Chapter I:all
Chapter II:13, 21, 25, 30, 36, 44, 47, 413, 627, 628, 688, 697, 806, 978
Chapter III:54-56, 58, 60, 65, 71, 72, 75
Chapter IV:78, 79, 622, 641, 771
Chapter V:80,81, 83, 85, 87, 89-93, 95, 97, 98, 101-103, 577 ,665, 711, 828
Chapter VI:106-108, 110-116, 118
Chapter VII:119, 121, 122, 124,-128, 131, 298, 401, 410
Chapter VIII:132-134, 136, 138, 139, 414
Chapter IX:140, 143, 145, 407
Chapter X:148

16. Pensees;
Chapter XI 149
Chapter XII 151, 152, 157, 160-162, 165, 166, 418, 427, 428, 434, 442, 444
Chapter XIII 170, 173-175, 182-185, 187, 188
Chapter XIV 189, 190, 192, 446, 449
Chapter XV 194, 195, 198-201, 511, 512, 416, 417, 431, 471
Chapter XVI 205, 208, 210, 214-216, 219, 220
Chapter XVIII 228, 232, 234, 239, 241, 242
Chapter XIX 255, 265
Chapter XXIII 298, 300, 301, 308, 309, 423, 424
Chapter XXIV 332, 335
Chapter XXVI 351-354, 357, 358, 360, 364, 372, 373, 808, 821
Chapter XXVII 378, 380, 381, 835, 846
The Memorial

 17. Paradise Lost; I-III
18. Paradise Lost; IV; V; VI (Argument only); VII (Argument only); VIII; IX
19. Paradise Lost; X-XII
20. Leviathan; Introduction, I:1-16
21. Leviathan; II: 17-21, 24-29
22. Leviathan; II: 30, 31 (paragraphs 1-5, last 5 paragraphs); III: 32 (paragraphs 1-4), 38 (paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 16, 17), 39, 43; IV: 44 (first four paragraphs only); 46, 47, Review and Concl.
23. Discourse on Metaphysics
24. Principles of Nature and Grace; Monadology
25. Ethics; Book I  *Paper 3 due*
26. Ethics; Book II
27. Treatise on Human Nature; Introduction; Book I, Part I; Part II (excect sections 4 & 5);
28. Treatise on Human Nature; Part III, Sections 1-8, 14; Part IV, sections 2, 6-7
29. Treatise on Human Nature; Book III, Part I; Part II, sections 1, 2, 5; Part III, sections 1, 3, 5
30. Vermeer; Woman Holding a Balance, A Lady Writing - http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/ 
31. Gulliver's Travels; I, II
32. Gulliver's Travels; III, IV *Paper 4 due*
33. Pride and Prejudice;
34. Second Treatise on Government (Concerning Civil Government); Chs. I-IX
35. Second Treatise on Government (Concerning Civil Government); Chs. X-XIX

Papers

All papers should be 1500-1750 words in length.  Topics are of your own choosing, but must be approved by the tutor.

GBT IV weekly questions

Specific editions used.

Please note- many of these texts are expensive.  If you need to substitute cheaper editions, please feel free to do so.   The texts listed are the finest editions available.

 
Don Quixote; Cervantes; Random House; ISBN 0679602860; translator- Putnam
Institutes of the Christian Religion; (Great Edition) Calvin; The Westminster Press; ISBN 0664220282; translator- Battles
Institutes of the Christian Religion; (OK Edition) Calvin; Eerdmans; ISBN - 0802881661 Translator- Beveridge
Commentary on Galations; Luther; Revell; ISBN 0891079947; 
St. Matthew Passion; Johann Sebastian Bach; B000CDIOYO   DVD Version  (Watch with subtitles!!)  
Essays; Montaigne; Stanford University Press; ISBN 0804704864; translator- Frame
Novum Organon; Bacon; Cambridge Univ Pr (Pap Txt); ISBN: 0521564832
    E-text version of New Organon
Discourse on Method,  Meditations; Descartes; Cambridge Press; ISBN 0521358124; translators- Stoothooff & Cottingham
Pensees; Pascal; Penquin; ISBN 0140446451
Paradise Lost; Milton; Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0023582901
    Paperback Version
Leviathan; Hobbes; Penquin; ISBN 0140431950
Ethics; Spinoza; Everyman; ISBN 0460873474
Discourse on Metaphysics, Monadology, Principles of Nature and Grace; Leibniz; Open Court Classics; ISBN 0872200620
A Treatise of Human Nature; Hume; Penquin; ISBN 0140432442
Woman Holding a Balance, A Lady Writing; Vermeer;
Gulliver's Travels; Swift; Penquin; ISBN 0140430229
Pride and Prejudice; Austin; Penquin; ISBN 0140434267
Second Treatise on Government (Concerning Civil Government); John Locke; Prometheus Books; ISBN 0879753374; Other editions will suffice.

