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 4, 2023 • 1h 14min
Vice and Sin, Part II | Professor Steven Jensen
Prof. Steven Jensen explores the difference between sin and punishment, the concept of evil and its divisions according to Aquinas, the distinction between sin and suffering, the nature of evil and the human will, the relationship between sin, evil, and the good of completion, the connection between neighbor, common good, and divine good, and the different orders of sin's opposition to good.
Oct 3, 2023 • 1h 10min
Vice and Sin, Part I | Professor Candace Vogler
Prof. Candace Vogler discusses vice, sin, human acts, salvation, obligation, original sin, vices, and human fulfillment. She explores the concepts of sin, virtue, and the impact of original sin on morality. She also discusses the nature of obligation, grace, and the influence of Christianity in understanding human nature and vices. Additionally, she explores the concept of aligning oneself with the best order and the motivations behind the Virgin birth theory.
Oct 2, 2023 • 1h 12min
God's Permission of Moral Evil | Professor Thomas Osborne
Prof. Thomas Osborne, a philosopher from the University of St. Thomas, explores God's permission of sin, the relationship between God and human free choice, and the dichotomy of justice and mercy in God. He also delves into theological perspectives on God's intention in relation to good and evil, as well as the connection between Christ's redemptive act, predestination, reprobation, and baptism. Lastly, he discusses God's permission of moral evil and the predictability of human actions.
5 snips
Sep 28, 2023 • 40min
Evil as Privation | Father James Brent, O.P.
Fr. James Brent, O.P. discusses the nature of evil according to St. Thomas Aquinas. Topics include the metaphysics of evil as privation, different interpretations of perfection, the concept of evil as absence of good, and debunking misconceptions about completely evil beings.
4 snips
Sep 27, 2023 • 39min
Veneration of the Eucharist | Father Uwe Michael Lang
Fr. Uwe Michael Lang discusses the history and significance of veneration of the Eucharist, including its roots in early Christian worship, the importance of gestures of reverence, and the organic development of communion on the tongue. He also explores the practice of displaying the Eucharist in Renaissance churches and the profound relationship with God through Eucharistic adoration as exemplified by saints.
Sep 26, 2023 • 1h 1min
Virtue in Human Action | Father John Baptist Ku, O.P.
Fr. John Baptist Ku, O.P., discusses the role of virtue in guiding human action, the nature of human vulnerability, the significance of virtue in the moral life, levels of moral virtue and the interplay between reason, passions, and will. The podcast also explores the relationship between virtue and objectivity, and the role of fear in the spiritual journey.
Sep 25, 2023 • 46min
Approaches to Reality and Paradigms of Certainty | Father Gregory Pine, O.P.
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., discusses the cryteriological difference between philosophy and theology, the preambles of faith and the fourth way, the foreignness and historical impact of the fourth way, the concept of a maximally such thing and modes of observation for certainty, errors in judgment and knowledge, and the basis of certainty in faith and the role of the divine truth.
Sep 22, 2023 • 56min
Truth and Uncertainty in Particle Physics | Doctor Steve Mrenna
Dr. Steve Mrenna, particle theorist, discusses truth in particle physics and the discovery of the Higgs boson. He explores event generators and the Pithia simulator, the collision of protons, and the role of gluons. The efficiency of scintillators and the challenges of analyzing rare events are covered. The concept of causes in particle physics and measuring charged particles in a magnetic field are also explored.
Sep 21, 2023 • 46min
Moral Limbo in the Workplace w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Fr. Thomas More Garrett, O.P.
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Fr. Thomas More Garrett, O.P. discuss navigating morally compromising situations, leaving a job and relying on God's guidance, cooperation in immoral activities, and balancing courage and wisdom in the workplace. They explore examples such as ride-sharing and the ethical dilemmas it presents, as well as the factors that determine the moral permissibility of cooperation. The speakers emphasize the need to choose battles wisely and engage in virtuous causes.
Sep 20, 2023 • 1h 3min
Uncertainty, Confidence, and Truth in Biology | Professor Daniel Kuebler
Prof. Daniel Kuebler discusses the challenges and complexities of biology experiments, the species problem, and the ethical questions in biotechnology. He explores uncertainty and variability, the limitations of genetic models, and the role of systems biology in reducing uncertainty. He also talks about human hominids, seizure-like behavior in fruit flies, and the profound implications of uncertainty in the evolutionary process.
