Section 01 — What is a Liberal Education?
Course: LBS 101 – The Mental Gym
Session Overview
This first session is your introduction to the soul of SDIT.
You’re not here to memorize facts. You’re here to explore meaning — through reading, conversation, philosophy, reflection, and creative expression. Today’s work is about tuning your internal compass. What is education? What is it for? What kind of learner — and person — do you want to become?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will:
- Write a personal definition of “education”
- Compare classical and modern critiques of the university
- Visually map your worldview and how education fits into it
- Reflect on who you’re becoming through this process
Session Flow
1. Set Intention
Before beginning, read your Student Intentions page aloud. Take a breath. This session is the start of your archive — the beginning of something real. Let it feel important.
2. Read
Text: John Henry Newman – The Idea of a University, Chapter V: “Knowledge Its Own End”
Read online at Newman Reader
3. Watch
-
Harry Lewis – Excellence Without a Soul (Harvard talk; ~20 min)
Watch on YouTube -
Michael Sandel – The Examined Life (Lecture; ~40 min)
Watch on YouTube
4. Listen
Podcast: Philosophy Bites – The Examined Life Today
Listen on Philosophy Bites
5. Reflect While Engaging
As you move through the materials, capture your reactions: - Margin notes - Highlighted quotes - Small sketches or diagrams - Questions that won’t leave you
Use your notebook freely.
Key Quote Box
Choose one line or quote from today’s session that you want to keep. Write it clearly on the page.
“_____________”
Practice Blocks
Define Education
Write your own definition of “education.” Not what school told you — what you believe it is. Be honest. Be clear. Use your own language.
Compare Perspectives
Write a reflection comparing your definition to those of: - John Henry Newman - Harry Lewis
Structure your reflection around three ideas: - Where I Agree - Where I Diverge - What I Carry Forward
Visual Mind Map
Draw a visual map of your current worldview. Include: - What matters most to you in life - How you see the world - Where education fits in Use drawings, arrows, symbols, or clusters. No need to be neat — be expressive.
Reflection
Journal in response to the following prompts: - Why do I want an education? - Who do I hope to become by the end of this program? - What kind of life do I want to build — and how does learning fit in?
Hard Problem (Optional)
Design Your Ideal University
- List 10 courses or experiences that every student would take.
- What would you remove from traditional models?
- Write a 1–2 page manifesto describing your university’s purpose, structure, and soul.
Notes
- This session can be done as fast or slow as needed, no need to rush it.
- It’s okay to struggle with these ideas. Wrestling with them is part of the work.
- The goal is not to finish quickly — it’s to approah truthfully.