Fifth year Great Books Tutorial reading list
 
1. Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics; Preface, Preamble, First and Second part
2. Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics;Third part, Conclusion, Solution
3. Discourse on the Origins of Inequality
4. The Social Contract 
5. Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals; Preface, Sec.1
6. Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals; Sec. II, III *Paper #1 topic due
7. Wealth of Nations; Book I, chapters I-IX
8. Wealth of Nations;

Book I, chapters X and XI (Introduction and Conclusion)
Book II, chapter I (first five paragraphs only)
Book II, chapter III (first two-thirds, stopping before the paragraph beginning, "The annual produce...")
Book III, chapter II (first six paragraphs only)
Book III chapter IV (omitting the last five paragraphs)
Book IV, chapter II (first fifteen and last three paragraphs only)
Book IV, chapter IX (last four paragraphs only)
Book V, chapter I, Part I

9. Wealth of Nations; Book V, chapter I, Parts 2, 3 and 4
10. Declaration of Independence,  Articles of Confederation, The Federalist: 1, 2, 6, 9-11, 12 (first three paragraphs), 14
11. The Federalist; 15-17, 23, 31, 37-39, Constitution of the United States *Paper #1 Due
12. The Federalist; 47-51, 57, 62-63, 68, 69, 76, 78
13. Huckleberry Finn
14. Logic;  Sections 1-15,20-25,79-98
15. Phenomenolgy of Spirit; Sections 73-77; Sense Certainty, Perception, sections 90-113; Lordship and Bondage, sections 165, 178-196
16. War and Peace  (Christmas reading) *Paper #1 Revision Due
17. War and Peace
18. Phenomenolgy of Spirit; Stoicism and Skepticism, sections 197-206
19. Phenomenolgy of Spirit; Unhappy Conciousness, sections 207-230
20. Phenomenolgy of Spirit; Consciousness and the Beautiful Soul, sections 632-658
21. Phenomenolgy of Spirit; The Beautiful Soul and Forgiveness, sections 659-671, Absolute Knowing, sections 806-808
22. Capital; 102 (mid)-103; 125-180 (mid); 198-209; 247-280;Paper #2 Topic Due 283-306; 675-682; 307-310 (top); 320-325
23. Capital; 340-344 (mid); 367-368 (top); 375-377 (top); 417-458; 470-486 (mid); 508-518; 526-537 (top); 544-553; 615 (bot) -621 (mid); 636-639; 655-658 (mid); 666-667
24. Capital; 711-757; 762-772; 873-876; 914-930
25. Fear and Trembling; Beginning through Problem 1
26. Fear and Trembling; Problems II, III and Epilogue
27. Tristan and Isolde
28. Beyond Good and Evil; Preface, Parts (Books) 1; 2; 3; 4, epigrams 150-164; 5; 6; 7; 8, epigrams 241-242,248,250,253,255; 9
29. The Brothers Karamazov (Spring Break reading)
30. The Brothers Karamazov  *Paper #2 Due
31. Democracy in America; ISBN 0060915226; Volume I: Author's Introduction; Part I, chaps. 3,5,6; Part II chaps. 7-10
32. Democracy in America; Volume (or part) II; Part I, chaps. 1-3,5,15; Part II, chaps. 1-15; Part IV, chaps 6-8
33. The Ego and the ID
34. The Abolition of Man Paper #2 Revision Due
35. God in the Dock, I; 1-5,8,9,16,18,21,23, II; 4,8,12, III; 1,2,8

Specific editions used.

Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics; Kant; ISBN 0872205932; editor- Ellington; Hackett
The Social Contract and Discourses; Rousseau; ISBN 0460873571; Editor- Brumfitt;
Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals; Kant; ISBN 0023078251; Editor- Beck
Wealth of Nations; Adam Smith; ISBN 0865970084; Liberty Press
The Federalist; Hamilton; Jay; Madison; ISBN 0679603255; College Library
Huckleberry Finn; Mark Twain; ISBN 0553210793; Bantam
War and Peace; Leo Tolstoy; ISBN 039396647; W.W.Norton
Logic; Hegel; ISBN 0198245122; Oxford
Phenomenolgy of Spirit; Hegel; ISBN 0198245971; Oxford
Capital; Marx; ISBN 039472657X; Random House
Fear and Trembling; Kierkegaard; ISBN 0691020264; Princeton
Tristan and Isolde; Wagner; ASIN B000001GXS; Deutsche Grammaphon DVD Version  (Watch with subtitles!!)  
Beyond Good and Evil; Nietzsche; ISBN 0679724656; Vintage Books
The Brothers Karamazov; Dostoevsky; ISBN 0393092143; Norton
Democracy in America; Alexis de Tocqueville; ISBN 0060915226; Harper and Row
The Ego and the ID; Freud; ISBN 0393001423; Norton
Phenomenology and the Crisis of Philosophy; Husserl; ISBN 0061311707; Harper and Row
The Abolition of Man; Lewis, ISBN 0060652942, Harpers
God in the Dock; Lewis, ISBN 0802808689 , Eerdmans

Papers

All papers should be at least 3600 words in length.  Topics are of your own choosing, but must be approved by the tutor.  First semester papers may be on any book in GBT I-V, however the second semester paper must be a on a book studied in GBT I-III.  Students are required to present their papers before their peers for examination at the end of each semester.  

 

Good Words about the Great Books Tutorial

"Fritz Hinrichs is very knowledgeable in the great texts of our intellectual history. He loves to teach them and has an infectious delight in the material as well as a mature Christian viewpoint of them. "
John Frame
Professor- Reformed Theological Seminary

"In the Great Books Tutorial, our son has been given a basis for looking at Western thought through Biblical spectacles. The enthusiasm and expertise which ETS offers is unsurpassed."
Dr. and Mrs. Jim Newheiser, Jr.
Pastor- Grace Bible Church

"I've been looking for something like this for years! Fritz Hinrichs' GreatBooks Tutorial is giving our teenaged sons a great start on the intellectual life. Reading and discussing truly great books (as opposed to faddish lists of "modern classics") is not only great preparation for college, but for life itself.An excellent teacher and excellent, uplifting content -- what more could you ask? I highly recommend this course to every homeschool family"
Mary Pride
Editor- Practical Homeschooling Magazine

"Fritz Hinrichs offers a remarkable opportunity to homeschoolers, that being the tutorial relationship as the means for the study of the great works of Western Civilization. Drawing on his undergraduate background in the Classics and his seminary training in theology and apologetics, he carefully guides his students through the readings to an understanding of the interplay between the Christian and non-Christian ideas that have molded the thinking of our culture. It has been immensely rewarding to me as a parent to see my childrens' minds kindled with interest as they are drawn into dialogue with their tutor and fellow students. This is learning at its best!
Margaret Ahern
Mother of three GBT students

References

Dr. and Mrs. Jim Newheiser, Jr.
1545 South Upas
Escondido, CA, 92025
(760) 747-3457

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Helland
24846 Rio Verde Drive
Ramona, CA 92065
(760) 789-1423

 

 

Common Questions on the Great Books Tutorial

At what age should my child enter the Great Books Tutorial?
This is a common question but it does not have an easy answer.  GBT is oriented towards students between 13 and 20.  If a student is planning to go to a four year college immediately after high school, it would be good to complete the five your sequence before graduating from high school.  However, to begin so young  requires a very good reader.  Many students start later knowing that they will be spending a couple of years in community college and are able to continue in GBT while in community college.  Some college students have even been able to get credit for GBT by applying for directed study credits through their college.

