I am so grateful that you've resurrected this amazing program. I know this was meant to be a two year college course, but in your opinion, could a high schooler listen to and benefit from "taking" this online version? Or would you say it's still very much for college/adults.
I think high schoolers could absolutely benefit from this course! Semester one lays a foundation that the remaining semesters build upon. Perhaps you could treat each semester as a year to spread the four semesters out into freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. You could also divide the poetry memorization into roughly 10 poems per year this way.
This is so cool, thank you for putting this together! I've long wanted to find a source for the content of the IHP so this was a godsend.
I'm also very interested in the non-coursework activities you mentioned (stargazing, calligraphy, etc.). Do you have any more information (or know where I can find it) about what was included and how they were integrated?
There are a few interviews with former students that give some insight. Still, it's hard to get a clear picture as to whether all of these things were outside of the scheduled class time--stargazing obviously must have been--or if certain aspects were during class, like calligraphy.
If I can piece it together better, I'll add an update!
This is incredible. Senior, Quinn, and Nelick were visionary. I love the performance art aspect of what they taught, and am grateful to get to watch some of it for myself.
The IHP is the model I’ve planned out for the 6th-12th grade private school I’m in the early stages of creating. Integrated humanities taught through a lens of the most important questions that we as humans care about. This is my contribution to that dream here: https://lathamt.substack.com/p/an-old-new-vision-for-the-humanities
Also recommend looking into the Classical Liberal Arts program at the Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. It has the same aims, same ideals, and is slowly but surely growing as the classical revival captivates the hearts and minds of burgeoning young people!
The program ended in 1979. The program has not been restarted; I just put together the original syllabus so that others can follow the original program as a self-study pursuit.
I'm actually very surprised Aristotle wasn't included. The Nicomachean Ethics, and Aristotle's ideas of telos had a huge influence on Aquinas, and Medieval philosophy and theology.
I agree. I would have liked to see Aristotle on the list as well. I think it could be fit into semester one. Although, admittedly, each semester has quite a lot of reading!
BTW for those looking for an IHP program for young children through some of middle school, check out:
https://www.thechildrenstradition.com/
I was delighted to hear the professors reference Jacques Maritain in the very first lecture! I wrote about him recently:
https://beforeallthings.substack.com/p/jacques-maritains-philosophy-of-art
this is like, public service. THANK YOU
I am so grateful that you've resurrected this amazing program. I know this was meant to be a two year college course, but in your opinion, could a high schooler listen to and benefit from "taking" this online version? Or would you say it's still very much for college/adults.
I think high schoolers could absolutely benefit from this course! Semester one lays a foundation that the remaining semesters build upon. Perhaps you could treat each semester as a year to spread the four semesters out into freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. You could also divide the poetry memorization into roughly 10 poems per year this way.
This is so cool, thank you for putting this together! I've long wanted to find a source for the content of the IHP so this was a godsend.
I'm also very interested in the non-coursework activities you mentioned (stargazing, calligraphy, etc.). Do you have any more information (or know where I can find it) about what was included and how they were integrated?
There are a few interviews with former students that give some insight. Still, it's hard to get a clear picture as to whether all of these things were outside of the scheduled class time--stargazing obviously must have been--or if certain aspects were during class, like calligraphy.
If I can piece it together better, I'll add an update!
You absolutely need to do a post on how you came to do this! Unless I missed it. This is amazing! Sharing with family who also loves John Senior.
There are sources listed at the bottom of the course page. I just compiled everything into a visually nice syllabus.
So interesting :)
Thank you so much for putting this together!! Would anyone want to try to go through this together? For discussion/accountability?
Sounds great!
Very cool. Thanks so much for putting this together.
This is incredible. Senior, Quinn, and Nelick were visionary. I love the performance art aspect of what they taught, and am grateful to get to watch some of it for myself.
The IHP is the model I’ve planned out for the 6th-12th grade private school I’m in the early stages of creating. Integrated humanities taught through a lens of the most important questions that we as humans care about. This is my contribution to that dream here: https://lathamt.substack.com/p/an-old-new-vision-for-the-humanities
Also recommend looking into the Classical Liberal Arts program at the Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. It has the same aims, same ideals, and is slowly but surely growing as the classical revival captivates the hearts and minds of burgeoning young people!
But what happened to the course? As I understand, it has not been continued. If so, why? By the way, have you learned Latin?
The program ended in 1979. The program has not been restarted; I just put together the original syllabus so that others can follow the original program as a self-study pursuit.
I'm actually very surprised Aristotle wasn't included. The Nicomachean Ethics, and Aristotle's ideas of telos had a huge influence on Aquinas, and Medieval philosophy and theology.
I agree. I would have liked to see Aristotle on the list as well. I think it could be fit into semester one. Although, admittedly, each semester has quite a lot of reading!
Thank you, I believe that your idea is of great value.
But what were the reasons that the program did not survive?
This is wonderful! I read two of John Senior’s books and I always wanted to follow this program.
Wow. Thank you.
What an extraordinary and loving task to have created this. Thank you.