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Lectures

Saint Louis University's College of Philosophy and Letters offers multiple lectures throughout the year.

Scholars in Our Midst

This ongoing series features scholars from across the Saint Louis University community who are engaging questions that intersect with the Catholic intellectual tradition and the mission of the Society of Jesus. The series is sponsored by 博彩网址大全’s College of Philosophy and Letters and the Office of Mission and Identity.

Past Lectures

2021: *New Book*: Heroic Hearts: Sentiment, Saints, and Authority in Modern France (2021)
Jennifer Popiel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of History

2021: Supernatural Naturalism: The Holy Matrimony of the Modern Poet and Scientist
Emily Dumler-Winckler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Theological Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: Helen De Cruz, Ph.D.
Danforth Chair in the Humanities, Philosophy

Respondent: Daniel Finucane, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Theological Studies

2021: Rene Girard: The Last Nietzschean
Grant Kaplan, Ph.D.
Professor, Theological Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: Paul Lynch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English

Respondent: Benjamin de Foy, Ph.D.
Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

2020: Romero's Martyrology: "The Only Violence Permissible by the Gospel"
Ruben Rosario Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Professor, Theological Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: D. Matthew Baugh, S.J.
Philosophy and Letters Chair in Catholicism and Community
Director of Catholic Studies
Secondary Appointment, Political Science

Respondent: Gregory R. Beabout, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

2020: Catholic Personalism and the Political: Liberalism's Unfinished Revolution
Christopher Duncan, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: Michael D. Barber S.J.
Professor, Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: Jay M. Hammond, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Theological Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

2020: Suffering and Flourishing
Eleonore Stump, Ph.D.
Robert J. Henle, S.J., Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

Respondent: Cristina McGroarty. M.S.N., R.N.
Assistant Professor, Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
 
Respondent: J. Mark Pousson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Education
 
2020: Augustine, Aquinas, and Tolkien
Craig A. Boyd, Ph.D.
School for Professional Studies
 
Respondent: Atria Larson, Ph.D.
Department of Theological Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
 

John F. Kavanaugh, S.J., Philosophy for Ministry Lecture

This series of lectures delivered by leading scholars exemplify the central mission of the Saint Louis University College of Philosophy and Letters: to provide our students with the intellectual tools for reflecting on the social, cultural and theological contexts of Catholic ministry in today's world. The discipline of philosophy has traditionally supplied the framework for such reflection, oriented toward preparation for theological studies. Today, in response to the Church's call for fruitful dialogue between faith and the contemporary world, philosophical reflection must also illuminate the various social and cultural contexts in which Christian ministry finds itself.

This orientation toward the context of ministry thoroughly imbued the research, writing and teaching of Father John F. Kavanaugh, S.J., a Jesuit philosopher and member of the Saint Louis University Department of Philosophy from 1974 until his death in 2012. It is thus entirely appropriate that the Lecture Series takes Fr. Kavanaugh as its inspiration and exemplar.

Past Lectures

2022: Consider the Birds: The Nature and Graces of a Trumpeter Swan
Gregory Beabout, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University
 
2021: The Point of Philosophy
Colleen McCluskey, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University

2019: The Pursuit of Intimacy
Theodore Vitali, C.P.
Former Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Saint Louis University

Watch the Lecture

2018: A Joint John F. Kavanaugh, S.J.- Walter J. Ong, S.J. Bicentennial Event The Pressure of the Word: Presence and Distance in Walter J. Ong’s Secondary Orality
Steve Schloesser, S.J.
Professor History, Loyola University-Chicago

2017: Guilt and Forgiveness
Eleonore Stump, Ph.D. 
Robert J. Henle, S.J., Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University

2016: Lest Loves Compete: St. Augustine’s Theology of Charity
David Meconi, S.J., D.Phil.
Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University

2015: Liturgy and the Work of Ethics
Jeffrey Bishop, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University
Director, Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University
Tenet Chair of Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University

2014: Testimony and Religious Belief
John Greco, Ph.D.
Leonard and Elizabeth Eslick Chair in Philosophy, Saint Louis University

Lilly Workshop Series

This series of six workshops aims to facilitate communication, coordination and collaboration among various groups from across the Saint Louis University community involved in service-learning.  Workshop presenters will offer brief presentations to facilitate discussion among participants.

Experiencing 博彩网址大全's Mission through Ignatian Service: A Project Based, Collaborative Exercise

Past Workshops

2021: Examining 博彩网址大全's Mission: The Four Apostolic Preferences
Presenter1: Molly Schaller, Associate Dean, School of Education
Presenter 2: LaKricia Cox, Director of Programming, The Little Bit Foundation
Participants: Community Engagement and Service Coordinators

2021: Seeing Service as a Way to God: The First Apostolic Preference
Presenter 1: D. Matthew Baugh, S.J., Philosophy and Letters Chair in Catholicism and Community, Direct of Catholic Studies, Secondary Appointment, Political Science
Presenter 2: Gina Merys, Acting Director, Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning
Presenters: Directors and Facilitators of the Core

2021: Building an Educational Pathway as a Mission of Reconciliation and Justice: The Second Apostolic Preference
Presenter 1: Ronny O'Dwyer, S.J., Assistant to the Dean, School of Education
Presenter 2: Amber Johnson, Associate Provost, Diversity and Community Engagement
Participants: Deans and Associate Deans

2021: Creating a Hope Filled Future for 博彩网址大全/STL Students: The Third Apostolic Preference
Presenter 1: Eric Clark, President, Loyola Academy of Saint Louis
Presenter 2: Allen Brizee, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, Associate Professor, Department of English
Participants: Faculty and Graduate Instructors

Upcoming Workshops

Friday, March 11, 2022
Theme: Caring for Our Common Home - Saint Louis: The Fourth Apostolic Preference
Presenter 1: Karen Hall, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Saint Louis University
Presenter 2: Jay M. Hammond, Director of Ignatian Service Minor, Saint Louis University
Participants: Student Service Organizations, Saint Louis University
 
Friday, April 8, 2022
Theme: Next  Steps: Continuing the Conversation, Coordination and Collaboration
Presenter 1: TBA
Presenter 2: Josh Goldman, Program Coordinator, School of Education, Saint Louis University
Participants: Department Chairs and Program Directors
 
For more information, please contact Dr. Jay Hammond, director of the Ignatian service minor, at jay.hammond@ejly.net.