Summary
Imagine the small community setting, thoughtful discussions with peers, and classical curriculum of Classical ConversationsĀ®, but at a college level! In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert speaks to Eliot Grasso, vice president and a tutor at Gutenberg College. Gutenberg takes a classical, Christian approach to a four-year higher education while limiting its incoming freshman class to just twenty students. This fosters a family-like community where students learn and live together while exploring and debating big ideas through Gutenbergās Great Books program. Here, Robert and Eliot talk about the importance of a multidisciplinary education, the unique Gutenberg experience, and, surprisingly, what in the world an uilleann pipe is.
Quote
“The sorts of experiences that we have in our moral rupturing as a culture, in our economics, these have happened many, many, many times before in different times and places. So, I think that great books do good job of helping people see that this isn’t that new.”
Eliot Grasso
Topics
- Intro to Eliot Grasso [1:02]
- Gutenberg College is an educational ministry [1:54]
- What counts as a great book? [2:52]
- What it means to “believe science” [4:53]
- The importance of primary sources [6:50]
- How conversations aid personal growth [11:28]
- Why Gutenberg has “tutors” not “professors” [14:45]
- Is the purpose of college to get a good job? [15:30]
- Eliot’s favorite class at Gutenberg [19:08]
- Eliot’s hope for Gutenberg graduates [21:02]
- The uilleann pipe [22:46]
- Why music is so meaningful [25:27]
- Farewell to Eliot [28:17]
- “Classical Tools Recap” [29:16]
- Ad: Homeschool Families on Missions [31:41]
- “Current Events Discussion”: ESAs [33:30]
- Outro [40:50]
