Dozens of scholars from around the country attended the 14th annual Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop at Mount Saint Mary College.
Dozens of scholars from around the globe explored the wisdom of 13th century Dominican friar St. Thomas Aquinas at the annual St. Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop, hosted at Mount Saint Mary College.
The workshop was co-sponsored by the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute and the Thomistic Institute at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
The theme of this year’s workshop was “Aquinas on Nature and the Natural.” The event brought together scholars, graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and lovers of philosophy for formal scholarly presentations, prayer and meditation, and informal conversations related to philosophy and theology.
Participants came from colleges and universities like Notre Dame University, Providence College, Loyola Marymount University, Angelicum, and Newman University. The four-day event saw attendees from as far away as Belgium, Italy, and the Philippines.
The scholars were welcomed to the conference by Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission at the Mount, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute; and Fr. Ambrose Little, OP, assistant director of the Thomistic Institute and assistant professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
Zola explained that the workshop, which was celebrating its 14th year, is a unique way to bring together a diverse audience of individuals.
“It’s always gratifying to see seasoned scholars sharing their knowledge with a younger generation of enthusiasts of Aquinas’s philosophy,” he said. “In addition, we also have individuals who are not academics, but are just interested in learning more about his ideas. There is amazing synergy that occurs when you have such a diverse group all focused on one topic.”
He added, “A large part of the success of the workshop is due to the setting of our campus. The participants remark on the incredible views of the Hudson Valley, as well as the beauty of our campus and the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary. Personally, I’m very grateful to so many people in our campus community who help make our guests feel welcome and contribute to the success of the workshop.”
This year’s presenters included Fr. Raymund Snyder, OP, professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas; Drew Sparks, an adjunct professor of Philosophy at Ivy Tech Community College and adjunct professor of Theology at the International Reformed Baptist Seminary; Tyler Castle, associate director of the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government at the University of Notre Dame; Michael Lang, an associate professor of History at the University of Maine; John Brungardt, assistant professor of Medieval Philosophy at Newman University; Christopher Frey, the E.B. McFarlin Chair in Philosophy at the University of Tulsa; Catherine Peters, associate professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University; Fr. John Sica, OP, from the Center for Thomistic Studies at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas; Joshua Hochschild, associate professor of Philosophy and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Mount St. Mary’s University; and Raymond Hain, associate professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Providence College.
The Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute promotes the Mount’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue. The Institute welcomes persons of varied faiths and acknowledges different religious traditions as essential to the college’s intellectual and spiritual life.
In addition to the annual philosophy workshop, the Catholic and Dominican Institute arranges free, public lectures at the college throughout the academic year.