I just got back from the Princeton Seminar on Thomism and Analytic Philosophy, and it was great! My thanks to the Witherspoon Institute and the Templeton Foundation for making it possible.
I had the privilege of being surrounded for a week by excellent colleagues--including our own Tim Pawl--who share my commitment to the enduring value of Thomism and Analytic Philosophy. It's just hard for me to say how impressed I was with the other participants. I am enheartened to see such talented people working in various areas in Philosophy (epistemologists were about as rare, though, as is (the kind of) epistemology (I'm interested in) itself is in Aquinas).
It will be very interesting to see the influence of Thomisitc metaphysical realism on contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of mind (if they can get a place at the table and a voice in the conversation). If the Seminar is offered again next year, I *highly* recommend applying.
Technorati Tags: analytic philosophy, metaphysical realism, templeton foundation, thomism, metaphysics, talented people, people working, pawl, epistemology, aquinas, witherspoon, privilege, princeton, surrounded, colleagues
Technorati Tags: analytic philosophy, technorati, metaphysical realism, templeton foundation, thomism, metaphysics, epistemology, talented people, people working, pawl, aquinas, witherspoon, privilege, princeton, surrounded, colleagues
Could you post some highlights/summaries for those poor souls who were unable to attend?
I can't tell if your trying to tease us or rub it in, but given you're recent posts about Alaska I'm leaning towards the later. ;)
I looked at going, but my summer was already way to full. Like Kevin I'd really like to hear more about what went on at the seminar. Even a peek at the syllabus would be helpful.
What-still nobody that was able to go to the analytical Thomism seminar is willing to give us the scoop? Where's the Prosblogion love? Did Princeton require you to sign a confidentiality agreement to participate?
Hey Kevin et al,
Tim Pawl here. Here's a short scoop. I get back to Saint Louis and regular internet availability the 23rd, so after that I'll have more to say.
Logistics: the seminar was a week long, each day was 6 1/2 hours in the classroom and on a different topic. The topics were: Metaphysics, phil of rel, mind & action theory, ethics, and politics. Each day ended in a pub, where the discussion would continue. The instructors were: Alex Pruss, Mike Gorman, Nicholas Rescher, David Gallagher, Gabrielle de Anna, and Mark Murphy.
Assessment: The seminar rocked! Depending on what you came there having studied, some portions of the seminar were review. However, the instructors were all willing to meet and talked after the seminar sessions, so the conversation could go as technical as the participant could bring it.
The students there were top notch as well. There were about 18 of us. As a budding Thomist whose background is all analytic, it was good for me to see and meet so many other philosophers dedicated to bringing the two traditions into dialogue. That was uplifting.
Unfortunately, I have to run. I'll write more when I get back to StL
Tim