I’m bullish on the increasingly important sphere of para-academic education. Far beyond the punishing conformity of the classroom, these insurgent operations can shape minds and hearts in ways that the legacy institutions of mass education cannot.
My humble contribution to this educational underground is to teach in two independent summer schools.
Readings are long, protracted, and intensive. Discussions are sharp, demanding, and last for hours. But because of the calibre of students and teachers, these seminars are the most intellectually rewarding part of my year. They make me hopeful — the theme of this Substack notwithstanding, they make me optimistic.
Both seminars are open to students and young professionals (under 35 years old). Please pass this notice along to sharp young people, or apply yourself if you’re eligible.
The Machine Has No Tradition: A Seminar on Technology, Revolution, and Apocalypse
This seminar grapples with the essence of technology and how it transforms our very humanity. It takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts from June 1st to June 7th.
I teach alongside the inestimable Mary Harrington (Unherd) and Jon Askonas (Catholic University of America).
You can apply here.
Academia Tocqueville
This seminar takes place in Paris from June 29th to July 11th. It covers French political thought after the Revolution, concentrating on its liberal-conservative, Bonapartist, counter-Revolutionary, and Catholic strands.
I teach alongside the Lauren Frémont (Sciences Po) and Luke Foster (Hillsdale), true Renaissance men, as well as other brilliant guest speakers. The program takes place in English, although a couple of speakers opt to use translators.
You can apply here.