Classical educators aim to instill the love of wisdom, and wisdom questions arise across the disciplines.  What does it mean to take the love of wisdom, philo–sophia, not as the domain of a single discipline but as a goal that ranges across the disciplines?  Few schools have the capacity to maintain designated philosophy courses, but most have a wide variety of courses that would be enriched by direct engagement with wisdom questions.  

But what does the pursuit of wisdom across the curriculum look like?  How are we to recognize wisdom questions when we find them?  How can such questions be addressed productively and efficiently?  What does the pursuit of wisdom look like in conversation?  What does it look like on paper?  

This retreat draws on readings from Socrates and St. Thomas to answer these questions.  We will uncover and analyze time-tested patterns–i.e., the Socratic dialectic and Thomistic disputed question–for raising and addressing wisdom questions in any classroom context.  These patterns form the basis of classroom exercises and writing assignments that deepen the formative benefits of a classical education.   Our main leader on this adventure will be Dr. Todd Buras, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Baylor University.