I encourage students to augment their time in GBT by taking courses such as Shakespeare, Greek and Euclid that deepen their understanding of the conversation of ideas contained in the Great Books.  This deepened understanding allows them to participate in our discussions at a more college level.  I require my GBT students to finish Euclid by the end of GBT II.  I encourage them to take Shakespeare along with GBT IV.  I also encourage Greek during GBT I or II. 

I recommend that parents who are considering GBT purchase some of the books we read and see for themselves whether their student's reading abilities are adequate for the readings required.  Students may not begin before they are 12 years old. 

How can I prepare my child for the Great Books Tutorial?
I highly recommend the Great Men of Ancient Greece series from Greenleaf Press, as well as the D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths (Ingrid and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire; Published by Delacorte Press; ISBN 0-385-01583-6 Trade, ISBN 0-385-15787-8 Paperback). Of course, whatever study in Greek and Latin you can manage will be a great aid. The vocabulary required in the readings really stretches most readers and their vocabulary acquisition will greatly enhanced if they are able to draw on the the etymological skills that the study of the ancient language provides. If you will not study both Greek and Latin, I would recommend that you study Greek.

It is sad that Greek always seems to be seen as that "other" classical language.  Studying both Greek and Latin is the ideal of course; however, if you must study only one, I would recommend that you make that language Greek.    The advantages I see are the following; 1) Greek is the language of the New Testament, 2) Greek study provides the same advantages to vocabulary acquisition as Latin and, 3) the great classical works that demand close linguistic study are more often Greek than Roman.  Let me state once again though, for the classicist, there is only one right answer to the question, "How many languages should I learn?"  It is "more."

Does Mr. Hinrichs ever miss class?
Yes.  Of the 35 weeks in the year, I miss 4 on average.  Reasons for missing are typically: birth of a child, leading a Europe trip, jury service and illness.   I will attempt to arrange a substitute when absent, however, if this is not possible, the student may need to listen to the class recording that week or work on his own.  There will not be any pro-rated refund of tuition for missed tutorials; however, I will endeavor to keep absences to a minimum.

Does Mr. Hinrichs grade all papers?
Yes, except for the GBTI papers.  Sometimes these paper graded by Mrs. Cindy Marsch, who specializes in guiding students in basic writing skills, grades most of those papers.  You can learn more about her at: http://writingassessment.com

Why must students take the five years in sequence and why is the study of Euclid's Elements required?

The great books are read chronologically because authors tend to reference authors in the past rather than the future.   Literary fame and influence have rarely been bestowed upon writers who have not yet existed.  Seriously... important themes are developed and deepened through time as various authors touch upon them from differing perspectives.  In order to understand this conversation, we need to follow it in the historical progress in which it developed.  Thus, students are not allowed to take any of the years of GBT without completing all of the previous years' tutorials. 

The conversation of western history is not limited to just literature, but involves mathematics, science, philosophy, literature, theology and many other fields.  In order to grasp this development, it would be best to study mathematics and science in a historical fashion along with the great books as is done at St. John's College.  However, fitting this into a high school curriculum is perhaps even beyond the capabilities of a home-school mother.  Yet, a good understanding of western literature cannot be had without at least reading the Homer of mathematics- Euclid.  Thus, my students must study Euclid's Elements before completing GBT II.

After going through the Great Books Tutorial is college necessary?
This is a difficult question. Certainly their are certain prudential considerations that push one towards getting a degree; however, prospective GBT students should be warned that after going through the tutorial some college classes may seem a little rudimentary.

Does Mr. Hinrichs confront plagiarism?
Gladly!  Please see http://www.sparknotes.com/help/plagiarism.html for helpful guidelines to help you diagnose this particular malady.  Plagiarism is best understood with the following analogy; adultery/marriage = plagiarism/writing.

Can students start the tutorial in any year?
No.  In odd years, GBT I, III & V are available.  In even years, GBT II & IV are available as well as Shakespeare and Greek.  Thus, students are only able to start the tutorial in odd years.  If you would like to start in a even year, please see one of our affiliated tutorial services- http://www.gbt.org/tut.html 

How would I fit the Great Books Tutorial into a traditional high school curriculum?
One of the advantages of the GBT is that it does not compartmentalize knowledge by breaking it down into a myriad of subjects. I heartily agree with C.S.Lewis when he said, "We ought to teach far fewer subjects and all of them much better."  GBT draws together subject matter from History, Philosophy, Theology, Literature and Political Science. All of these subjects are presented as they worked themselves out in our culture's development- as a complex battle of ideas.

