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.
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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