John Henry Newman's "The Idea of a University" is a seminal work on higher education, exploring the nature of knowledge, the role of universities in society, and the importance of a liberal education. Newman emphasizes the pursuit of truth for its own sake, arguing that universities should foster intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. He highlights the unity of knowledge, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various disciplines. The book remains highly influential in shaping discussions about the purpose and function of universities. It's a classic text for anyone interested in the philosophy of education.
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].
The Summa Theologica is a comprehensive work divided into three parts. The first part deals with God, the creation of the world, angels, and the nature of man. The second part is subdivided into two sections: the first part of the second part discusses general principles of morality and law, while the second part of the second part addresses morality in particular, including individual virtues and vices. The third part, left unfinished by Aquinas, focuses on the person and work of Christ and the sacraments. The work also includes a posthumous supplement that concludes the third part and discusses Christian eschatology. Aquinas drew on Aristotelian and Augustinian influences and aimed to integrate faith and reason in his theological arguments[1][2][4].
In 'The World Beyond Your Head', Matthew B. Crawford investigates the intense focus of various professionals such as ice hockey players, short-order chefs, and organ builders, as well as the behaviors of gambling addicts. He argues that our current attention crisis is a result of certain assumptions in Western culture that are at odds with human nature. Crawford emphasizes the importance of embodied, social, and situated experiences in forming the self and argues that genuine agency comes from voluntary submission to realities beyond one's own head. The book has implications for how we raise children, design public spaces, and understand democracy[2][4][6].
In this work, Mill provides a comprehensive explanation of utilitarianism, addressing its core principles and responding to various criticisms. He argues that happiness, understood as pleasure and the absence of pain, is the ultimate goal of ethical conduct. Mill distinguishes between higher and lower forms of happiness, preferring intellectual pleasures over bodily ones. He also discusses the compatibility of utilitarianism with individual rights and justice, arguing that justice has a utilitarian basis and that actions are right in proportion to their ability to promote general happiness.
The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life[1][2][4].
Professor Thomas Hibbs discusses the importance of beauty in contemporary culture, drawing upon Emily Dickinson, Charles Taylor, Iris Murdoch, and Jacques Maritain to explore how beauty can unself us, enhance our understanding of truth, and connect us to something transcendent.
This lecture was given on September 12th, 2024, at University of Pittsburgh.
For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events.
About the Speaker:
Thomas Hibbs is currently J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy at Baylor where he is also Dean Emeritus, having served for 16 years as the inaugural Dean of the Honors College. At Baylor he was also the inaugural director of Baylor in Washington, D.C. where he currently runs a summer program on Religion and Social Life. He has served as department chair at Boston College and as president of the University of Dallas.
Hibbs has published more than thirty scholarly articles, the most recent of which is “Aquinas and Black Natural Law.”
He has published eight books, the most recent of which is Theology of Creation: Ecology, Art, and Laudato Si’ (University of Notre Dame Press, 2023). He has also published two books on film and philosophy and one book on art. He has published more than 100 reviews and discussion articles on film, theater, art, and higher education in a variety of venues including First Things, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Wall Street Journal, and National Review. He writes regularly for The Dallas Morning News.
Hibbs’ lectures have been protested by nihilists at Boston University and by communists in Palermo, Sicily.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Anscombe, Beauty, Charles Taylor, Emily Dickinson, Iris Murdoch, Jacques Maritain, Maritain, Murdoch, Thomas Aquinas
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