About us

The Katabasis Program comprises a group of educators committed to public humanities. We offer classes that are traditionally found in university settings at local community centers with the goal of being affordable and accessible. Our instructors pedagogical history ranges from passionate hobbyists to Ivy League lecturers. 

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"Katabasis" in Greek translates to "go down," usually to The Underworld or Hades. While modern readers might shudder at the implication that there is knowledge to be found in a place that orients itself around death and punishment, the Underworld also is composed of Love and Knowledge. Some of the most famous illustrations of a katabatic journey include Orpheus, Odysseus, and Aeneas, all of whom descend into the underworld to retrieve knowledge, witness a divine image, or come into contact with a loved one; each come back individually to the surface endowed with revelation and a new understanding of the world before them. 

 

Perhaps the most compelling katabasis, though, is found in Plato's Republic. Here, Socrates offers two illustrations of a katabasis: through a) the famous myth of Er and b) the paradigm of the Philosopher King, or the ideal ruler. Both emphasize that a true katabasis is not simply a descent into knowledge and the self, but a journey that also encompasses a sharing of the knowledge when the subject returns. This is ultimately the geist, or spirit, behind the Katabasis Program. 

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We believe that knowledge is meant to be delighted in by everyone. While our instructors are committed to sharing their own knowledge, we are dedicated to the belief that the classroom is a community space and that each individual brings something unique and insightful to the table. 

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How does this work in practice?

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• We are working in conjunction with local community centers that have already established a good track record in adult enrichment programs and public education.

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• All classes do not require any prior knowledge in the material. Beginners are not only allowed but encouraged. 

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• All of the texts are either available for free online or will be sent as PDFs as the need arises (physical copies, of course, are also very low cost at local bookstores. Texts are chosen to be financially accessible!). 

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• Classes are broken into multiple stages that allow everyone to participate in a way that suits their comfort level. 

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• The cost of the course contributes to a fair living wage for the instructor, the community center facilitation fee, and the cost of renting the space. No more, no less. We have gone to incredible efforts to keep the cost of the program low (approx. under $100 for a course with multi-week sessions per student), as financial concerns are often the primary barriers for access to classes like these. If you still cannot afford the cost of the course, e-mail us or check out our scholarships page-- we will find a way. 

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• We are committed to critical pedagogy. This means that we seek to collapse hierarchies within the classroom, interrogate oppressive structures, and identify opportunities for social change.... even in a class about a bunch of dead white guys.