The Western Narrative Project is a collaborative endeavor taken on by willing and motivated seniors who, under the guidance of several faculty members, collectively research and synthesize the entire history of the West, from the beginnings of civilization in Egypt and Mesopotamia up to the present day. In doing their research, students keep at the forefront of their thinking three primary philosophical questions: “What is real?,” “How do I know it?,” and “How should I/we live?” Each student shares his or her research in several seminars over the course of the year, which allows all participants to refine their understanding not only of the period of history over which they have primary responsibility, but, through regular interaction with the work of their peers, of the entire sweep of Western history.
The Project culminates in an entire day at the CNL da Vinci Center® in downtown Orlando, where students and faculty discuss Western civilization, its development, its milestones, its important people, ideas, documents, and movements, all with a view toward answering the overarching question, “What is the good life?,” or “What constitutes human flourishing?”