To see how to structure a curriculum around the Great Books Tutorial, please see our curriculum guide.

Each year could be broken down into traditional subjects in the following manner.

Great Books Tutorial I

History
The Histories
The Rise and Fall of Athens
* Six weeks study *
Philosophy
The Poetics
The Last Days of Socrates
* Six weeks study *
Theology
Exhortation to the Greeks
* Two weeks study *
Literature
Iliad
Odyssey
The Three Theban Plays
The Oresteia
* Eighteen weeks study *
Government (Civics)
Gorgias
* Three weeks study *
Writing (Composition)
Seven papers totaling 18 to 28 pages.

Course Description
Great Books Tutorial I comprehensively surveys classical Greek and early patristic literature. The course integrates readings from History, Philosophy, Theology, Literature and Government in order to examine the development of Western cultural trends and ideas from a Biblical worldview. Also provided are expositional and argumentative writing exercises based on analytical reading and critical thinking. This is an honors level course.

Great Books Tutorial II

History
The Peloponnesian War
The Annals of Imperial Rome
The Lives of Caesar and Cato the Younger
* Seven weeks study *
Philosophy
De Anima
Theaetetus
Physics
Metaphysics
Phaedrus
The Nature of Things
Nichomachean Ethics
* Eighteen weeks study *
Theology
On the Incarnation
* One week study *
Literature
Aeneid
* Three weeks study *
Government (Civics)
The Republic
* Six weeks study *
Writing (Composition)
Six papers totaling 21 to 27 pages.

Course Description

Great Books Tutorial II comprehensively surveys classical Greek, Roman and early patristic literature. The course integrates readings from History, Philosophy, Theology, Literature and Government in order to examine the development of Western cultural trends and ideas from a Biblical worldview. Also provided are expositional and argumentative writing exercises based on analytical reading and critical thinking.  This is an honors level course.


 
 

Great Books Tutorial IV

Philosophy
Essays of Montainge
Novum Organum
Discourse on Method
Meditations
Discourse on Metaphysics
Principles of Nature and Grace
Monadologys
Ethics
Treatise on Human Nature
* Fifteen weeks study *
Theology
Institute of the Christian Religion
Commentary on Galations
St. Matthew Passion
Pensees
* Eight weeks study *
Literature
Don Quixote
Paradise Lost
Gulliver's Travels
Emma
* Eight weeks study *
Government (Civics)
Leviathan
* Three weeks study *
Art
Woman Holding a Balance
A Lady Writing
* One week study *

Writing (Composition)
Four papers totaling 24 to 28 pages.

Course Description

 

Great Books Tutorial V


Philosophy
Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (2)
Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals(2)
Phenomenolgy of Spirit (5)
Beyond Good and Evil 
Phenomenology and the Crisis of Philosophy
* Eleven weeks study *
Theology
Fear and Trembling
God in the Dock
* Two weeks study *
Literature
Huckleberry Finn
War and Peace (2)
The Brothers Karamazov (2)
* Five weeks study *
Government (Civics)
Discourse on the Origins of Inequality
The Social Contract
Wealth of Nations (3)
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
The Federalist
Democracy in America (2)
* Ten weeks study *
Psychology
The Ego and the ID
* One week study *
Economics
Wealth of Nations (3)
Capital (3)
* Six weeks study *
Art
Tristan and Isolde
* One week study *

Writing (Composition)
Two papers totaling 24 to 28 pages.

Course Description

 

 


All class times are Pacific Standard Time  
 

 

Monday 

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 

Friday

8:00-10:00

Geometry   GBT II GBT IV GBT II
Local Only
10:00-12:00 Geometry GBT II Shakespeare Classical Greek GBT IV
Local Only

All classes are online only unless marked otherwise.

First semester begins Labor Day and ends January 16th.  Second semester begins January 16th and ends the last week of May.  Unconfirmed tutorials will be confirmed when sufficient enrollment is received.

To sign up for our tutorials, please see http://www.gbt.org/fregform.html