THOMISTIC INSTITUTE HOLDS
SUMMER PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE
By Br. Daniel Traceski, O.P.
This summer, the PFIC’s Thomistic Institute,
joined by the Notre Dame Center for Ethics
and Culture and the Catholic and Dominican
Institute,
brought
together
eminent
philosophers and graduate students from
around the country to discuss “Aquinas on
Metaphysics.” The three-day workshop was
held on the beautiful campus of Mount Saint
Mary College overlooking the Hudson River in
Newburgh, New York.
“This is the way philosophy is
meant to be done: in charity,
with friends who love the truth
and share the same principles,
with whom argument and
disagreement are welcome as
means to bring us all closer to
genuine wisdom.”
engagement with Thomistic philosophy as
well as a delightful opportunity to enjoy the
company and conversation of fellow Catholic
philosophers and theologians.”
Each day included Morning Prayer, Mass,
three presentations, a discussion panel, and
a holy hour with opportunity for confession.
Meals and late evening socials continued the
intellectual discussion but also provided the
opportunity for forming friendships. As faculty
member Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., expressed,
“We have, for a few days, a real community
for philosophical inquiry. This is the way
philosophy is meant to be done: in charity,
with friends who love the truth and share the
same principles, with whom argument and
disagreement are welcome as means to bring
us all closer to genuine wisdom.”
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy in
which human reason studies all things that
exist, what is common to them, and what—
or rather, Who—gives them their existence.
Presenters were experts in the thought of
Aquinas and the Thomistic tradition, including
PFIC philosophy professor Fr. James Brent, O.P.
Attending
students
expressed
their
enthusiasm for the conference and for St.
Thomas. Christopher Tomaszewski, a Ph.D.
student in philosophy at Baylor University,
has attended the workshop for the past
four years. “I’ve loved each year of the
conference,” he remarked, “and have found
it to be an excellent balance of scholarly
Faith & Reason - Volume IV, Issue III
Fr. Brian Chrzastek, O.P., assistant professor of
philosophy at the PFIC, speaks with Mariana
Barillas of the Chiaroscuro Institute at the 7th
annual Thomistic Institute philosophy conference
in Newburgh, New York.
5 lecture
Vanderbilt students attending the Thomistic Institute
“The Challenges of Evolution and the Metaphysics of Creation,”
by Dr. William E. Carroll