LEctures and Conferences
Gather with scholars and students for more advanced exploration of seminal texts and issues facing our society.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
past events
Ross Douthat: What is the Common Good in a Pluralistic Society?
As our society continues to fracture, writers across the political spectrum have repeatedly invoked the concept of the common good. But how can we promote the common good in a society with much disagreement about what it is? Ross Douthat (NY Times) presented a lecture on the thoughts of Jacques Maritain on this topic.
co-sponsored by:
Department of Philosophy, Columbia University
The Thomistic Institute
the moral imagination of the novel
A weekend of reflections on the ways in which novels can be understood both to depict the search for moral, philosophical, and religious truth and to engage in this very search themselves. Featuring presentations from graduate students and faculty members including:
Paul Elie (Georgetown)
Ann Astell (Notre Dame)
Thomas Pavel (Chicago)
Lauren Kopajtic (Fordham)
Dhananjay Jagannathan (Columbia)
The Great Books at 100
In honor of the centennial anniversary of the first course of Columbia’s Core Curriculum in 1919, Eva Brann of St. John’s College spoke on whether the category of “great books” has any determinate meaning. A private faculty seminar met the following day to consider the successes and failures of great books curricula and what might be in store for their future.
Realism and the Disclosure of Reality: Two themes in the philosophy of painting
What does art say about the world it depicts? Is it possible to accurately represent reality through art? Dr. Nicholas Teh is assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.
co-sponsored with:
Columbia Financial Investment Group
Finance as a Liberal Art
Is working on Wall Street a repudiation of a liberal arts education? Two Ivy-league financiers speak about their education in the humanities and describe their current work and how it can serve as a humanistic art.
Stephen Schmalhofer - Teamworthy Ventures
Duncan Sahner - Abdiel Capital
Is Patriotism a Virtue?
Modern countries’ diverse citizenries increasingly appear to resist a shared identity and heightening national pride often seems to increase antagonism and intolerance. Dr. Theresa Smart will consider the classical ideal of pietas in the context of contemporary nation-states.
co-sponsored with:
The Portsmouth Institute
The University Bookman
the crisis of liberalism
In light of the increasing tensions apparent in liberal societies, is liberalism an inherently contradictory system whose success generates its own downfall? Patrick Deneen elaborates on the argument of his new book Why Liberalism Failed and Vincent Phillip Muñoz responds.
Featuring
Patrick Deneen - University of Notre Dame
Vincent Phillip Muñoz - University of Notre Dame
co-sponsored with:
Department of Philosophy, Columbia University
The Thomistic Institute
Desire and the good life
A weekend of reflection on the Aristotelian tradition, especially as it regards practical reasoning as a way of seeking the good. Featuring presentations from:
Jennifer Frey - University of South Carolina
Candace Vogler - University of Chicago
Katja Vogt - Columbia University
Dhananjay Jagannathan - Columbia University
c0-sponsored with:
The Veritas Forum at Columbia
Columbia Catholic Ministry
The Importance of a Literary Imagination
A conversation with celebrated author of children’s literature Mary Pope Osborne. Mary will discuss the unique appeal and challenge of children’s literature as well as the inspiration and fruits of her work.
co-sponsored with:
OU-JLIC at Columbia/Barnard
The Tikvah Fund
Guilt, Sin, and Privilege: A Fresh Look
Bill McClay expounds on the idea that modern secular society has not shed the mindset of sin and repentance, but is in fact burdened by a graver psychology of transgression and guilt with no adequate means of expiation. Rabbi Shalom Carmy responds.
Featuring
Bill McClay - University of Oklahoma
Rabbi Shalom Carmy - Yeshiva University