Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Chris Coome leads a series of book seminars that introduce students to the ideas and philosophies that have shaped modern politics.
The Civil Discourse Project and the Lemur Magazine came together to discuss the philosophy of the great Roman rhetorician, Cicero, in a seminar led by Dr. Christopher Coome. Participants explored Cicero’s timeless insights on rhetoric, public speaking, and the art of persuasion, examining how his classical principles remain relevant to contemporary conversations about effective communication and civic engagement. The discussion highlighted Cicero’s emphasis on eloquence, reason, and ethical argumentation as foundational elements of productive public discourse.
The Civil Discourse Project and The Lemur: Duke’s Big Ideas Magazine hosted an evening of learning with Dr. Christopher Coome. The Foundations seminar introduces students to the philosophical traditions that shaped modern political thought and discourse. During this engaging session, Dr. Coome guided attendees through an exploration of four major Hellenistic philosophies: Stoicism, with its emphasis on virtue, rationality, and accepting what lies beyond our control; Cynicism, which challenged conventional social norms and advocated for living in accordance with nature; Skepticism, which questioned the possibility of certain knowledge and encouraged the suspension of judgment; and Epicureanism, which sought tranquility through the pursuit of modest pleasures and freedom from fear. The seminar provided students with foundational insights into these ancient schools of thought and their enduring influence on contemporary political philosophy and ethical reasoning.
This was the second installment of a reading group where Dr. Christopher Coome, a post-doctoral fellow with the Civil Discourse Project, introduced students to the foundational ideas and philosophies that have shaped modern politics. During this session, the group delved into Thomas Paine’s classic text, The Rights of Man, a treatise widely regarded as a seminal work in liberal political philosophy. Dr. Coome guided participants through Paine’s powerful defense of the French Revolution and his critique of hereditary government, exploring how the author’s radical arguments for natural rights, popular sovereignty, and republican government challenged the political establishment of his era. The discussion examined Paine’s accessible writing style and his ability to translate Enlightenment principles into language that resonated with ordinary citizens, making complex political theory available to a mass audience.
This was the inaugural meeting of a new reading group where Dr. Christopher Coome, a post-doctoral fellow with the Civil Discourse Project, introduced students to the foundational ideas and philosophies that have shaped modern politics. For this first session, the group explored Edmund Burke’s classic text, Reflections on the Revolution in France, a treatise widely regarded as a seminal work in conservative political philosophy. Dr. Coome led participants through Burke’s eloquent and impassioned critique of the French Revolution, examining his warnings about the dangers of radical change, abstract reasoning divorced from historical context, and the destruction of inherited institutions and traditions. Students analyzed Burke’s defense of gradual reform over revolutionary upheaval, his emphasis on the wisdom embedded in long-standing customs and practices, and his arguments for the importance of social order, religious establishment, and organic political development.