The Eleanor Roosevelt College of the University of California, San Diego, offers a course on hermits and eremitism taught by Matthew Herbst, professor of history. Here is the catalog description:
The Hermit: Solitude, Society, and the Search for Meaning
Herbst, Matthew
Location: ERC Conference Room 311
Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Seminar will meet January 8, 15, 22, 29: February 5, 12, 19, 26.What is the connection between community and hermit? Hermits have appeared in societies across the globe from Taoist and Buddhist hermits in the mountains of East Asia to Christian anchorites in deserts and forests, Hindu ascetics in India, and transcendentalists in the American wilderness. The hermit has, at times, represented the highest moral or religious ideals of a society, attracting disciples and admirers alike, while at other times, the hermit has been marginalized and ignored. This class provides students with a general introduction to the eremitical (“hermit”) tradition from a global perspective. Students will be introduced to a variety of literary, artistic, and cinematic depictions by and about hermits.