Educating “Practically Wise Governors”: On Prudence and the Liberal Arts

Dr. Matt Mehan explores the relationship between practical and speculative wisdom in the liberal arts education. He explains that “an education in the liberal arts must give pride of place to practical wisdom, to navigating the realm of becoming, while resisting the temptation to focus on speculative or contemplative Wisdom, that final rest and joy of the heavenly realm of being.”

Matt Mehan

About the guest:

Matt Mehan


Matthew Mehan began teaching at The Heights in 2000. He currently teaches History of Western Thought and the new Sophomore U.S. History and American Literature “AmeriCore.” Matthew is also the director of the Jackson Scholars senior thesis program. Matthew also served as Director of Admissions from 2003 to 2006, before leaving for graduate work. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Dallas and the valedictorian of his class, he holds a B.A. in politics, an M.A. in English, and he earned a Ph.D. in Literature for his dissertation on Shakespeare, Thomas More, and the education of leading citizens.Matthew is also a fellow of the Center for Thomas More Studies, and he has been named The Worsham Teaching Fellow of Hillsdale College’s Washington DC Allan P. Kirby, Jr., Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a reader at the Folger Library. Matthew has been awarded the Claremont Institute’s Publius Fellowship as well as two fellowships from the Earhart Foundation. Matthew has worked as an editor for both academic and popular publications. Matt's recently published illustrated book of poetry, Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals, is available for purchase on Amazon. His wonderful wife Molly and he have seven children.

Table of Contents


A Map to Help You Make the Most of The Forum

Explore