The most well-known exemplar of the philosophical attitude, Socrates, was put to death for his habits of questioning. On different occasions, Socrates described himself as a “midwife”—assisting his interlocutors through the difficult and painful process of giving birth to thought—and as a “gadfly” (an annoying, biting insect, difficult to shoo away). This latter attribute, in […]
Beyond the University exists because the modern university, even where it succeeds, has become inadequate to the true tasks of education. Education is not the transmission of information or preparation for employment, but the formation of good intellectual habits. These aims no longer fit comfortably within institutions ordered primarily toward efficiency, expansion, and measurable outcomes. The Lyceum Institute was founded to provide a genuinely different institutional form—one ordered toward education as an integral part of life rather than as a credentialing process.
The Lyceum cultivates enduring intellectual habits of inquiry, order, and memory through rigorous seminars, focused studies of the Trivium, classical languages, guided reading, and sustained inquisitive conversation. By supporting the Lyceum Institute, you help sustain an independent public institution devoted to education ordered toward truth, continuity, and long-term intellectual formation. Your gift ensures that this alternative remains available—not only for today’s students, but for generations to come.
This year (2026), we are seeking to raise $48,000
Join us in bringing new life to education!
Donors who give $4,000+ will receive a special gift.
