Part of The Great Experiment: Questioning Democracy

Co-presented by BAM and Think Olio

With Patricia Kim

*Tickets can only be purchased here *

Socrates' dialogues in Plato's Republic serve as a kind of blueprint for the kallipolis, or “beautiful” (read: ideal) city. How does democracy fall short of the Republic's metrics? Socrates warns that the passion for freedom in a democratic society comes at the cost of knowledge and wisdom, creating a path toward tyranny. Can this be avoided?

In this seminar, we turn our attention to one of the architects of the great democratic experiment in America to gain a better understanding of our own current exercise in democracy. Thomas Jefferson’s love for his nation as a nascent beacon of enlightenment and ingenuity drove his passion to imagine a future that was met with great resistance and criticism. Who was our decidedly American version of democracy originally intended for, and how has this affected human relations in our nation? Together, we explore Jefferson's shockingly radical view of democracy and discuss the implications for the future of democracy in our nation.

The Great Experiment: Questioning Democracy is open to all curious people, regardless of educational background. The format of each seminar comprises three 15-minute lectures, followed by discussion and text analysis with a professor.