Summary

Who is responsible when a nation falls?
In this seminar, students will examine Abraham Lincoln’s Lyceum Address as both a warning and a vision—an early meditation on how republics die not by foreign force, but by domestic erosion. Through the lens of law, ambition, and collective memory, we’ll ask: What happens when reverence for the Constitution fades? Can passion and mob rule overpower reason and justice? And how do societies preserve their ideals when the greatest threats come from their own citizens?

Event Overview

A St. John's Seminar is an hour and a half long virtual event that is led by two current faculty members. It's a great opportunity to get a feel for what a real class at St. John's is like! With cameras and mics on, the seminar will begin when a faculty member asks an opening question. Then, everyone will join in the conversation as equals on the journey to answer that (usually deceptively simple) question. Participating in this seminar fulfills one of the requirements for our Discussion-Based Application.
 

This session will focus on Abraham Lincoln's "Lyceum Address" LINKED HERE.