Fr. James Brent, OP, of the Dominican House of Studies, presents at the 12th annual Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop at Mount Saint Mary College.
Dozens of scholars from around the world explored the wisdom of 13th century Dominican friar St. Thomas Aquinas at an annual Philosophy Workshop hosted at Mount Saint Mary College from May 31 to June 4.
The theme of this year’s workshop was “Aquinas on Evil.” The event combined presentations by philosophers with panel discussions and debate sessions.
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.
A sea of scholars were welcomed to the conference by Charles Zola, assistant to the president for Mission Integration, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute; Fr. Dominic Legge, OP, director of the Thomistic Institute in Washington, D.C. and associate professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies; George Abaunza, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount; and Fr. Ambrose Little, OP, assistant director of the Thomistic Institute and instructor in Philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
Since its inception about a dozen years ago, the Aquinas Workshop has become “the preeminent event of its kind, drawing scholars from around the globe,” Zola explained. “It inspires great debate, advances research, and fosters community among those individuals studying these topics. We are honored to play host to this academic event at Mount Saint Mary College.”
This year’s presenters included Fr. James Brent, O.P. of the Dominican House of Studies; Michael Gorman of the Catholic University of America; Thomas Osborne of the University of St. Thomas; Candace Vogler of the University of Chicago; Steven Jensen of the University of St. Thomas; V. Bradley Lewis of the Catholic University of America; and Joshua Hochschild of Mount Saint Mary’s University.
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.