{"id":8850,"date":"2020-06-25T17:48:45","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T21:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/2020\/07\/02\/humanities-free-virtual-lecture-discussion-series-tolle-lege\/"},"modified":"2022-11-06T19:29:50","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T00:29:50","slug":"humanities-free-virtual-lecture-discussion-series-tolle-lege","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/humanities-free-virtual-lecture-discussion-series-tolle-lege\/","title":{"rendered":"Humanities virtual lecture series intends to bring people together"},"content":{"rendered":"

The novel coronavirus has spent the last three months driving people apart. This summer, Furman Associate Professor of English Literature Michele Speitz<\/a> hopes the humanities can help bring them back together with \u201cTolle, Lege,\u201d a virtual lecture and discussion series.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe humanities addresses these fundamental questions of what it means to be human, of what it means to live the good life, and we’ve had everything that feels normal and feels right go out the window,\u201d Speitz, also the director of the Furman Humanities Center<\/a>, said. \u201cIt’s the tools of the humanities that can help us find a clear path forward and take some comfort in what people have done and said before.\u201d<\/p>\n

A child\u2019s voice chanting \u201ctolle, lege\u201d (Latin for \u201ctake, read) prompted theologian and philosopher Augustine of Hippo<\/a> to begin reading from his collection of Paul’s epistles, which led to his conversion to Christianity. Influencing religious choice isn\u2019t the aim of the series, but opening the door to enlightenment certainly is.<\/p>\n

\"Chris

The Louis G. Forgione University Professor of Classics Chris Blackwell.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe driving idea behind this was to connect Furman\u2019s really illustrious humanities professoriate to people when we’re feeling disconnected, using the humanities\u2019 power to heal, to reach audiences within the Furman community and then beyond the Furman community,\u201d Speitz said. \u201cIt’s always been very important for us that there wouldn’t be any paywalls and that this could be accessed by anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

To wit, all six lectures are free, open to the public, and available now for viewing on the \u201cTolle, Lege\u201d website<\/a>. Also visit the website to register for the live Q&A sessions, which will be held on the following dates:<\/p>\n