The Point Program for Public Thinking Summer Workshop: Democracy and the Elites
Course Code
PARR 11700 92
Course Description
The Summer Workshop provides a space for undergraduate students interested in journalism, criticism, politics, art, and nonprofit work to learn about and practice engaging the public through dialogue and writing. The theme of this workshop is "Democracy and the Elites". Some of its central questions will be: Who qualifies as an elite in a democracy, and what kind of authority do they possess? Are there good ways of being an elite as well as bad ones? What "responsibilities" do intellectual elites have to the public? And how do we navigate situations where democratic majorities oppose values or actions that we as intellectuals consider to be right or just? You will address these and related questions in conversation with one another as well as with various philosophical, political, artistic, and religious traditions. For your final assignment, you will outline a longform essay or design a project to foster public conversation about democracy and elites on your own college campus.
Course Criteria
Enrollment by consent only. Interested students must submit a complete application through https://applypcs.uchicago.edu/apply/. Deadline to apply is March 5, 2025
This summer workshop for undergraduate students will cover all expenses (tuition, room, and board)
The Summer Program for Public Thinking workshop is co-sponsored by The Point Magazine and Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago.
Instructor(s)
Agnes Callard, Jonny Thakkar
UChicago Registration 1Visiting Application 2