Great Books of the Western World (take two)

Curiouser and curiouser. After reading J.M. Anderson's response to Patrick Deneen's essay, these comments.

Anderson's primarily criticizes Deneen for writing "about these books on political and philosophical, not pedagogical, grounds." Anderson presents the many values of reading good and particularly great books. As we learn, we develop the ability to learn more. We can think critically and reason through and solve problems.

Anderson doesn't really get to the ultimate question: But why? Why are skills X, Y, and Z valuable? He concludes that "Collectively, [the Great Books] cultivate the qualities that most professors say are essential for undergraduates to possess: critical thinking, moral reasoning, the ability to communicate, preparation for citizenship, living with diversity in a global society, breadth of interests---all of which traditional liberal education aims to achieve."

Patrick Deneen doesn't appear to disagree with any of this. He admits:

"The Great Books would and should be taught,"

Then he immediately adds: "but not as if the faculty is indifferent to the ways that they should be received. Students should at least know that these books cannot be rightly approached from a basis of "neutrality," since that approach itself contains a teaching, and that teaching is one that reinforces the relativist orthodoxies of our age."

Deneen has a more holistic view of the purpose of education while Anderson seems to compartmentalize intellectual development and skills away from worldviews (the relativist orthodoxies of our age).

To verge off on a tangent: One reason why many parents decide to home-school is because they see education as involving the integrated education/training of the whole person. Interestingly, in schools, there is a lot going on besides rigorous academics. The predominate philosophy of education in this country tries to address the whole person, not just academics.

I think Deneen would ask of the benefits stated by Anderson: "To what purpose?"

And that is a question we must ask ourselves anytime we work on something (like learning a new skill): "To what purpose?" To purposelessly do things is about as bad as those who do nothing.

Edited to correct the mistakes kindly pointed out by M. Anonymous. ;-)