College is a crucial institution through which our society sets expectations for young people. This podcast explores some of the purposes of a college education today, including conversation with others on intellectual matters, development of personal character, participation in a community, and preparation for citizenship. We look at practical and personal dimensions of college, including career preparation and pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The episodes will be released in couplets for each purpose, pairing the historic with the contemporary to trace the lineage of each theme through the centuries. We encourage listeners to reflect on their own educational experiences and consider ways that college can meet the needs of future generations.
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College is a crucial institution through which our society sets expectations for young people. This podcast explores some of the purposes of a college education today, including conversation with others on intellectual matters, development of personal character, participation in a community, and preparation for citizenship. We look at practical and personal dimensions of college, including career preparation and pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The episodes will be released in couplets for each purpose, pairing the historic with the contemporary to trace the lineage of each theme through the centuries. We encourage listeners to reflect on their own educational experiences and consider ways that college can meet the needs of future generations.
Higher education involves engaging in conversation, both specific discussions about course material and broader conversations about the search for knowledge and shared understanding. The importance of conversation in achieving knowledge is explored through Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty. Dean Pericles Lewis is joined by Yale students Claire Michalik ’25 and Zadie Winthrop ’26.
Purposes of College Education
College is a crucial institution through which our society sets expectations for young people. This podcast explores some of the purposes of a college education today, including conversation with others on intellectual matters, development of personal character, participation in a community, and preparation for citizenship. We look at practical and personal dimensions of college, including career preparation and pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The episodes will be released in couplets for each purpose, pairing the historic with the contemporary to trace the lineage of each theme through the centuries. We encourage listeners to reflect on their own educational experiences and consider ways that college can meet the needs of future generations.
