About us
Come close read great books with us! Prior reading of the text is encouraged but not required.
We are inspired by this quote from JS Mill
We met two mornings in every week, from 8.30 till 10, at which hour most of us were called off to our daily occupations. Our first subject was political economy. We chose some systematic treatise as our text-book, my father’s Elements being our first choice. One of us read aloud a chapter or some smaller portion of the book. The discussion was then opened, and anyone who had an objection or other remark to make made it. Our rule was to discuss thoroughly every point raised, whether great or small, prolonging the discussion until all who took part were satisfied with the conclusion they had individually arrived at; and to follow up every side-issue that the chapter or the conversation suggested, never leaving it until we had untied every knot we found. We repeatedly kept up the discussion of some one point for several weeks, thinking intently on it during the intervals of our meetings, and contriving solutions of the new difficulties that had arisen in the last morning’s discussion...It was also through them that I acquired, or very much strengthened, a mental habit to which I attribute all that I ever did or ever shall do in theoretical matters, namely.
- never accepting half-solutions of difficulties as complete,
- never abandoning a puzzle, but returning to it again and again until it was cleared up,
- never allowing obscure corners of a subject to remain unexplored because they did not appear important,
- never thinking that I perfectly understood any part of a subject until I understood the whole.
Upcoming events
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