In this talk William Michael challenges common reverence for Socrates and modern “Socratic” education, arguing that destabilizing doubt—when unaccompanied by systematic instruction—can corrode faith, culture, and learning. He contrasts Platonic dialectical methods with Aristotelian demonstrative philosophy and calls for a recovery of systematic, authoritative teaching rooted in Aristotle and Aquinas.

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Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.

This talk answers the following questions, received from a contact.

1) When you refer to "classical education" what exactly is it that you mean? What is the exact curriculum that you are trying to recreate? Where/when in history is this curriculum?

2) If "classical" refers to Ancient Greece and Rome, would it be more accurate to say you provide a "Scholastic" curriculum? I ask because I noticed about a third of your courses in the Bachelor's program are more recent than the classical period.

3) Are there any more recent books that you have thought are capable of supplanting a text from the ancient times? For example, a book on ethics that incorporates Aristotle's thought but also divine revelation. I have heard that in the late 19th/early 20th century (in the wake of Pastor aeternus) many Thomistic "manuals" were written that attempted something like this.

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P. Headmaster Classical Liberal Arts Academy https://classicalliberalarts.com

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P. Headmaster Classical Liberal Arts Academy

"Trustworthy are the blows of a friend, dangerous, the kisses of an enemy." (Prov. 27:6)

“Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” (C.S. Lewis)

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P. Headmaster Classical Liberal Arts Academy https://classicalliberalarts.com

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.

Headmaster

Classical Liberal Arts Academy

https://classicalliberalarts.com

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.

Headmaster

Classical Liberal Arts Academy

https://classicalliberalarts.com