Truth, in the great practical concerns of life, is so much a question of the reconciling and combining of opposites, that very few have minds sufficiently capacious and impartial to make the adjustment … , and it has to be made by the rough process of a struggle between combatants fighting under hostile banners. … Only through diversity of opinion is there, in the existing state of human intellect, a chance of fair-play to all sides of the truth.
—John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
The Capacious Minds Initiative invites proposals from Duke University faculty and staff. The initiative seeks to fund efforts in undergraduate education that encourage students to lead with curiosity, increase their tolerance for uncertainty, and develop their imaginative capabilities.
The initiative takes its name from John Stuart Mill, who wrote that minds “sufficiently capacious” to hold diversity of opinion are necessary in the pursuit of truth. However, its aim is not to lead with division or fixate on entrenched views that seed conflict, but to build communities that are resistant to polarization — though not disagreement. We aim to foster projects that explore and experiment with capaciousness of mind as an antidote to the divisiveness of hostile banners — and as an avenue for new, imaginative approaches to persistent problems.
The initiative invites proposals of three kinds:
1. Curricular and co-curricular seed funding for field trips, course materials, guest speakers, reading groups, small pedagogical experiments: up to $5,000 per semester
2. Year-long pedagogical research projects or workshops that lead to the development of new courses: up to $50,000
3. Multi-year research projects with defined outputs that contribute to understanding capaciousness of mind as a concept with pedagogical traction: up to $225,000 and three years
These categories are not mutually exclusive. A single proposal could make a pitch for resources of each kind. Proposals should not exceed five pages (single-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins) and should include:
1. A statement of interest in Capacious Minds and how the proposal, if funded, would contribute to undergraduate education at Duke in keeping with the aims of the initiative.
2. A description of proposed activities (outputs) and their intended outcomes and an explanation of how they align with the aims of the initiative.
3. A narrative justification of a line-itemed budget tied to a timeline.
In keeping with its own name, the initiative will review both the intellectual substance and practical potential of proposals with a capaciousness of mind, based on the clarity of the proposal; the feasibility of implementing activities relative to the proposed timeline and budget; and the extent to which the proposal shows promise for cultivating in undergraduates the qualities necessary for building and sustaining pluralistic communities.
All Duke faculty and staff are eligible to apply. Proposals that engage multiple disciplines and/or diverse modes of knowing are encouraged, as are projects rooted within a single discipline or professional field. Send proposals in a single PDF via email to Hillary Train: hillary.train@duke.edu. The deadline is October 15. Review will be completed by October 30. Funding will be available shortly thereafter.
For questions, email Patrick T. Smith: psmith@div.duke.edu.
