Distinctively human action—that is, the kind of action which belongs to human beings and no other animals—receives its specifically-human character from the use of reason; and reason is developed through learning.
The Liberal Arts
[2020 Summer] Aquinas’ Cosmological Vision
Seminar: Minds today are given over to a background cosmological nihilism: a nihilism denying the belief that there is purpose independent of our own volitional determination; a nihilism become the unquestioned rule of the day. In contrast is the cosmological vision of Thomas Aquinas: a vision which sees in the fundamental principles of the universe an ordered whole, giving governance to all its parts, and perfect in itself.
[UPDATED – 3/26] Seminar: Introduction to Thomism
Sign up using the form below! View the Syllabus here This seminar is FREE to all Lyceum members. In light of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit both wallets and social practices, I am offering this seminar at half price, with deferred payment (i.e., pay me when you can--spread out, if need be) …
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Seminar: Thomistic Psychology – Action Theory
Beginning in the Fall of 2019, the Continuum Philosophical Insight Lyceum began a project of “Retrieving Thomistic Psychology” with an eight-week seminar that laid the foundations of an understanding that avoids the pitfalls of modern psychology. Now, in the Winter of 2020, a following “Thomistic Psychology - Action Theory” seminar will investigate the various operations …
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Seminar: Introduction to Philosophical Thinking
What is philosophy? Is it something we study—as subject, like biology or literature? Is it something each of us has, individually—as in, “my personal philosophy”? Is it a relic of history? An intellectual curiosity? A means to impress at cocktail parties and on social media? Or perhaps—as this seminar will attempt to demonstrate—philosophy is a …
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Quodlibet: Preview
The following is a preview selection (rough draft) of the forthcoming Quaestiones de Quodlibet, Prima Series, based upon the questions I received this past July/August. This is the respondeo portion of q.1, "On Knowledge", a.1, "How does intellectual knowledge differ from sense knowledge?" I respond: We must distinguish the faculties and operations of sense perception and intellect. The …
Updates & New Recording
Lots has been happening behind the scenes on the Continuum front (and a related project). The major development--to drop a little tease--is a new digital platform for philosophical engagement and habit-building. It's still a little ways away from launching officially, but I'm excited about the prospects. Aside from that, I have several other updates: First, …
Quaestiones Disputatae: Quodlibet I
As part of a forthcoming endeavor, I am launching a new program of Quaestiones disputatae. More details will be shared on this new program in the near future. Right now, however, I would like to draw attention explicitly to the public-facing part of this program, the quodlibetal question. Quodlibetal questions were a special form of disputation in …
Continuum Philosophical Insight 