The Importance of Memorization and Foundational Knowledge in Education

This week, Scott and Karl discuss Dorthy Sayers’ paper, "The Lost Tools of Learning." This groundbreaking work is a great deal important to our mission here at Online Great Books, and for anyone else who wants a redo on their education.

What did Sayers notice was lost back in 1947? Why does it matter that we have lost the tools of learning?

In this episode, the guys talk about the all-encompassing ideas behind the Trivium, the downfalls of specialization, and the purpose of school.

In school, you learn math and biology, but do you learn how to learn?

For Sayers, the materials you use in order to teach how to learn doesn’t matter, only the process. “The sole true end of education,” says Sayers, “is to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.”

Tune in to this week’s episode and find out how your schooling may have failed you and how to recover your own tools of learning.