What Makes Us Fully Human with Dr. David Diener | Ep. 9

<p><strong>About the Episode</strong></p><p>In this episode of <em>Common Knowledge</em>, Dr. David Diener—Hillsdale professor, Plato scholar, and former classical school headmaster—unpacks why classical education still matters in the 21st century.</p><p>What if the goal of school isn’t just a good job or high test scores, but becoming a fully flourishing human being? Diener contrasts the 2,000-year Western tradition—rooted in virtue, wonder, truth, goodness, and beauty—with the modern shift toward practical training and “relevance” that began with the Industrial Revolution and progressive thinkers like John Dewey.</p><p>He explains how classical education cultivates excellence in thought, character, and community life, producing graduates who succeed by conventional measures <em>and</em> live deeper, more meaningful lives. </p><p>A thought-provoking conversation on what education is really for—and why the classical approach might be more relevant today than ever.</p><p><strong>About Dr. David Diener</strong></p><p>Dr. Diener is the author of <em>Plato: The Great Philosopher‑Educator</em> and has published widely on Plato, Kierkegaard, and the philosophy of education. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Ancient Languages from Wheaton College, an MA in Philosophy, an MS in the History and Philosophy of Education, and a dual PhD in Philosophy and Philosophy of Education from Indiana University. He currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Education at Hillsdale College.</p><p>More about Dr. Diener: <a href="https://www.hillsdale.edu/faculty/david-diener/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.hillsdale.edu/faculty/david-diener/</a> </p><p><strong>Connect with Liberty Common School:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Liberty Common School Website:<a href="https://www.libertycommon.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.libertycommon.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p></li><li><p>Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LibertyCommonSchool/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LibertyCommonSchool/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p></li><li><p>Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/libertycommonschool/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/libertycommonschool/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p></li><li><p>YouTube:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/libertycommonschool" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/libertycommonschool⁠</a></p></li></ul>