What is the relation between the soil and the soul? Throughout history, humans have turned to gardens for sanctuary from the frenzy and tumult that surrounds them. Those gardens may be purely imaginary or as real as our own backyards, but in their conception and cultivation, they provide necessary havens that serve as a check against the destruction and losses of history. Professor Harrison will discuss gardens in history and literature, and address how gardening has served as metaphor for understanding the human soul.
Conversations at the Stanford Humanities Center revives a Stanford tradition of dinner talks by faculty. In the intimate setting of the Humanities Center's Levinthal Hall, Stanford faculty, visiting scholars, students, and guests gather for good food and spirited conversation on a topic of common intellectual concern. The evening kicks off with a faculty presentation, after which guests participate in a dinner discussion and a Q&A session with the speaker.