Proclaiming Claudius Emperor
Claudius, the 4th emperor of Rome, had to be dragged out from behind curtains where he was hiding in order to be proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. A bookish man, preferring to write and study history, Claudius did not want to be emperor. After all, many of the previous emperors had been killed by rivals. It is said that Claudius, a partially crippled man from birth, accentuated his condition so as not to appear a rival to Caligula who had been killing other heirs. In the end, Claudius’ fears were not unfounded, for he was assassinated himself. Taken from … Continue Reading “Proclaiming Claudius Emperor”
A Tour of Wes Callihan’s Personal Library
Wes Callihan gives a tour of his personal library, located at his home in Potlatch, Idaho. This tour also doubles as a mini-lecture on a philosophy of the “Great Books.” Wes explains why his collection is slightly different than Mortimer Adler’s Great Books set (University of Chicago Press). Wes Callihan organizes his library chronologically by time period, in part so that he can brush his fingers through the “leafs of time.” Enjoy this tour! YouTube version HERE.
A Conversation with Leigh Bortins and Wes Callihan | Towards the Quadrivium
Leigh Bortins and Wes Callihan sit down for a conversation about classical education, homeschooling, and the Quadrivium. Wes spoke at Towards the Quadrivium, a conference hosted by Classical Conversations. Leigh is the founder of Classical Conversations and the Mandala Fellowship. Wes is the founder of Schola Classical Tutorials, Hill Abbey, and author of the Old Western Culture great books curriculum created with Roman Roads Media. YouTube version of this video HERE.
Old Western Culture at a Glance
What if you could bring a master-teacher into your home? Wes Callihan has inspired a generation of young students through his live online classes (Schola Classical Tutorials). Roman Roads Media now brings those years of experience to the screen with the Old Western Culture curriculum.
The Republic: A Real City?
Wes Callihan explains that Plato’s Republic is not about a real city, or a blueprint for a real city, but rather a picture of the human soul, and how the soul should work. Many people throughout history have mistakenly treated Plato’s Republic as a guide to the perfect physical city, which is a gross mistake, and not what Plato had in mind. This is an excerpt from The Philosophers, unit 4 of The Greeks in the Old Western Culture series, a great books video course for high school students. YouTube version HERE.
"I'm giving my kids the education I never received"
“I’m giving my kids the education I never received.” Is that a familiar statement? Most parents who give their children a classical education did not receive a classical education themselves. But it’s not too late! Old Western Culture is a Great Books video course intended for high school aged students, but is designed in such a way as to be conducive to adult continuing education as well! Even if you only have time to watch the lectures, you will get a sweeping overview of the Great Books that shaped Western Civilization. A classical education FOR your kids, WITH your kids, … Continue Reading “"I'm giving my kids the education I never received"”
Stories are a Bootcamp for Life | Wes Callihan (Old Western Culture)
In this excerpt from The Philosophers, unit 4 of The Greeks (Old Western Culture series on the Great Books of Western Civilization), Wes Callihan talks about how imaginative literature is like bootcamp for life. Children get to practice the emotions of life, such as pity, terror, pain, guilt, love, redemption, heroism, glory, honor, shame, etc. in stories. In literature we don’t have the demands for action on us the way we do in real life, giving us the opportunity to meditate on those emotions, and what is right and wrong, from a distance.
A Chronological Confession of Faith
ADVENT SEASON AND THE CHURCH YEAR Guest post by Wesley Callihan [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Advent season marks the beginning of the church year. As my pastor once said, one of the most important things we can learn in our celebration of the seasons of the church year is the basic truth that calendars are not silent – they always tell a story. Calendars are not neutral. The question is, what story do they tell? Or to ask it another way, who is the Lord of time and does our answer show in the way we mark the passing of time? Philip Schaff, one … Continue Reading “A Chronological Confession of Faith”
Questions with Wesley Callihan: Why Should we Study Pagan Authors?
Questions with Wesley Callihan: Why Study Pagan Authors? Or as it has been said (by Tertullian), “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” We are Christians, after all. This is a frequent question asked of proponents of Classical Education. Should we not only study Christian authors? Wesley Callihans offers some insight into this good question. Make sure and follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter on the left collumn.
George Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation: Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and … Continue Reading “George Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation”