Another sort of learning

James Schall's take on education

James Vincent Schall was a priest, philosopher, and professor. In his book, Another Sort of Learning, he described his views on education, primarily drawing from older philosophical works. His argument regarding education is framed within the context of a university, and the sort of learning that does, but more so ought to, occur there.

According to Schall, there are two types of education, two sorts of learning. The first is an education pursued for the end goal of making a living. The sort of learning required for such an education meets economic ends. The other sort of learning, the one he is most concerned with, is centered around the pursuit of truth, of living the life of the mind.

To live the life of the mind, Schall referred to Aristotle who argued that one needs leisure: "space and time for questions that have little directly to do with business or keeping alive." Books are the primary means through which truth is pursued in this form of education.