Reading Homer, Plato and other ancient classics happens on college campuses. The Philosophy and Literature Circle, an experiential learning opportunity at UTSA, allows students to explore the transformative possibilities of a humanities and liberal arts education with incarcerated participants at Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio.
What does it mean to be human? What is the good life? How do we best promote the flourishing of our society? Through reading, discussion, and writing, scholars at the jail and from UTSA engage with humanistic texts that take up such enduring questions. Students develop capacities in critical thinking, logical and ethical reasoning, close reading, interpersonal communication, and creative expression. Each scholar enters our learning community as both an educator and a learner, as we cultivate a collaborative community animated by compassionate, creative, and critical engagement with ourselves, the course materials, and one another.
The Philosophy and Literature Circle was created by Mel Webb, a professor of instruction in the UTSA Department of Philosophy and Classics and Honors College.
Contact
Program Director, The Philosophy & Literature Circle, Professor of Instruction
Honors College
Joining the Program
Students can join the program by enrolling in one of two regularly taught Honors College courses:
- HON 3233: Peace and Justice (Fall)
- HON 3233: Moral Imagination and US Incarceration (Spring)
Applications for the Spring 2023 program are due October 3.
Jasbeth Medrano
Jasbeth Medrano is a political science major. Fueled by her passion for criminal justice reform, she has volunteered with refugee and migrant services organizations, campaigned for Beto O’Rourke as a student fellow and helped organize the San Antonio International Women’s Day march. She joined the Philosophy and Literature Circle (PHILLIT) during her first year at UTSA and got to explore the humanities, liberal arts and literature alongside incarcerated participants at the San Antonio Dominguez State Jail. Jasbeth’s transformative experience in the PHILLIT Circle inspired her to add a criminal justice minor to her degree plan.
Opportunities within the Honors College
The Honors College offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs to further expand knowledge, especially in the realms of professional development, leadership development, and public service. Special programs are fully integrated into the Honors College curriculum, making credit transfer simple and ensuring that students are working toward Honors requirements.
