
How to Combine Action & Contemplation | Katharina Volk on Cicero & Caesar
Johnathan Bi
Knowledge Flourishes in Fellowship
Intellectual growth is greatly enhanced through social engagement and collaboration. The upper class scholarship thrived on interactions within close-knit circles, where individuals would embark on grand tours and participate in joint study efforts. They shared resources by borrowing and exchanging books, nurturing a community of learning. This reciprocal relationship included dedicating works to one another, fostering a culture of shared intellectual progress. Personal correspondence, like Cicero's extensive letters with his friend Atticus, exemplifies the importance of dialogue and inquiry in deepening understanding and refining ideas, highlighting that true scholarship often occurs within a social context.