{"id":9716,"date":"2016-06-20T08:00:27","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chimeraobscura.com\/vm\/?p=9716"},"modified":"2016-06-19T21:49:08","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T01:49:08","slug":"episode-173-christopher-nelson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/chimeraobscura.com\/vm\/episode-173-christopher-nelson","title":{"rendered":"Episode 173 – Christopher Nelson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"7154243029_045c3e190a_z\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Virtual Memories Show #173:
\nChristopher Nelson<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/virtualmemories\/Episode_173_-_Christopher_Nelson.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>

Podcast: Play in new window<\/a> | Download<\/a><\/p>

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\u201cIf virtue can be taught, it’s only by learning to ask the types of questions that make you a thoughtful person.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"st-johns-college-md_416x416\"<\/a>My two-year term at St. John’s College’s Graduate Institute<\/a> was the most important part of my life. During my recent trip back to Annapolis, I sat down with outgoing president Christopher Nelson<\/a> to talk about lessons learned during his 26-year tenure, the books that guided him to the college, the ones he returns to, and the ones that gave him the most trouble as an undergrad, what he’ll miss and what he hopes to do next, his key advice for his successor, and more!\u00a0Give it a listen!<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cRunning an institution and reading a budget were second nature to me. . . . Being able to participate in the life of the college so I could make good and deep judgements about what’s important around here; that was going to come from spending time in the classroom and with the faculty.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We also talk about the unique situation of being the only president in the college’s 300+ years who is also an alumnus, why math and philosophy are for the young, while big novels are for middle age, how he grew into The Aeneid<\/em>, the use of literature in understanding Japanese morality, why he returns to Middlemarch<\/em> every few years, what he’d add to the St. John’s curriculum (even if he can’t bring himself to drop something to make room for it), and a lot more!\u00a0Give it a listen!<\/a>\u00a0(and become a supporter via Patreon<\/a> or Paypal<\/a> so you can check out the big list of all the books we talked about this episode!)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe commodification of higher education — like the monetization of every good in life — is deeply disturbing. It’s certainly something that’s always been in America. You read de Tocqueville and you see that it’s part of the American spirit to do that.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/virtualmemories\/Episode_173_-_Christopher_Nelson.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>

Podcast: Play in new window<\/a> | Download<\/a><\/p>

Subscribe: Spotify<\/a> | TuneIn<\/a> | RSS<\/a> | More<\/a><\/p>\n

Enjoy the conversation!<\/a>\u00a0Then check out\u00a0the archives<\/a>\u00a0for more great episodes! You might like:<\/p>\n