In The Great Conversation, we ask perhaps the most urgent question of all: “How should we live?” “We” ask, first-person plural: within a community of conversation, from the standpoint of our shared humanity, in dialogue with some of the greatest spirits to meditate on the question.

Western Civilization cannot be other than the pursuit of life lived civilly: urbanely, politically, in conversation that accommodates even deep disagreements within the bond of social friendship. This will always remain a work to be accomplished, for the history of civilization has been a history shot through with the violence of domination.

The Great Conversation explores Volume I at the Abigail Adams Institute this Fall 2023! Sign up for our weekly online conversation exploring the wisdom of the ancients and life’s biggest questions.