Thomas Aquinas College Lectures & Talks

The discussion dives deep into whether AI can genuinely think and understand. Key points include the distinction between true cognitive acts and figurative language. The host critiques several arguments for AI's understanding, highlighting flaws in reasoning, ambiguity, and misinterpretations. It’s argued that AI's outputs don’t reflect true cognition, as they merely manipulate symbols without the essence of willful thought. The exploration raises important questions about the nature of intelligence and challenges Turing's assumptions.

“The Noble Due: Aquinas and Debitum Morale,” a lecture by Rev. Patrick Carter, O.S.B. (’05), given at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, on November 21, 2025.

The discussion kicks off with a challenge: can AI truly think? Michael Ogros delves into the distinctions between metaphorical and literal thinking. He then outlines ten compelling arguments supporting AI's capability to think, from reasoning to recognizing universals. There's fascinating exploration of the Turing Test, the role of humor in understanding, and AI's creative outputs. The conversation even touches on solipsism, questioning if external behavior can imply consciousness in machines. What fascinating points await rebuttal next?

This episode explores the essence of knowledge through classical philosophy. It argues why philosophical definitions of knowing trump dictionary meanings. The conversation delves into Aquinas' terms like powers and acts, introducing important distinctions between types of operations. The host examines cognitive beings versus non-cognitive beings and how understanding differs from mere sensing. Finally, it raises the intriguing question: can AI truly think, or is it limited to mere simulations of cognition?

The discussion introduces the basics of artificial intelligence and its distinction from traditional programming. Key topics include the evolution from narrow AI to general AI and the rise of large language models (LLMs). Insights into how transformers enable machines to understand context are shared, along with a comparison of artificial neural networks to biological ones. The conversation wraps up with intriguing thoughts on training methods and the opacity of LLM decision-making, setting the stage for deeper philosophical exploration in future talks.

Michael Agros dives into the intriguing question of AI personhood and its societal implications. He explores the ethical stakes of acknowledging AI as sentient and addresses common concerns about its impact on jobs and safety. The discussion highlights philosophical versus scientific approaches, emphasizing the need for deep understanding rooted in human experience. Agros draws on insights from Aristotle and Aquinas to differentiate genuine thought from AI mimicry, setting the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly think.

Brett Smith, a tutor and scholar at Thomas Aquinas College, passionately presents his journey from Baptist seminary to Catholicism. He argues that Scripture demands Christians to embrace Catholicism, highlighting the Church's visible nature through baptism and the Eucharist. Smith explores the significance of ordained ministers for sacramental validity, connects Jesus' authority on binding and loosing to church governance, and emphasizes the crucial role of the Eucharist in uniting believers. His insights challenge listeners to reconsider the necessity of a unified church for salvation.

"Literature and the Renewal of Moral Philosophy," by Dr. Thomas Hibbs (J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy and Dean Emeritus at Baylor University). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2025 Thomistic Summer Conference.

“At the Heart of Sexual Ethics: Reflections on Aquinas and Wojtyla,” by Dr. Mathew D. Walz, given at Thomas Aquinas College, California, on November 7, 2025.

Dr. Daniel McInerny of Christendom College presents the November lecture at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, “Art as Imitation: An Aristotelian Re-Activation.”