On Friday Feb. 23, Dr. Benjamin Storey, Ph.D., spoke to students about his book that he co-authored with his wife called, “Why We Are Restless: The Modern Quest for Contentment”.  

It was held at 3 p.m. in Ronk Lecture Hall as part of Ashbrook’s Symposium Against Indifference that analyzes different perspectives on the mental health crisis.  

Storey is a research professor at Furman University, and he shared his observations on how liberal education fosters the skill of the art of choosing.  

He explained how professors use their authority in the classroom to draw out students’ minds and develop the skill to think and analyze the world rationally. 

Storey believes the reasoning students acquire from liberal education can be applied to students’ own decisions and desires.   

Like in the classroom, students can question their desires and have them explain themselves. This allows for those feelings to be rationalized and taken seriously. 

“You have to put the things you are tempted to do to the test,” Stoey said. “Liberal arts is preparation for guiding yourself through the world.” 

Regarding decisions students face about what to do after college, they are looking for direction. Storey argues that students already have the tools from the liberal arts to make these choices. They just need to have an ‘inner conversation’ with their desires to see what truly fits for them.  

The last event for the Symposium Against Indifference will be a screening of the movie, “What I Want You to Know,” which will be shown in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium on March 21 at 7 p.m.