Each year, Thales Academy and Thales Press hosts the Conference of Miletus, a series of short lectures on topics related to classical education and practical teaching tips. This year, the theme of the conference was "First Principles for Classical Educators." In this episode, Winston Brady and Matt Ogle discuss each of these four principles.  

A first principle is an assumption beyond which one may go no further and provides the foundation for a school to shape its culture and practices.

These principles include the principle of natural order, the idea of teaching students to recognize the beauty in the natural world, addressed by Mr. Robert Luddy, founder of Thales Academy, founder of Thales College, and president of CaptiveAire Systems.

Second is the principle of our intellectual inheritance, or the literary and historical treasures of the Western canon, presented by Dr. Anthony Esolen, Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Thales College.

Third is the principle of moral philosophy, the idea of encouraging students to cultivate practical wisdom (prudence) in line with the Judeo-Christian and Aristotelian traditions, addressed by Mr. Matt Ogle, head of classical education at Thales Academy.

And last but not least is the principle of human dignity, the principle of teaching students to preserve the uniqueness of every individual in alignment with the imago dei and the concept of natural law.