The Fifth Annual Philosophy Workshop will be held at
Mount Saint Mary College on June 4-7, 2015.
Aquinas and the Philosophy of Nature
This workshop will explore the key principles in Aquinas’
philosophy of nature. How does St. Thomas understand nature and
causation? Is his approach compatible with those of the modern
sciences? What, for Aquinas, does it mean to understand the
particular character of human nature, and how do material realities
themselves suggest the necessary existence of immaterial realities
(the human soul and God)?
Required Reading for Students:
- Henry J. Koren, Introduction to the Philosophy of
Nature (where available in libraries)
- David Oderberg, Real Essentialism (Routledge,
2008)
- Lawrence Dewan, OP, The Importance of Substance,
http://www3.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/ti/dewan.htm - Aquinas: Commentary on Boethius’ De Trinitate, q. 5.;
On the Principles of Nature; Commentary on the
Physics, Book VII, lec. 1-2.; Disputed Questions on the
Soul, qq. 1-2, 12-14. For all of these texts, see dhspriory.org/thomas
Thursday, June 4 (for graduate students only)
- Degrees of Knowledge: Philosophy of Nature and Modern Science
(William Carroll)
- Form and Matter (James Brent, OP)
- Change and Causality: Actuality and Potentiality (Alfred
Freddoso)
Friday, June 5
- Material Parts and Prime Matter (Michael Gorman)
- Inanimate vs. Animate Nature (Jennifer Frey)
- The Human Soul (Edward Feser)
Saturday, June 6
- Human Nature (Candace Vogler)
- Arguments for Immaterial Nature (John O'Callaghan)
- Degrees of Perfection in Nature? The Hierarchy of Forms and
Modern Cosmology (Fr. Michael Dodds)
Presenters for 2015
- William Carroll, PhD, Oxford University
- James Brent, OP, The Catholic University of America
- Alfred Freddoso, PhD, University of Notre Dame
- Michael Gorman, PhD, The Catholic University of America
- Jennifer Frey, PhD, University of South Carolina
- Edward Feser, PhD, Pasadena College
- Candace Vogler, PhD, University of Chicago
- John O’Callaghan, PhD, University of Notre Dame
- Father Michael Dodds, OP, The Dominican School of Philosophy
& Theology
Register
online today!