The Thomistic Institute

Prof. Paul Gondreau reflects on the profound meaning of suffering, disability, and human frailty in light of Christ’s redemptive suffering, emphasizing shared vulnerability as a source of mercy and unity within the Church. This lecture was given on March 8th, 2025, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the...

Prof. Stephen Meredith explores the essence of being human through the lens of Aristotelian and Thomistic philosophy, contrasting it with biological and scientific perspectives that often overlook the importance of form and final cause. This lecture was given on September 14th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming...

Fr. Anselm Ramelow critically examines whether artificial intelligence can achieve personhood, arguing that machines lack the essential qualities of being, consciousness, and unity inherent to human nature. This lecture was given on September 14th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: F...

Dr. Daniel De Haan examines the interplay between philosophical, theological, and scientific images of human persons, emphasizing their complementarity and addressing challenges posed by reductionist scientific perspectives. This lecture was given on September 28th, 2023, at University of Edinburgh. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About...

Fr. John Mark Solitario explores the transformative power of grace offered by Christ, emphasizing the perfection of charity and voluntary poverty as a means to participate in divine goodness and a sure path to eternal life. This lecture was given on July 10th, 2024, at Theodore House at Stonyhurst. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About...

Fr. Dominic Legge explores the intricacies of the hypostatic union, focusing on Aquinas's understanding of how the divine and human natures are united in the person of Christ, while navigating various Christological heresies. This lecture was given on February 24th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About...

Professor Paul Gavrilyuk explores Cyril of Alexandria's Christology as a sustained meditation on majesty and lowliness, driven by the desire to probe the mystery of the hypostatic union in light of the Nestorian controversy. This lecture was given on February 23rd, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About...

Fr. Khaled Anatolios argues that the Nicene Council and its doctrine of creation from nothing entail a comprehensive understanding of Christian existence, particularly as illuminated by Athanasius's "On the Incarnation," which configures human life within the dialectic of being and nothingness. This lecture was given on February 8th, 2025, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upc...

Fr. Jordan Schmidt explores the concept of humans being created in God's image and likeness (Imago Dei) from a biblical perspective, particularly focusing on the Genesis creation account and St. Paul's teachings. This lecture was given on November 7th, 2024, at University of South Florida. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker...

This lecture was given on February 9th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. The speaker requests that anyone interested in a summary of this talk listen to the whole thing. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Sr. Anna Wray, O.P. (Thomistic Institute) is a native of Connecticut and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Saint...

Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy explores the meaning of loving God with all our minds, drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas's interpretation of the greatest commandment. This lecture was given on April 9th, 2024, at the University of Pennsylvania. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, OP is a Coordinator for Campus Outr...

This lecture was given on November 15th, 2023, at Dominican House of Studies. The speaker requests that anyone interested in a summary of this talk listen to the whole thing. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Sister Anna Wray is a native of Connecticut and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia. Sister receive...

Professor Rik Van Nieuwenhove explores Thomas Aquinas's concept of contemplation, emphasizing its intellective nature, self-transcendent character, and relationship to charity, while discussing its significance in modern life. This lecture was given on November 28th, 2024, at University of St. Andrews. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events Abou...

Fr. Ambrose Little explores the concept of praying always and becoming aware of God's constant presence in our lives, discussing biblical exhortations, patristic interpretations, and four ways God is present to us: by his presence, power, essence, and divine indwelling. This lecture was given on September 13th, 2024, at Duke University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisti...

Prof. Francis Beckwith explores the arguments for moral relativism, particularly the argument from disagreement and the argument from tolerance, and offers critiques, emphasizing that disagreement does not necessarily entail relativism and highlighting the common moral ground underlying many disagreements. This lecture was given on October 9th, 2023, at University of Alabama at Birmingham. For mor...

Prof. Michael Sirilla explains how faithful Catholics should approach problematic magisterial teaching with a disposition of respect while recognizing that, in rare instances, fraternal correction motivated by love is necessary when Church authorities promulgate errors that contradict established doctrine. This lecture was given on October 17th, 2024, at University of Florida. For more information...

Prof. Francis Beckwith discusses moral relativism, presenting arguments for and against it, while emphasizing the importance of objective morality in the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition. This lecture was given on January 26th, 2024, at University of Miami. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Francis J. Beckwi...

Prof. John O'Callaghan discusses Aquinas's perspective on divine justice in the act of creation, emphasizing that it is primarily an act of justice of God towards Himself, reflecting His will, wisdom, and goodness. This lecture was given on October 18th, 2024, at Dominican House of Studies. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speake...

Fr. Gregory Pine discusses justice as a virtue that enables us to render to others what is due to them, exploring its characteristics of otherness, equality, and precision, while also acknowledging its limits and the need to go beyond justice in our relationships. This lecture was given on November 7th, 2024, at University of Tulsa. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticins...

Dr. John Haldane examines the themes of evil and vice as portrayed in film and entertainment, utilizing philosophical concepts and specific examples like The Exorcist and Apocalypse Now, to analyze the ethical dimensions of these representations. This lecture was given on November 28th, 2024, at University of Edinburgh. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/up...

Fr. Gregory Pine explores the virtue of prudence as practical wisdom, emphasizing its role in navigating human limitations, ordering practical life, and integrating intellect and appetite to achieve human flourishing. This lecture was given on March 12th, 2024, at Stanford University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events About the Speaker: Fr....

Professor Stephen Meredith explores the problem of evil, particularly in the context of disease, examining philosophical and theological perspectives, including those of Aquinas, Leibniz, and Voltaire, while also considering biological factors like genetics and evolution. This lecture was given on November 7th, 2024, at Indiana University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomi...

Professor Adam Eitel explores Thomas Aquinas's treatment of truthfulness and falsehood, discussing different types of lies, their motivations, and how they relate to charity and friendship with God, as well as forms of deception beyond speech, like hypocrisy and irony. This lecture was given on June 22nd, 2023, at Stonyhurst College. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticin...

Fr. Thomas Petri explicates St. Thomas Aquinas's understanding of God as ipsum esse subsistens (being itself), the source of all existence and goodness, and that evil is not a thing but an absence or deficiency of good within God's ultimate plan. This lecture was given on January 17th, 2025, at University of Michigan. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upco...

Professor Michael Krom evaluates the modern "Benedict Option" as a proposed Christian response to cultural decline, contrasting it with Saint Benedict’s historical withdrawal from Rome and analyzing its merits through Thomistic ethical frameworks governing obedience to authority and resistance to unjust laws. This lecture was given on November 8th, 2024, at Florida State University. For more infor...