The Thomistic Institute

Dr. Therese Cory discusses the future of Aquinas' philosophy, the changing perception of medieval philosophy, and the limitations of human thought. She emphasizes the importance of dialogue across philosophical systems for a more dynamic and unified thought image.

Fr. Serge-Thomas Bonino, OP discusses self-abandonment to God and the role of divine providence in achieving desired outcomes. He explores the historical shift in perception of the cosmos and its impact on intellectual thought. The concept of divine Providence is examined, including the contributions of different creatures to the common good of the universe. The role of law and freedom in God's providence is also discussed.

Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP, rector of Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, discusses topics such as medieval transcendental thought, derived realities, Bonaventure and Aquinas' approaches to transcendental philosophy, Aquinas' theistic arguments, the significance of Christ's suffering and resurrection, and Aquinas' doctrine of the incarnation and the Trinity.

Fr. Dominic Legge, Director of the Thomistic Institute, discusses Aquinas' perspective on Jesus' Sonship in Christ's Passion. Topics explored include Aquinas' Trinitarian understanding of Christ's Passion, Christ's obedience and love for the Father, Aquinas' perspective on Christ's cry during the Passion, and the significance of the Cross in revealing the triune God.

Fr. Dominic Legge discusses the relationship between justice, law, and the concept of good. He explores Aquinas' sappiential approach, the metaphysical grounding of moral discourse, and understanding the common good. He also discusses the hierarchical ordering of loves and reformulating claims to subjective rights in terms of justice and the common good.

Prof. Mats Wahlberg discusses Aquinas' view on the justification of beliefs based on God's testimony. Topics include the role of faith and knowledge in Christian theology, different interpretations of Aquinas' view, and the justification of Christian beliefs through trustworthy testimony.

Prof. Joshua Hochschild, Professor of Philosophy, discusses the ontology of social evil, the influence of social structures on moral agency, types of justice, the impact of social evils on distributive justice, challenges in perceiving community and moral agency, and understanding systemic racism and its effects.

Professor Michael Gorman discusses Aquinas' views on guilt and concepts such as evil as privation, Poyna and colpa, voluntariness, moral goodness, culpable actions, causes of voluntary actions, and guilty feelings. The speaker explores the concepts of object and end, analyzes factors influencing culpable actions, evaluates actions on a sliding scale, and distinguishes essential and accidental qualities for a successful performance.

This lecture was given on June 3, 2023, at the 12th Annual Aquinas Philosophy Workshop at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY For more information on upcoming events, please visit our website at www.thomisticinstitute.org. About the speaker: V. Bradley Lewis is an associate professor in the School of Philosophy at Catholic University of America. He specializes in political and legal philosophy, especially that of the classical Greeks and in the Thomistic tradition, and is currently working on a book on the idea of the common good. In addition to these things he has served as a consultant on ethics to the federal government, testified before a congressional subcommittee about immigration, and currently serves as associate editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence.

Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Prof. Thomas Osborne discuss sin, evil, and God's role in human suffering. They explore the metaphysics of sin, the book of Job's lessons on divine life and suffering, the greatness of goodness, and the University of St. Thomas's focus on Thomism and Catholic education.