Knowledge by the Slice | Living Deliberately through Existential Despair

Penn Arts & Sciences’ long-running Knowledge by the Slice lunchtime series offers educational talks led by our insightful faculty experts. Did we mention there’s pizza? So, come for the discussion and have a slice on us.

In this talk, Justin McDaniel will share the experiences from two of his Penn courses in which students take on “monastic” challenges—like giving up cellphones and computers for a month, staying silent, or even reading books straight through from 5 p.m. to midnight. He’ll dive into the surprising reactions and lessons learned, showing how unplugging from distractions and focusing on one thing at a time can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and moments of clarity. It’s a fascinating look at how simplifying our lives can open up new ways of thinking.

Knowledge by the Slice is generously funded by the Adolf and Felicia Leon Fund, which supports Penn Arts & Sciences programming and lecture series.