Led by R. J. Snell 

Select Fridays, 1:00-2:20 pm

February 7, 14, 28

Material culture, including architecture and public space, is neither simply adornment or brute utility but an expression of value: what we think people are, what we think people are for, and how we think people live and work together. In this seminar we explore architecture and urban planning, drawing on the thought of Roger Scruton, Philip Bess, and Léon Krier (among others).

Reading prior to seminar is not required. Lunch is provided, as are all reading materials.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

For more information about this seminar, email R. J. at rsnell@winst.org.

Led by R. J. Snell 

Select Fridays, 1:00-2:20 pm 

March 21, 28, April 4

Among some, there is a mood and call for re-enchantment of world and imagination, largely as a response to the loss of the sense of the sacred and radical immanentizing of our lives. This may or may not be a good idea: the classic 1947 Tolkien essay, “On Fairy-Stories” has much to offer in reaching a reasonable judgment.

Reading prior to seminar is not required. Lunch is provided, as are all reading materials.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

For more information about this seminar, email R. J. at rsnell@winst.org.

Led by R. J. Snell 

Select Fridays, 1:00-2:20 pm 

April 25, May 2

Led by Sebastian Hayden

Tuesdays, 8:15-9:15 am

February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 18, 25, April 1, 8

A line-by-line reading of selected sections of the Nicomachean Ethics. No previous study of Aristotle needed, and reading prior to the seminar is not required. A light breakfast will be provided.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

For more information about this seminar, email Sebastian at shayden@winst.org.

Led by Matthew X. Wilson, R. J. Snell, and Robert P. George

6:45-8:45pm

Friday, March 21

What is “New Natural Law Theory,” and are there “old” natural law theories that came before it? Does “natural law” merely consist of assigning moral weight to empirically-observable laws of nature? What is natural law’s place in the relationship between human reason and divine revelation? This seminar will examine the revival of natural law that began in the 1960s, identifying and assessing its key claims and philosophical underpinnings. The seminar will place “New Natural Law” in conversation with other schools of thinking about ethics, political morality, and jurisprudence—including critiques of New Natural Law Theory from more traditional Thomistic theorists as well as criticisms from liberal philosophers.

The seminar encourages free thinking among participants and will not shy away from frankly addressing tough questions.

No prior reading is required, and dinner will be provided.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited. 

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 21

6:45 – 7:30 PM, Dinner

7:30 – 8:45 PM, Discussion with Robert P. George, R. J. Snell, and Matthew X. Wilson

For more information about this seminar, email Matthew at mwilson@winst.org.

Led by Brandon Van Dyck

Every other Thursday, 6:30-8:00 pm

February 6, 20, March 6, 20, April 3, 17, May 1, 15

This seminar will explore the most important philosophical tradition of American origin: pragmatism. We will discuss how our perceptions and language relate to objective reality, how ignorant we are of objective reality, and how we should reason and behave in light of our ignorance. We will refer to the ideas of and read selections from, William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, Richard Rorty, Hilary Putnam, and Donald Hoffman.

Reading prior to the seminar is not required. Dinner is provided, as are all reading materials.

All Princeton graduate students are warmly invited.

For more information about this seminar, email Brandon at bvandyck@princetoncatholic.org.