The University as a school of thought

Since 2014, the Great Books Program of the Core Curriculum Institute has enabled more than 4,500 students to explore core topic texts in thought and literature. Inspired by the American educational tradition, it promotes dialogue, knowledge of tradition and an interest in truth.

The Apology of Socrates, by Plato, collects the speeches that the philosopher delivered before the Athenian court that condemned him to death. In it, he firmly defends moral courage, freedom of thought, an examined life and virtue as the fundamental axes of existence. The work is one of the 54 that make up the Great Books Program that the University devised in 2014 and that today 650 students from all Degrees are taking. In inter-faculty classrooms of twenty-five students, each class is, as José María Torralbacoordinator the program, says, "a transformative experience. And each student, "the heart that sustains it. 

A school of citizenship

In times of artificial intelligence, this need becomes, according to Torralba, even more urgent: "The skills needed to use AI intelligently -such as knowing how to formulate questions or discriminate what is relevant- are precisely those that are cultivated in the Program. Moreover, the climate of respectful dialogue that is generated in the classroom, even if we deal with controversial topics, is a real school of citizenship".

To that 'school' belongs Isaac Rodrigo Larreawho is studying for a Degree in History. He defines Great Books as a way of bringing students closer to humanistic-philosophical reflection and, at the same time, as a very useful internship. "I am fascinated by the fact that through weekly readings you can discuss everyday ethical issues with other colleagues," he says. One of the books that has had the greatest impact on him is A Brave New World by A. Huxley. "A novel that reflects today's social status very well," he says. This explains, says Isaac, "why one of the most recurrent reflections during this program has been the rational integration of passions in human life. 

A taste for literature made Ana Lucía Vidal Ana Lucía Vidalwho is in her third year at ISSA, to choose the program. Ana Lucia had previously studied in the United States and had already had contact with the classics under the guidance of a professor. "It gave me not only a deep understanding of anthropology and ethics through the debates, but also a lot of culture," she says. The reading that had the biggest impact on her was Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. "I learned to ask myself if my friendships were perfect, with people who care about each other, empathize and help each other grow through the use of reason. I also realized that perfect friendships are only attractive to virtuous people," she says. 

María Duro took away from this experience more than just notes and readings: dialogue skills, listening skills, slow reading and "a good group of friends" thanks to this inter-faculty character. Maria is studying medicine, and being able to approach anthropology from another approach was what encouraged her to join the program. Among all the books, The Little Prince occupies a special place. "I was surprised by the amount of teachings I had not seen. And in class, thanks to the dialogue, the book acquired even more depth, addressing topics that at first you wouldn't even imagine".

Today 650 students from all Degrees are enrolled in the Great Books Program.

"My goal is that through great books and films inspired by books, students reflect on the great mysteries of man."

ANA MARÍA FERNÁNDEZ VALLEJO
Professor of the Great Books Program

The keys to a program that revives the 'classics'.

The Great Books program is articulated around the six subjects of the Core Curriculum: together with Anthropology I and Ethics I, which are taught as lectures, Anthropology II, Ethics II and Cultural Keys I and II follow the seminar format, with an approach based on the reflective reading of classic works (literary, philosophical, theological or scientific), the dialogue between students and professor, and the essay of argumentative essays.

The Core Curriculum Institute (ICC) was created in 1998 to offer humanistic, ethical and theologicaltraining to students of all majors. Although it does not have its own professors, it is the manager of the six common compulsory courses (18 credits of the 240 credits of a Degree): Anthropology I and II, Ethics I and II, and Cultural Keys I and II. The ICC offers two itineraries: 

- pathway Interfaculty or Great Books Program, initiated in 2014, with an approach based on the reading of classic works, discussion in seminars of up to 25 students and essay ays. 

- ordinarypathway , generally with larger groups and where the teacher decides which methodology to follow in each class.