What is beauty? Is it definable? What is it for, how are we drawn to it—and why do we sometimes resist it?

This week we welcome Dr. George Harne, president of Christendom College and an accomplished medieval and music history scholar. Drawing on his perspective as head of a vibrant Catholic liberal arts college, he speaks to us about the liberal arts as a path of study driven by beauty and contemplation, in pursuit of a true vision of reality.

Chapters:

2:02 Liberal arts: what free people study

5:51 Versus "humanities" or "classical education"

7:46 Why study them

9:43 Music as a liberal art, fine art, liturgical art

13:16 Teaching art and contemplation

18:24 Defining contemplation

21:21 Contemplating music

24:45 Music with our family

28:19 Receiving beauty objectively, subjectively

29:42 Beauty under suspicion today

34:24 A Catholic liberal arts education

Links:

Only the Lover Sings: Art and Contemplation by Josef Pieper

The Arts of the Beautiful by Etienne Gilson

Featured Opportunities:

Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024)

The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024)

Also on the Forum:

Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers

Defining the Liberal Arts featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan

Order and Surprise: On Beauty and the Western Tradition featuring Dr. Lionel Yaceczko

Why a Liberal Arts Education Today featuring Michael Moynihan

The Idea of the Liberal Arts University featuring Dr. Thomas Hibbs