Verona, Ottobre 2017
Quella che abbiamo fatto domenica non è stata la solita passeggiata per Verona. Una trentina di veronesi si sono ritrovati a riflettere sulle radici storiche dei valori occidentali. Glenn, un esperto di storia e filosofia venuto appositamente da Parigi, si è servito dell’architettura della città per creare dei collegamenti con alcune figure storiche di cruciale importanza e tratteggiare lo sviluppo del pensiero, delle credenze e dei valori in occidente. È partito dall’epoca greco-romana, passando poi a illustrare l’influenza del cristianesimo dopo l’era romana, proseguendo attraverso il periodo medievale, l’illuminismo, fino agli anni che videro l’insorgere del fascismo. Ci ha aiutati ad accrescere la nostra comprensione di ciò che ha alimentato eventi storici fondamentali.
Abbiamo concluso con un momento dedicato a domande e risposte, dividendoci poi in gruppetti per condividere le nostre riflessioni a partire da quanto ascoltato. Tra i pensieri che sono stati espressi ad alta voce è emerso l’apprezzamento per aver potuto comprendere meglio le ragioni che stanno alla base della nostra mentalità contemporanea, essersi sentiti più strettamente connessi alla nostra storia passata e stimolati a pensare al futuro con maggiore saggezza.
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Our stroll in Verona on Sunday was not an ordinary one. Nearly thirty local Veronese met to consider the historical roots of western values. Glenn, an expert on history and philosophy from Paris, used architecture throughout the city connecting it to key historical figures as a way to trace the development of western thought, beliefs, and values. He started with Greco Roman times, then explained Christian influence after the Roman era, proceeded through the medieval period, to the Enlightenment, on up to the period which triggered fascism. He helped increase our understanding of what fueled important historical events.
We ended with a time for questions and answers then divided into groups to share reflections among ourselves from what we had heard. Among the thoughts voiced were appreciation for having greater comprehension of why we think the way we do nowadays, feeling more connected to our history and being stimulated to think more wisely toward the future.
Alex, Verona, Ottobre 2017
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Beautiful stuff! What a creative approach to valuing and learning from history by taking a history expert along with a group of friends and walking through ancient and well-known streets, your home town, to give you a brand new feel for why this specific place and these specific figures from history are important for us today. I find this to be an instructive and highly useful way of reimagining the familiar around us, regaining a sense of why we think the way we do, and connecting us to an imagined future.
I would love to attend such an interesting afternoon. Hearing stories of the past, seeing the ancient beauty, and considering how my little story interacts with others of a common history and culture sounds like a wonderful experience