Episodes

Aug. 1, 2025

Can We Be Happy Without God? I Prof. Matthew Shea

Prof. Matthew Shea examines the classic philosophical question “Can we be happy without God?” by analyzing historical and contemporary perspectives on happiness, ultimately contrasting the limitations of atheistic views with ...

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July 31, 2025

How to be a Little Less Awful: The Cultivation of Virtue I Prof. Timo…

Prof. Timothy J. Pawl examines the nature, divisions, and cultivation of virtue, harmonizing Christian moral wisdom with contemporary psychological research and offering eight practical steps to growing in virtue. This lectur...

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July 30, 2025

From Apathy to Agape: Christian Encounters with Stoic Philosophy I Pr…

Prof. Thomas Ward explores the resurgence of Stoicism in modern culture and critically contrasts it with Christian philosophy, especially through the lens of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy , advocating for divine pro...

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July 29, 2025

The Cardinal Virtues and Living Life Well I Prof. Raymond Hain

Prof. Raymond Hain examines the four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—tracing their philosophical and theological roots while exploring their essential role in living a morally excellent and flour...

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July 28, 2025

St. Augustine on Love for Confused Lovers I Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.

Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., delves into St. Augustine's understanding of love for "confused lovers," drawing from the Confessions to explore the transformative power of God's grace and the ordering of human loves toward divine un...

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July 25, 2025

Catholic Teaching on Birth Control: Beyond Common Misunderstandings I…

This lecture was given on October 1st, 2024, at North Carolina State University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Gina Maria Noia, PhD, is an Ass...

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July 24, 2025

The Ethics of Abortion: Women's Rights, Human Life, and the Question …

This lecture was given on April 14th, 2025, at Duke University. For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events . About the Speaker: Dr. Christopher Kaczor (rhymes with razor) gradu...

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July 23, 2025

Thomistic Perspectives on True Artificial Intelligence I Prof. Jordan…

Prof. Jordan Wales offers a theological critique of artificial intelligence, examining the limitations of computational and behaviorist definitions of intelligence and emphasizing the need for intentionality, interior experie...

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July 22, 2025

The Christian Imagination I Prof. Raymond Hain

Prof. Raymond Hain explores the Catholic imagination through the literary works of Flannery O'Connor and J.R.R. Tolkien, revealing how Catholic literature intertwines hope, redemption, and the complexities of faith in the fac...

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July 21, 2025

Are Science and Faith Compatible? I Prof. Karin Öberg

Harvard astronomer Prof. Karin Öberg examines the compatibility of science and faith, addressing perceived conflicts through philosophical, doctrinal, psychological, and historical lenses while emphasizing Catholic intellectu...

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July 18, 2025

Woman as Companion and as Mother | Sr. Elinor Gardner, O.P.

Sr. Elinor Gardner explores the vocation of women as companion and mother, drawing on Edith Stein’s philosophy to highlight the natural ethos of femininity as a gift received from God, characterized by a unique capacity for n...

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July 17, 2025

True Fatherhood as Archetype of Masculine Virtue | Prof. John Cuddeba…

Prof. John Cuddeback explores true fatherhood as the archetype of masculine virtue, examining its modes, challenges, and unique virtues through the lenses of Aristotelian philosophy, domestic prudence, and scriptural figures ...

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July 16, 2025

Household as Natural Revelation of Masculinity and Femininity | Prof.…

Prof. John Cuddeback explores how the household serves as a natural revelation of masculinity and femininity, emphasizing the complementarity of men and women, the significance of virtue, and the essential roles of fatherhood...

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July 15, 2025

The Importance of Friendship in Marriage | Dr. Nathaniel Peters and P…

Dr. Nathaniel Peters and Prof. Jane Peters explore the vocation of marriage as a transformative friendship, highlighting how the goods of marriage—offspring, fidelity, and sacrament—are elevated by grace to foster virtue, mut...

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July 14, 2025

Is the Biblical View of Sex and Marriage Realistic? | Prof. Michael D…

Prof. Michael Dauphinais explores the realism of the biblical view of sex and marriage, analyzing cultural challenges, scriptural diagnoses, and the transformative power of radical trust in God’s plan for relationships. This ...

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July 11, 2025

The Mission of the University and the Role of the Humanities | Prof. …

Prof. Michael Foley critically examines the authentic role of the humanities in the modern American university, contrasting the consumerist and human models of education while advocating for self-emptying, integrated knowledg...

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July 10, 2025

Aesthetics, Mozart, and the Pathways of Beauty | Prof. George Corbett

Prof. George Corbett explores the philosophical and theological foundations of beauty through Mozart’s music, highlighting the "pathway of beauty" as a means of encountering the divine and engaging culture. This lecture was g...

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July 9, 2025

Objective Beauty in a Subjective World | Prof. Jan C. Bentz

Prof. Jan C. Bentz examines the nature of beauty, arguing that beauty is not merely subjective but possesses objective and transcendent qualities rooted in metaphysical, ethical, and theological traditions from Plato and Aris...

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July 8, 2025

Becoming Human: Barbie, Storytelling, and Aquinas on Self-Knowledge |…

Prof. Joshua Hochschild explores the philosophical and theological dimensions of the Barbie movie, analyzing its narrative through the lens of storytelling, existentialism, and the thought of Aquinas, while engaging with dive...

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July 7, 2025

Recovering the Image of God in Man (and Woman) | Sr. Elinor Gardner, …

Sr. Elinor Gardner explores the Christian understanding of virtue, emphasizing the theological and cardinal virtues as foundational to human excellence and the restoration of the image of God in man and woman. This lecture wa...

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July 4, 2025

Created Equal: An Interpretation and Defense of the American Proposit…

Prof. Christopher Kaczor rigorously defends the inclusive interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, arguing that "all men are created equal" refers to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, or status, drawing on ...

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July 3, 2025

Predestination and Human Freedom | Prof. Bruce Marshall

Prof. Bruce Marshall explores the complex theological and philosophical challenges of predestination, examining its biblical foundations, Catholic doctrinal teachings, and the relationship between divine will, human freedom, ...

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July 2, 2025

'Many are called, but few are chosen': A Thomistic Approach to Predes…

Fr. Gregory Pine explains the Catholic doctrine of predestination, distinguishing it from Calvinist interpretations by emphasizing God’s gratuitous initiative, human participation through grace, and the ultimate purpose of cr...

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July 1, 2025

How to Make Life-Changing Decisions | Dr. Nathaniel Peters

Dr. Nathaniel Peters examines how young adults can make life-changing decisions by applying philosophical and theological frameworks, particularly drawing on Aristotle and Aquinas, to overcome paralysis, weigh competing goods...

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