“You become like how you study.” This is one of the pedagogical philosophies that Polly Ha hopes to transmit as the new director of Transformative Ideas. The Divinity School and History professor exudes enthusiasm when describing the program, launched by the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences in 2022. “Transformative Ideas is really raising a new generation of leaders,” she said. “Students complete the program and carve a — sometimes new! — career path based on creativity, engagement and a desire to enrich the… read more about Meet Polly Ha, Transformative Ideas’ New Director »
John Vervaeke, professor of psychology, cognitive science, and Buddhist psychology at the University of Toronto, discusses the contemporary crisis of meaning: The widely documented prevalence of depression, loneliness, isolation, and listlessness in society today. He identifies the causes of this crisis in the changes in attitudes and social structures accompanying modernity. He proposes community, extra-personal purposes, and a deeper rediscovery of ethical-… read more about Meaning in Life and Why It Matters with Dr. John Vervaeke »
Christianity and Islam, the world’s two largest religions, are both implicated in the origins and fate of modernity. What is the relationship between each religion and liberal modernity? What new light does this attention to these relationships shed on liberalism? What does the future hold for Christianity, Islam, and the liberal order given the expected decline of the religiously unaffiliated and increase in the percentage of religious believers as shares of the global population in… read more about Transformative Ideas Addresses Islam and Modernity »
John Rose teaches about freedom of expression in a polarized era. He doesn't expect us to agree. But he wants us to listen, with respect. read more about John Rose Teaches Freedom of Expression in a Polarized Era »
Duke students with a desire to live outside their own political and cultural bubbles will have a new housing option this fall. A new Living-Learning Community for Transformative Ideas will house about 35 students with meeting spaces that can host up to 75. Headquartered in Kilgo Quad on Duke’s West Campus, this new program will bring students together who are actively looking to explore ideas different from their own, said its faculty sponsor, Jed Atkins. “This is about having students take the lead in creating a space… read more about Coming Soon: A Duke Dorm for Transformative Ideas »
Set deep within the Blue Ridge mountains, far from Duke’s campus, a group of almost 40 campers huddled around the campfire ready to discuss the day’s activities. Archery, board games and hiking had kept them busy. But now it was evening, and they were tired and ready to eat s’mores and share typical campfire stories — like dealing with academic stress and deciding on a career path. Well, maybe not so typical, as these weren’t just any campers, but Duke sophomores on a meditative retreat. Soon, they would go back to their… read more about Students Explore Life’s Most Important Questions Through New Program for Sophomores »
As a double major in Chemistry and Classical Languages, senior Sophia Dort realized that though she had taken many courses in both the sciences and the humanities, they rarely overlapped. “When I saw an opportunity to take a class that was focused on medicine, but looking at it from a humanities point of view, I was pretty excited,” she said, explaining how she ended up taking a new course on Medicine and Human Flourishing this spring. The course, cross-listed between Classical Studies, Global Health and Ethics, is part… read more about Class of 2022: Sophia Dort, Reflecting on her Study of ‘Medicine and Human Flourishing’ »