations, per se, but your world begins to warp a little.
The Socratic Method At The Shimer Great Books School: Encouraging Open Dialogue Within An Unusual College Major
Schools that value student participation in the classroom, including the Shimer Great Books School, often refer to themselves as using “the Socratic method.” Some schools apply that term to a practice in which professors ask leading questions, guiding students toward
Shimer Great Books School Alum Interview with Robert O. Keohane, Shimer ‘61
It is a pleasure to be interviewed as part of the Shimer alumni interview se
The Great Books Challenge
What makes a “great book” has been the most contentious issue for the Shimer Great Books School since its distinction as a “great books school” in the 1950s. Is it a classic? A primary material? And who decides what those are, anyway?