The Thomistic Institute
The Thomistic Institute
The Thomistic Institute exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square. The thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, is our touchstone.
The Thomistic Institute Podcast features the lectures and talks from our conferences, campus chapters events, intellectual retreats, livestream events, and much more.
Founded in 2009, the Thomistic Institute is part of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.
The Thomistic Institute Podcast features the lectures and talks from our conferences, campus chapters events, intellectual retreats, livestream events, and much more.
Founded in 2009, the Thomistic Institute is part of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 10, 2021 • 46min
Does God Exist? And How Could We Know? | Prof. Joshua Hochschild
Prof. Joshua Hochschild discusses Aquinas' views on God's existence, emphasizing epistemic humility, different modes of knowledge, and the role of philosophical arguments. They explore human cognition, methods of inquiry, and the path to knowing God through rational demonstrations. The conversation delves into affective understanding, virtue cultivation, and the purpose of scientific arguments in deepening wonder and contemplation.
Feb 8, 2021 • 47min
Aquinas on the Final Purpose of Human Existence and Human Prudence | Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P.
Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P. discusses Aquinas' view on morality, happiness, and prudence. They explore the pursuit of common goods, shared life with God, and balancing moral wisdom in pandemic decisions. The podcast delves into human purpose, final pursuits, and navigating political ideologies in society
Feb 5, 2021 • 49min
Why Did God Become Man? | Prof. Corey Barnes
Prof. Corey Barnes discusses the paradox of Jesus being divine and human, exploring Christology debates, the concept of Docetism, and Irenaeus' Christology. They delve into the Chalcedonian definition of Christ, the theology of the hypostatic union, and the significance of the Incarnation for human salvation.
Feb 3, 2021 • 1h 2min
Flannery O'Connor and the Christian Intellectual Tradition | Prof. Ralph Wood
Prof. Ralph Wood discusses Flannery O'Connor's comedic writing style, faith, and Thomistic influence. Topics include the triumph of good over evil, O'Connor's academic journey, her beliefs on the Eucharist, addressing nihilism and violence, and exploring themes of forgiveness and spiritual apathy in her works.
Feb 1, 2021 • 42min
Christianity and Nationalism | Fr. Conor McDonough, O.P.
Fr. Conor McDonough, O.P., a Catholic priest, discusses the tensions between globalism and nationalism within Catholicism, exploring the concepts of nation and state, the universalistic mission of Christianity, the Church's view on nationhood and nationalism, and the importance of community beyond the family in pursuing the common good.
Jan 29, 2021 • 43min
Prayer, Study, and the Mind's Ascent to God | Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.
Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P. discusses prayer, study, and the mind's ascent to God in Christianity. Topics include contrasting Christian beliefs with other religions, the goal of human existence, communion with God, Christ's divine power, the ascent to God through knowledge, and the spiritual journey through prayer and study according to Aquinas.
Jan 28, 2021 • 48min
Does Nature Make Laws? An Introduction to the Natural Law Tradition | Prof. Joshua Hochschild (duplicate?)
Prof. Joshua Hochschild explores the concept of natural law, its origins, and its influence on human behavior and ethics. The podcast delves into general and specific obligations, the inescapability of natural law, its foundations, and the harmony between Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas on law and justice.
Jan 22, 2021 • 53min
The Fifth Way | Prof. Brian Carl
Prof. Brian Carl discusses the Fifth Way argument for natural teleology, exploring St. Thomas's arguments and Aristotle's views. They delve into nature as divine art and the unmoved mover's role in final and efficient causality.
Jan 20, 2021 • 57min
The Fourth Way | Fr. Ambrose Mary Little, O.P.
Fr. Ambrose Mary Little, O.P., explores the Fourth Way, highlighting the concept of God as the ultimate cause of being and goodness. The podcast delves into the intricate arguments and relationships between truth, being, contrariety, and participation within the context of St. Thomas's mystical proof.
Jan 18, 2021 • 38min
The Third Way | Prof. Thomas Osborne
Professor Thomas Osborne, a political science expert, delves into the scholarly debates on the Third Way of St. Thomas Aquinas. They discuss necessary substances, comparisons to Maimonides, Avicenna, and Aristotle, prime matter, potentiality vs actuality, and the necessity of existence and causality.
