School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership: “History and Civic Education as the Foundation of Strategic Confidence”
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, a JMC partner program, hosted Lt. General and ASU Distinguished University Fellow H.R. McMaster to speak on history and civic education’s importance in making foreign policy:
As bias and vitriol contaminates the information environment today, the manipulation of history remains an important tool for those who want to sow division and conflict rather than foster unity and goodwill. Ignorance of history compounded by the abuse of it undermines our ability to work together and improve our nation and our society. A sense of history can help citizens recognize demagoguery and reject false dilemmas. Knowledge of history is essential to building trust in civic institutions and maintaining the confidence necessary to implement an effective foreign policy. Americans should be confident in their capacity for self-improvement because their Republic was founded on the radical idea that sovereignty lies neither with King nor Parliament, but with the people.
Thursday, October 7, 2021 • 5 PM
Arizona Ballroom, Memorial Union 221 • Arizona State University
Free and open to the public.
Click here to watch on YouTube >>
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University seeks to introduce a new level of debate over the large questions of life that always arise. These are questions of value: What is the best form of government? The most efficient and just economy? The good life for an individual? And also basic questions of fact and concept: Is science the only kind of knowledge? Does history have a direction and purpose? Is moral choice a fact or delusion? These questions do not have easy answers, and indeed the questions have always been clearer than the answers. As a learning community of faculty and students, the school approaches them in two ways. One way is to look beyond the time and borders of our present society to the great thinkers who have contended for the high status of teachers of humanity, such as Homer, Dante and Shakespeare. The other way of studying the fundamental questions is to look within to American leaders, both intellectual and political, who have inspired us.
Learn more about the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership >>
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates about lectures, publications, podcasts, and events related to American political thought, United States history, and the Western political tradition!
Want to help the Jack Miller Center transform higher education? Donate today.