Access to history’s greatest minds, front-row seats to the most contested, debated, and deliberated moral quandaries of humanity are encapsulated in the pages that line our bookshelves.
These are the Great Books—timeless works that have profoundly shaped human thought for centuries. A core component of classical education, these foundational texts offer a compelling framework for today’s classroom, providing a rich, immersive journey into the questions and ideas that define our humanity. By engaging with the Great Books, students learn from what Matt Arnold called "the best that has been thought or said."
Curious about the differences between classical versus modern “progressive” education? Learn more in our blog.
What Are the Great Books?
The Great Books are a collection of works that have earned this title due to their lasting impact on human thought, society, and culture.
Spanning disciplines from history and poetry to politics and economics, these texts offer insights from thought leaders and ancestors, imparting knowledge that has stood the test of time and continues to resonate in today's world.
In these books, students immerse themselves in various stories and works that reflect our human experience through the lens of historical thought and philosophy.
A defining element of a Great Book is its ability to raise enduring questions about life, including:
- What does it mean to be human?
- What is justice?
- What is morality?
- How should society be structured or governed?
Moreover, these works serve as the cornerstone of Western culture and world civilization, contributing to a collective understanding that has influenced countless modern works.
A few examples of the Great Books include:
What Role Do the Great Works Play in Classical Education Classrooms Today?
Give Context to Today’s Events and Culture
By studying texts that have shaped generations, students gain insight into the development of our political and cultural systems and how they came to be. They come to better understand their place within the greater story, engaging with and examining the whole tradition, so they can more thoughtfully discern where they are going.
Serve as Foundation for Learning
The Great Works embody and reflect the ideas of Western Civilization. Exploring the universal themes and questions within these texts helps students establish a strong foundation for understanding subjects across disciplines, guiding them in the pursuit of truth.
Promotes the Practice of Virtue
Incorporating the Great Books in classical education allows students to explore and debate moral ideas. By studying the timeless questions on human behavior, students are encouraged to think deeply and apply their wisdom to their own lives, ultimately growing in intellectual and moral virtues.
Study the Great Books With a Master’s in Classical Education
For those interested in instructing the next generation through the wisdom of the Great Books, a certificate or master's degree in classical education will immerse you in these works, equipping you to form the next generation in knowledge and virtue.
The University of Dallas offers comprehensive master’s and certificate programs in classical education for teachers dedicated to forming students in the great tradition. Our curriculum, grounded in the principles of a classical liberal arts education, ensures a well-rounded approach that promotes intellectual, moral, and spiritual development.
To learn more about how to join the growing classical education movement, download our eBook, An Educator’s Guide to Joining the Classical Education Movement.
