A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.
“Do you ever get anywhere?” he asked with a mocking laugh.
“Yes,” replied the Tortoise, “and I get there sooner than you think. I’ll run you a race and prove it.”
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Reclaiming Our Time The ancient Greek “skholē” is the root of our word “school,” which meant leisure—not idleness, but a space dedicated to the pursuit of the things that lead us to fulfillment and a flourishing life. A “school” by derivation is supposed to foster deepening relationships through conversation, contemplation and wisdom. This classical understanding contrasts sharply with today’s view of education as a utilitarian and expedient process. Authentic learning requires freedom from constant productivity demands, allowing understanding to develop naturally through sustained engagement with ideas in a shared community of interest. In our AI-driven era, this ancient wisdom takes on renewed relevance as we seek to define deeper forms of learning that machines cannot replicate—the unhurried exploration of ideas, the cultivation of wisdom through dialogue, and the development of judgment through careful reflection. These distinctly human capacities remind us that true education transcends mere information transfer and skill acquisition, and cannot be outsourced to anyone or anything else. Just as no one can exercise our bodies for us, no one – nothing – can do our thinking and our deep soul work but ourselves alone.
The Great Books Approach The Great Books tradition in North American colleges and reading communities have made vital contributions by treating classical texts not as historical artifacts but as living works addressing perennial questions. These texts illuminate fundamental truths about human experience, serving as enduring instruments of knowledge. However, many programs have favored breadth over depth, leading to more superficial understanding rather than deep, lasting engagement. This is particularly true of seminars outside academic settings, which often fail to embrace the leisure—the true “skholē”—that is their natural inheritance. Rather than rushing through texts to cover more material, serious reading communities could create spaces for longer-term unhurried contemplation, allowing wisdom to emerge through sustained dialogue and reflection.
Against the Tyranny of the Instant The most significant works deserve more than cursory examination. They require sustained engagement and careful study—time that traditional academic programs often cannot provide but that participants consistently desire. A thorough analysis of a single chapter or even a single page, discussed in depth with others, provides more value than a rapid review of extensive material. This practice of slow reading takes on special urgency in our digital age, where information arrives in snippets and our attention spans fragment under constant demands for quick consumption. When we commit to sustained engagement with long-form texts, we cultivate not just deeper understanding but also the cognitive muscles that allow us to resist the culture of immediacy. The practice becomes both a form of intellectual development and a quiet rebellion against the tyranny of the instant. The strength of Great Books communities lies in the connections formed through shared intellectual pursuit.
What do we have that AI does not have? Love. Love of truth and wisdom; love of beauty; love of the good; love of friendship and community. The strength of an intentional slow reading community lies in the connections formed through long-term shared intellectual exploration with multiple conversation partners. Whether online or in-person, these gatherings foster lasting relationships built on meaningful dialogue about fundamental questions, creating an exceptional learning environment characterized by substance and depth. When readers come together to wrestle with challenging texts, when they take their time, they engage in a form of collective intelligence that transcends individual capacity—each participant brings unique perspectives, life experiences, and interpretive frameworks that enrich the group’s understanding. This social dimension of learning isn’t merely supportive but transformative: insights emerge from the spontaneous interplay of different and even surprising viewpoints, blind spots are illuminated through respectful challenge, and understanding deepens through the necessity of articulating one’s thoughts to others. Such communities demonstrate that true learning is not a solitary pursuit but a collaborative journey where wisdom and friendship emerges through the alchemy of shared inquiry.
The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping.
But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.
The race is not always to the swift.
What’s in the name? What happens when thoughtful friends gather to explore life’s deepest questions? Plato’s Symposium shows us one such evening of intellectual feasting—and it’s this spirit of shared inquiry that animates our own community.
This is where our name “Symposium” comes from. Much like our own reading pathways, the dialogue presents a community engaged in slow, thoughtful exploration of life’s deepest questions. The Symposium’s structure itself mirrors our practice of collaborative conversational reading. Each speaker builds upon, challenges, or reframes the ideas presented before them, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives on love (eros). This progressive deepening of understanding through dialogue is precisely what we aim for in our reading circles.
The Ladder of Love: A Journey We Take Together Diotima’s famous “ladder of love,” as related by Socrates, begins with the love of a single beautiful body and ascends gradually to the love of beauty itself. This journey from the particular to the universal parallels our own experience in slow reading. We often begin with our individual responses to a text—our personal connections and interpretations. Through dialogue with others, our understanding expands, becoming more universal and profound.
