Throughout the pantheon of Great Books, we have read and discussed the works of various people that aim to answer important questions such as, how should- we live a virtuous life, what does the most functional society look like, does life have meaning? and, as students, we were challenged to do more than take each of these works at face value. In reading any book, it is important to evaluate the content so that the author's purpose in writing is correctly determined and we can add our own knowledge and opinions to the work, essentially creating and solidifying our own ideals, then developing an analysis within ourselves. spirit. Thus, the Great Books curriculum imposes on its students the same thing that Socrates suggests when he says: "Spend your time improving yourself through the writings of other men so that you may easily obtain what others have worked hard for." ". As human beings, we are easily described as meaning-makers because of our ever-increasing penchant for finding order in even the most random events. Throughout the Great Books curriculum, we are challenged to confront our own constructions of values, virtues, and vices, thereby strengthening our own understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. So, in ending with Albert Camus's The Stranger, we, as students of great books, are faced with another important question to resolve and it allows us to recognize that the author's or character's final conclusion , although crucial, is less important than allowing yourself to contemplate the question initially posed. Socrates, the father of philosophy, is perhaps one of the best examples of the importance of questioning human constructs. In Meno, ...... middle of paper ...... readers to another way of thinking. Whether discussing virtue, honor, or the meaning of life overall, great books require an open but critical attitude from their students. spirit. Each book discussed deepens our understanding of the world around us and of life itself and whether or not we come to the conclusion that nothing has meaning as Meursualt did or that everything has meaning but we have not not yet reminded of the truth as Socrates posits, it is the responsibility of the student of great books to ask questions and engage with each text and each question in order to strengthen our own constructions. So, in ending with The Stranger, we are presented with an additional unique and thought-provoking perspective. Works Cited Camus, Albert. The Stranger. 1st ed. New York: Random House, Inc, 1942. Print. Cervantes, Miguel de. Don Quixote. eBook.Plato. Meno. Trans. J. Holbo and B Waring. Internet.