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
Oct 8, 2020 • 58min
St. Thomas Aquinas Our Common Doctor For Theology Today | Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.
Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., discusses the significance of St. Thomas Aquinas in theology today, exploring his titles, influence in the Catholic Church, relevance in modern theology, and teachings on God's relationship with time and the integration of faith and reason. He also touches on St. Albert the Great's impact on Aquinas in the field of natural sciences.
Oct 6, 2020 • 39min
Is there a Distinction Between Faith and Reason? | Prof. Robert Koons
Prof. Robert Koons discusses the distinction between faith and reason, emphasizing how faith in God's wisdom is essential for cognitive reasoning. He explores the interconnectedness of faith and reason, highlighting the role of faith in accepting divine truths beyond reason. The chapter also delves into how faith acts as a bridge between rationality and spiritual belief, providing a foundation for belief beyond scientific understanding.
12 snips
Oct 3, 2020 • 51min
Friendship and Happiness: Insights from Aristotle and Aquinas | Prof. Jennifer Frey
Philosophy professor Prof. Jennifer Frey delves into Aristotle and Aquinas' views on friendship and happiness. They discuss the importance of virtues, practical wisdom, and the role of community in achieving true flourishing. They explore how friendships can lead to self-transcendence, contrasting Aristotle's three types of friendships with Aquinas' perspective on friendship with God as charity.
Oct 1, 2020 • 49min
Discerning a Vocation to Be a Catholic Intellectual | Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.
Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., discusses discerning a vocation to priesthood, religious life, or as a Catholic intellectual. Highlights include the importance of mature desires influenced by grace, merit and growth in charity, and practical considerations in vocational discernment such as seeking guidance from mentors.
Sep 29, 2020 • 39min
Happiness of the Catholic Intellectual: Balance, Focus, and Priorities | Prof. Christopher Kaczor
Prof. Christopher Kaczor, a Catholic philosophy and ethics expert, discusses balancing intellectual pursuits and personal life, engaging with opposing philosophical views, achieving balance between professional academic and public intellectual roles, and navigating free will and balance in life.
Sep 26, 2020 • 50min
Prayer, Holiness, and the Intellectual Life | Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.
Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., an expert theologian, discusses the transformative power of God's grace, the pursuit of wisdom and intellectual virtues, the synthesis of moral and theological virtues, and the intersection of prayer, holiness, and the intellectual life in achieving a meaningful and flourishing human life.
Sep 24, 2020 • 34min
The Vocation of the Catholic Intellectual: Faith, Reason, and Service | Prof. Christopher Kaczor
Prof. Christopher Kaczor discusses his Catholic intellectual journey, emphasizing the importance of faith, friendship in intellectual disagreements, belief in God & Christianity, spiritual practices for academics, and working with mentors like Ralph McInerney on Aquinas.
Sep 22, 2020 • 59min
Divinization and the Gradation Of Freedom | Fr. Ephrem Reese, O.P.
Fr. Ephrem Reese, O.P., discusses divine virtues enabling humans to aspire towards a god-like existence. Topics include the application of virtues in different states of life, comparison of divine virtues and freedom of the soul between Plotinus and St. Thomas, and the hierarchy of virtues leading to spiritual perfection.
Sep 19, 2020 • 39min
The Danger of Technology to Human Flourishing | Prof. James Madden
Prof. James Madden discusses the balance between technological development and human agency, exploring the impact of technology on desires, consumption, and the environment. He reflects on Heidegger's views, divine intervention, and the spiritual emptiness caused by progress. The podcast also delves into Augustine's conversion, finding satisfaction in the Creator, and accepting unfulfilled desires as a path to God.
Sep 17, 2020 • 55min
The Virtues of Healthy Dependence | Fr. Gregory Pine
Fr. Gregory Pine, a Catholic priest and theologian, discusses the role of healthy dependence in fostering human interrelatedness and well-being. Topics include exploring the hierarchy of goods based on human nature, the limitations of wealth as an endpoint in life, the importance of common goods in social relationships, and the significance of virtues and cooperation in the Christian tradition.
