The Wisconsin Idea Course, a special undergrad class that doubles as a public lecture series, was featured in a College of Letters & Science news article by Aaron Conklin.“Curated this year by Mildred Fish Harnack Professor of Philosophy and Carol Dickson Bascom Professor of the Humanities Harry Brighouse, students in the 2023 edition of ‘Forward? The Wisconsin Idea Past & Present’ have spent the last 12 weeks examining UW-Madison’s signature philosophy — that the boundaries of the University go beyond the classroom and extend to the boundaries of the state, nation and the world. They’re exploring its origins, its sometimes-troubled history and its positive potential in the modern era.”
Originally created by Sociology’s Patrick Brenzel, the Wisconsin Idea Course recruits lecturers from across campus and beyond to explore the “the historic mission of the University of Wisconsin to serve democracy, in part by sharing expert knowledge with state government to inform and improve public policy, and in part by research and outreach activities to enrich the lives and promote the well-being of the people, all of which requires a robust commitment to academic freedom,” as described by Chad Goldberg.