№ 2003.006 — St. John’s College — Commencement address

Lewis Lapham

Transcript

Lapham argues that the humanities are necessities rather than luxuries, essential for guiding a technological society and for sustaining democracy. He devotes much of the address to a tribute to his late editor and mentor Otto Friedrich, holding him up as the embodiment of true humanism—curiosity, learning, and intellectual courage in the face of hardship. He urges graduates to distrust the guardians of the status quo and to make the future through independent thought.

Key moments

01 Defense of the humanities as necessities, not ornaments
02 Extended tribute to mentor Otto Friedrich as a model humanist
03 Critique of the media and authorities who exaggerate fear of the future
04 Call to join the 'party of things-as-they-might-become' and think for oneself

Transcript

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Provenance

Imported from Open Commencement DB

Open Commencement DB transcript; not independently verified against the original recording