Though medicine is a very scientific pursuit, I think it is fascinating yet not surprising to see that Jefferson insisted on students pursuing medicine to study philosophy. Hippocrates's Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest binding documents in history and Jefferson cleared wanted students to understand their philosophical place in the world of medicine. Having medical students study philosophy not only made them more well rounded in the arts, but it also made them more ethical physicians. I think forcing medical students to take philosophy classes was a wonderful idea that should continue at the university.

The village that Jefferson envisioned and eventually executed was not only more convenient, safer, healthier, and less noisy (and thus more conducive to study), but the village can grow organically as future enrollment increased and fostered a living and learning community. His forward thinking is genius. However, the main question I was left wondering was what inspired this idea to make an academic village? Did Jefferson dislike William and Mary's dormitories or the way the professors and students interacted? Or was it possibly his desire to create a French enlightenment salon on a large scale to constantly provoke thought?

After the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century, the study of the classics, especially the revisiting of philosophy, was a major component of high class education during Jefferson's time. However, in today's society, a greater emphasis is placed on "STEM" subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math). Jefferson's conviction that science must still be studied set a precedent about the value of a well rounded education, but it also allowed the university to remain at the forefront of STEM education today.

Though many convictions and plans laid out in the document make it appear as if Jefferson created the university for society's elite, this remark makes it appear that there would be at least some stratification amongst the scholars. I am unsure whether the youths whose education was "neglected" refers to those of a lower socio-economic strata, or if it refers to students who were still of a high socio-economic class but merely did not receive as thorough of an education as others. Nevertheless, I still find it comforting that Jefferson understood that a leveled playing field was essential in ensuring everyone had the means to excel.