Intellectual Foundations

Explore foundational ideas, and join the inquiry of the ages.

Intellectual Foundations is a carefully curated collection of historically significant primary texts that have shaped Western civilization, the Christian tradition, and the American republic. Organized for accessibility and breadth, this volume introduces students to perennial questions related to character development, faith and reason, civic life, and democratic citizenship. From Homer, Plato, and Locke to the early Church fathers, Aquinas, and Calvin to Jefferson, Susan B. Anthony, and W.E.B. DuBois, the carefully selected readings in this anthology spark reflection and inform debates that transcend academic disciplines. Each reading has been thoughtfully yet concisely introduced by the editors, providing context and highlighting the central ideas at stake.  Intellectual Foundations thus offers readers a valuable framework for engaging with ideas that continue to shape and challenge contemporary life.