The best of intellectual conservative thought, every Thursday. Subscribe here to receive the Intercollegiate Review in your inbox every week.

CATEGORY: ARTS AND CULTURE (27 min)

Classical Music’s Suicide Pact

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “classical music”?

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony? A night at the opera?

What about systemic racism and oppression?

There’s a new war on classical music . . .

. . . and it’s being waged from the inside.

Wokeness is destroying one of the West’s great art forms—and hardly anyone is talking about it.

Writing for City Journal, Heather Mac Donald documents the frightening number of elites who are attacking a centuries-old musical tradition.

Read this piece now and then consider patronizing the fine arts—while there are still fine arts to patronize.

CATEGORY: EDUCATION (11 min)

How to Fall in Love with Liberal Learning

Since you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you believe in the value of a liberal arts education.

But why? Because a liberal education is good for you?

Well, sure . . .

. . . but you’re not going to attract many people to the liberal arts by saying this kind of education is “good for them.”

You might as well tell them to eat their spinach and get more exercise.

So how about these reasons instead? Joy. Beauty. Friendship. Love.

In this fascinating interview with Margarita Mooney, Elizabeth Corey—an ISI faculty associate at Baylor University—talks about falling in love with liberal learning.

If you’ve ever wanted to explain why a liberal arts education is worth the struggle, consider this your go-to article.

Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.

Prof: Unvaccinated Students Should Be Second-Class Citizens via Lone Conservative

Why You Should Get the COVID-19 Vaccine via the Michigan Review

CATEGORY: CONSERVATISM (24 min)

Darwinian Conservatism vs. Metaphysical Conservatism

You might find this to be one of the more controversial articles in our archives.

Many conservatives ground their views in a belief in a transcendent moral order.

But another kind of conservatism takes its cue from Charles Darwin . . .

. . . and Professor Larry Arnhart says it’s time for more conservatives to embrace this evolutionary grounding.

Does it make more sense to base conservatism on evolutionary naturalism than on the metaphysical?

Arnhart believes the answer is obvious.

You owe it to yourself to thoughtfully consider this analysis. And let us know, what type of conservative are you?

ISI’s 15th Annual Gala for Western Civilization, September 16

In a time when the Western tradition is demonized and rejected, it’s important to have a space to celebrate the timeless principles that have been handed down to us.

That’s why ISI is proud to host our 15th annual Gala for Western Civilization.

You’re invited to join us Thursday, September 16, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

You and hundreds of other ISI friends and supporters will come together to recognize the leaders, thinkers, and students who are fighting to preserve the Western tradition today.

And if you’re an ISI alum under 30, registration is only $50!

At the Gala, you’ll hear from:

• Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, who will give the keynote address

• Diana Davis Spencer, executive chairman of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, who will receive ISI’s Charles H. Hoeflich Lifetime Achievement Award
• Glenn C. Loury, Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences at Brown University, who will receive ISI’s Faculty Award

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.”

―John Adams

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