A split that has its origin in the Greek city-states, the distinction between the vita activa and the vita contemplativa, not surprisingly, is in the representation of how one's life ought to be lived. The vita activa referred to the political life of a citizen in the city-state while the vita contemplativa arose as the path of the philosopher, those willing to pursue that above and beyond the political. As a debating society, this topic is of particular importance. Each week we meet to discuss topics and debate principles in an effort to search for truth but, at the same time, we place a high value on setting out and living the vita activa.