Festival of Multiple Perspectives Consider how the Symposium presents six distinct speeches about love, each offering a different way into this fundamental human experience:
Phaedrus, sees love as a motivating force for noble actions; Pausanias, the lawyer, distinguishes between common and heavenly love; Eryximachus, the doctor, views love as a cosmic force of harmony; Aristophanes, the comic poet, presents love as the search for our other half; Agathon, a famous tragic poet who just won a great award the previous evening praises love’s beauty and virtue; Socrates, through Diotima, reveals love as the desire for permanent possession of the good; Alcibiades (the man who led Athens to disaster against the Spartans) relates his disappointment when Socrates snubs him, despite his affections.
This multiplicity of viewpoints reminds us why we read in community.
Each member brings their unique perspective, helping us see aspects of the text we might have missed on our own. The difference is that rather than present speeches in order, we simply have a good conversation – which ‘holds secrets like love and liquor’, said Seneca. The spontaneity of the conversation with multiple participants yields surprising insights you just can’t get in any other way.
Slow Reading as an Act of Love
When Socrates challenges Agathon’s speech, he doesn’t dismiss it outright but engages in careful questioning. This method of gentle questioning shows us how to read both critically and lovingly. In our conversations, we try practice this same approach—taking time to fully understand each other’s interpretations before building upon or questioning them.
The Symposium suggests that love itself is a kind of wisdom-seeking. We come together in our shared love of wisdom, acknowledging that none of us possesses complete understanding, but that together we might climb a few steps higher on Diotima’s ladder.
Praise for Symposium Institute:
The Human Edge in lifelong classical learning: A Value Proposition from The Symposium Institute
In an age of advancing artificial intelligence, the question arises: What distinguishes human-led classical learning from potentially automated alternatives? Consider a scenario where both an AI system and a human interpreter offer identical analytical insights into Nausicaa’s encounter with Odysseus in Book 6 of the Odyssey. While the machine might match the factual interpretation, The Symposium Institute offers a fundamentally different and more valuable experience.
The Irreplaceable Human Element
The core value of Symposium’s approach lies not merely in the transmission of knowledge, but in the creation of authentic human connections through shared intellectual exploration. When participants gather to discuss classical texts, they engage in a form of community building that transcends mere textual analysis. Each person brings their lived experiences, emotional responses, and unique perspectives to the conversation, creating a rich tapestry of understanding that evolves organically through human interaction.
Beyond Information Exchange
While AI systems can process and present information with remarkable efficiency, they cannot truly participate in the subtle dynamics of live human dialogue. The experience of reading and discussing great works in a community setting involves:
– Authentic emotional resonance with the text and fellow readers
– Spontaneous connections between ancient wisdom and contemporary life
– The development of lasting friendships forged through shared intellectual discovery
– The joy of unexpected insights emerging from genuine human interaction
– The development of core intellectual virtues (excellences) that quicken in a social learning community, like the love of truth, inquisitiveness, courage, humility, fairness, thoroughness or a care for detail, autonomy, the awareness of original and imitation; a capacity for reflecting on oneself and the whole; learning how to stay focused on what is important, developing a sense of disinterested appreciation of the questions and approaches to various texts by exposure to many and varied interpretations; the habit of helping others develop their understanding that comes from a sense of shared pursuit.
A Premium Learning Experience
Symposium offers a high-end educational experience that centers on human connection and authentic dialogue. This approach:
– Creates intimate learning communities where genuine relationships can flourish
– Facilitates transformative conversations that extend beyond formal discussion sessions
– Builds enduring networks of intellectually engaged individuals
– Provides a space for authentic human growth and development
While artificial intelligence may or may not serve as a valuable tool in classical education, the essence of Symposium’s value proposition lies in its ability to foster genuine human connections and deep cognitive exercise through the shared exploration of timeless texts. This experience cannot be replicated by technology alone, as it emerges from the uniquely human capacity for authentic relationship, emotional understanding, and collaborative meaning-making.
The future may bring technological advances that challenge our current understanding of machine capabilities. However, the fundamental value of human-to-human connection in education—particularly in the discussion of profound works that address the human condition—remains at the heart of Symposium’s mission and success
How it Works
Our online slow reading seminar pathways run for a minimum of 24 weeks with once weekly meetings, and recordings available for missed sessions. Our classics in mathematics/natural science pathway meets two time per week.
Some complex works, such as Plato’s Republic, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, or Aristotle’s Politics may extend to a year or longer.
We also offer studies in the liberal arts, such as mathematics, music, and fine art, as well as reading courses in ancient Greek and classical Latin.
Our slow reading program incorporates three distinct slow reading approaches, depending of the nature of the work.
- Walking Pace Reading: A line-by-line or paragraph-by-paragraph discussion without a set end date. Readers pause frequently for observations and questions, sometimes covering as little as one page per session. This method is particularly effective for philosophical texts, allowing for thorough comprehension and rich connections.
- Benchmark Reading: Follows a structured schedule with a predetermined end date, typically 24 weeks. For example, reading one book of the Iliad per week allows sustained immersion in the text, contrasting with traditional programs that cover the work in 4-8 sessions.
