Why do our minds make sense of the world and our selves through narrative?

How do the competing conceptions of “human nature” structure our understanding of our history and our future?

What happens to a piece of literature when it’s read in light of the philosophies that underpin it?

These are some of the questions that motivated this term’s studies, sparking lively discussion and personal growth in our classroom. Next term we begin accredited classes for the very first time, so this seemed like a good time to stop, reflect, and ask our students what they thought of their experience of higher education, and the Crito Project, so far. Here are some of their responses:

“My experience has been outstanding, I’ve really enjoyed and relished it. In the course I found particularly [my tutors’] impact to have been profound on me and the class. Their advice has been brilliant, it has helped with my writing and helped me put my thoughts to paper, which I have really loved and enjoyed and, in the process, figured out I have a knack for writing. It has helped me outside the class in how I think I perceive things, towards what I believe overall is a much more positive outlook. I also found that I now practice freedom of thought and a choice to my reactions over external matters, and not to use my past as an excuse for irrational behaviour; to navigate through life in the most beneficial way for me and society.”

“To be blunt, this course has changed my life. Philosophy has led me to analyse my own ‘logos’ [meaning, structure, reason] and given me a deeper understanding of myself, other people, and the world around me. I have learned about all of the pre-socratic philosophers, from Thales to Zeno, I have learned of Daoism and Confucianism, right up through modern thinkers like Ursula Le Guin, James Baldwin, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Philosophy has led me to history, and to physics and economics. The amazing thing is that this is just the beginning of my journey … it all wouldn’t have been possible without Crito, UEA and my classmates.”

“This course has been a blessing for me, I’ve always had an interest in philosophy so was happy to get accepted to get on the course. It’s helping to open my mind up. Getting me thinking of my views and other peoples’ at the same time and think about the world and how certain leaders and events have paved the way for how we think. I’m looking forward to learning a new topic that I have a keen interest in, already it’s having an impact, I feel I’m making good use of my time and will give me a better understanding of people in past and present, how we work as human beings, and how various people have impacted the world we live in. I’ve learnt to just listen and respect other peoples’ views … everybody in the class is motivated and respects each other’s views and opinions.”