In “The Closing of the American Mind,” the philosopher Allan Bloom analyzes the state and culture of higher education and American society as a whole. Bloom makes the case that the social and political crises facing America are part of a larger intellectual crisis — the dangerous narrowing of curiosity in universities.
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Discussion Guide: “The Closing of the American Mind”
This discussion guide is intended to spark constructive conversation and critical thinking about the book, its arguments and their relevance today, and the state of higher education today. Two summaries of the book (a detailed summary and a shorter summary) are also available here.
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We are compiling a compendium of initiatives, policies, programs, and other innovations that have been deployed in classrooms, on campuses, and in disciplines to support open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement. We want to hear practical strategies, tools, and resources that have worked for you, and that others can readily adapt and implement in their own institutions. These can range from entire courses to syllabi, reading lists, and research. Learn more & contribute.