- Walking Pace + Benchmark Reading: Combines close reading during seminars with independent reading at home. Over a set period (e.g., 24 weeks), participants might closely examine 30 pages while reading the entire work independently. This approach provides both detailed analysis and comprehensive coverage.
Unlock the Power of Deep Learning Through Our Open-access Subscription
Our comprehensive subscription provides unlimited access to all slow reading pathways plus personal guidance through optional monthly one-on-one consultations. This integrated approach supports both collaborative learning and individual development…
Social Benefits
- Find genuine connection and lasting friendships in an age of superficial digital networks
- Join a vibrant intellectual home where shared curiosity creates meaningful bonds
- Transform solitary reading into collective discovery as your group develops trust and rapport over time
- Experience the unique joy of “aha moments” that emerge through unhurried dialogue
- Build enduring relationships grounded in exploration of life’s fundamental questions
Personal Development
- Gain confidence in your own voice as you contribute to meaningful discussions
- Develop habits of careful reading and reflection that extend beyond the seminar
- Find mentorship and guidance in navigating a life of learning
- Maintain steady progress with readings paced to fit your busy life
- Develop a ‘no fear’ attitude to tackling on your own the primary sources.
- Develop a sense of calm and collectedness, by holding a standing commitment to conversations and readings dedicated to higher things, outside the dreary din of 21st century media.
Intellectual Growth
- Develop deeper insights as ideas mature through sustained long term conversations
- Discover how different perspectives in discussion illuminate aspects of texts you might have missed
- See how ancient wisdom speaks to modern challenges through the lens of shared experience
- Notice subtle connections within and between works that emerge only through patient study
- Transform abstract concepts into practical wisdom through dialogue with fellow readers
Subscription Features
- Full open access to all online reading pathways across philosophy, literature, languages, and arts
- Freedom to join multiple pathways each quarter, which is made practicable by shorter readings.
- Recordings available if a session is missed
- Open access to special seminars series
- Monthly one-on-one private consultations with one of our tutors for personal guidance
- Welcome orientation to optimize your learning experience
- Flexible quarterly or annual payment options – 250 per quarter, 750 annual.
- Learn more about our subscription program here!
Slow Reading Seminar Prospectus
Quarter 2: April-June
On the Shoulders of Giants: Euclid’s Elements (January-May)
Benchmark Reading
Mondays + Thursdays 12pm EST
Arc of Modernity: Lorca, Poet in New York (New – 12 weeks)
Benchmark Reading
Tuesdays, 3pm EST
Don Quixote de la Mancha (New – 36 weeks)
Benchmark Reading
Arc of Modernity with the Great Books of Iberia
Tuesdays 8pm EST
Homer’s Odyssey (Continuing from Q1)
Benchmark Reading
Tuesdays 8pm EST
Shakespeare, Richard II
Benchmark Reading
Wednesdays 2pm EST
Dante’s Divine Comedy: Purgatorio (Continuing from Q1)
Benchmark Reading
Wednesdays 8pm EST
Roots of the Socratic Ethical Tradition: Xenophon’s Memorabilia
(New – 24 Weeks) Benchmark Reading
Sunday 9am EST
Aristotle, Politics (Continuing from Q1)
Walking pace slow reading
Thursdays 2pm EST
The Bible: Gospel of Matthew (Continuing from Q1)
Benchmark Reading, 28 weeks
Thursdays, 8 pm EST
Euclid Elements (Books 8-10) (Continuing from Q1)
Walking pace slow reading
Thursdays, 8 pm EST
Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (Continuing from Q1)
Walking pace slow reading
Fridays 2 pm EST
Xenophon and Homer in ancient Greek, alternate Sunday evenings
Reading Vergil and Livy in Latin, alternating Monday evenings
Quarter 3: July-September
Benchmark Reading Mondays 12pm EST – June 23 – August 11, 2025
Don Quixote de la Mancha (Continuing from Q2)
Benchmark Reading
Arc of Modernity with the Great Books of Iberia
Tuesdays 8pm EST
Stories for Our Moment: Euripedes, Bacchae
Walking pace reading, 3 sessions: Wednesday, 9/8 – 9/22
Dante’s Divine Comedy: Purgatorio (Continuing from Q2)
Benchmark Reading, Wednesdays 8pm EST
Roots of the Socratic Ethical Tradition: Xenophon’s Memorabilia
(Continuing from Q2)
Benchmark Reading
Sunday 9am EST
Aristotle, Politics (Continuing from Q2)
Walking pace slow reading Thursdays 2pm EST
Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (Continuing from Q2)
Walking pace slow reading Fridays 2 pm EST
Xenophon and Homer in ancient Greek, alternate Sunday evenings
Reading Vergil and Livy in Latin, alternating Monday evenings
Quarter 4: October-December
Archimedes, On Spheres and Cylinders; Floating Bodies (New)
Benchmark Reading Mondays + Thursdays 12pm EST
J.S. Bach “St. Matthew’s Passion” (New)
Benchmark Listening, 2 Quarters, Tuesdays, 12pm EST
Borges (New)
Benchmark Reading, 1 Quarter, Tuesdays, 3pm EST
Don Quixote de la Mancha (Concluding Q4)
Benchmark Reading
Arc of Modernity with the Great Books of Iberia
Tuesdays 8pm EST
Aristotle, Physics (New)
Walking pace reading
Wednesdays, 2pm EST
Divine Comedy: Purgatorio (Continuing from Q3)
Benchmark Reading Wednesdays 8pm EST
Aristotle, Politics (Continuing from Q3)
Walking pace slow reading Thursdays 2pm EST
Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (Continuing from Q3)
Walking pace slow reading Fridays 2 pm EST
Xenophon and Homer in ancient Greek, alternate Sunday evenings
Reading Vergil and Livy in Latin, alternating Monday evenings
36 wee
Slow down + take your time…
The Value of Deliberate Learning: Why Slowing Down Matters
In our fast-paced digital age, the practice of slow, deliberate reading and learning offers distinct advantages that enhance both comprehension and personal development. This approach fundamentally transforms how we engage with complex ideas and meaningful texts.
Deeper Understanding Through Patient Engagement
When we slow down our reading pace, we create space for genuine intellectual engagement. Rather than simply extracting information, we begin to recognize subtle connections, appreciate nuanced arguments, and understand complex ideas in their full context. This deeper level of comprehension allows us to build a more robust foundation of knowledge that serves us well in future learning endeavors.
Enhanced Critical Analysis and Retention
Deliberate reading naturally promotes active engagement with the text. When we take time to pause, reflect, and consider implications, we develop stronger analytical skills. Research indicates that slower, more focused reading leads to significantly better retention and recall, with studies suggesting comprehension improvements of up to 200% compared to rapid reading techniques.
Building Intellectual Stamina
The practice of slow reading develops our capacity for sustained intellectual engagement. Much like physical exercise, this mental discipline grows stronger with practice. By regularly engaging in careful, deliberate reading, we build the stamina needed to tackle increasingly complex texts and ideas.
Fostering Meaningful Discussion
When readers take time to thoroughly process material, they bring more thoughtful perspectives to group discussions. This deeper engagement leads to richer conversations, more insightful questions, and more meaningful connections between participants. The quality of discourse naturally elevates when all participants have taken time to carefully consider the material.
Professional and Personal Growth
In professional contexts, the ability to carefully analyze and deeply understand complex information provides a significant advantage. The skills developed through slow reading—patient analysis, careful consideration, and thorough understanding—transfer directly to professional decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
The Investment-Return Relationship
While slow reading requires a greater initial investment of time, it ultimately proves more satisfying way to use your time reading. The thorough understanding gained through careful reading fosters an awareness of questions that builds a more solid foundation for advanced learning and practical application.
The practice of slow reading and learning represents a strategic investment in intellectual development. By resisting the urge to rush through material and instead engaging in careful, deliberate study, we develop stronger analytical capabilities, retain information more effectively, and build lasting understanding. This approach not only enhances our immediate comprehension but also develops crucial skills that serve us well in both academic and professional contexts.
Trust your questions
and your capacity to discover truth
in your reading and learning.
Our deepest questions are not mere psychological artifacts or idle musings to be dismissed. When we ask “What makes a life meaningful?” or “How should we face our mortality?” or “What does it mean to truly love?” – these questions emerge from the very essence of human experience. They are as real as hunger, as pressing as thirst.
Too often, we’ve learned to wave away these fundamental inquiries as symptoms of anxiety or products of an overactive mind. But look around and you’ll find these same questions echoing across cultures and centuries. They appear in the verses of Rumi, in the dialogues of Plato, in the meditations of Augustine. This universality hints at something profound – that our questioning itself points toward truths waiting to be discovered.
And here’s the truly exciting part: these questions may have answers. Not simple, reductive answers, but rich, living responses that emerge when minds meet in genuine dialogue. When we gather around a great text – whether it’s Dostoyevsky wrestling with free will or Woolf exploring the nature of consciousness – we’re not just reading. We’re joining a conversation that stretches across millennia, adding our own voice to a chorus of seekers.
The great books are not museum pieces but living interlocutors. They challenge us, surprise us, and often show us that others have walked the paths our questions are leading us down. Through deep engagement with these works and each other, we might find not just answers, but new and better questions – ones that lead us ever deeper into the mystery and wonder of being alive.
