Led by R.J. Snell

Select Fridays, 12:45pm-2:15pm:

Feb 10, 17, 24, Mar 3, 31, Apr 14, 21, & 28

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

There is a gnostic tendency in our current moment (even among some materialists) which views the body as somehow not equivalent to our selves, something we own or use. At the same time, in our disenchantment, we don’t see the body as having symbolic form, as revealing anything especially meaningful or true. It’s just matter, the wet-robot, signifying not very much. But perhaps that’s not true, and if we examine the body we can learn something from our finitude, needs, dependence, weakness, dying, and from the fact that our bodies are sexed.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

Led by R.J. Snell

Lunch Seminar, Fridays 12:45-2:15 pm:

TBD

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

Every intellectual geneology has thinkers it turns to and thinkers it neglects. In these occasional seminars, a history of philosophy (and philosophical theology) we’ll include some overlooked figures and overlooked stories of the history of ideas.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

Led by R. J. Snell

Beginning February 7, Tuesday mornings 8:15-9:15 am

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

This seminar is a close reading of Book III of the Summa Contra Gentiles of Thomas Aquinas. Topics include the cause of good and evil, human happiness, God’s providence, and the possibility of human freedom, all through the resources of natural philosophy. While pre-reading of the text is encouraged it is not required as the seminar will proceed slowly through the text, including reading selected and important sections together. No previous knowledge of Aquinas is needed and any and all questions are welcomed.

A light breakfast is provided.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

Led by Jamie Boulding

Wednesday evenings, 5:15pm-6:30pm:

Feb 8, 15, 22, & Mar 1

Contact Jamie Boulding at jboulding@winst.org if interested.

This seminar will explore the relationship between faith and science, one of the most important intellectual questions of our time. We will consider the extent to which new developments in artificial intelligence, technology, neuroscience, and astrobiology might bear upon our view of human nature, ethics, and freedom. No scientific knowledge is needed, and all questions and perspectives are welcomed.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.

Led by John David Corwin

Wednesday evenings, 5:15pm-6:30pm:

Mar 22, 29, Apr 5, & 12

Contact John David Corwin at jdcorwin@winst.org if interested.

In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot, Prince Myshkin claims that “beauty will save the world.” Today’s culture inundates us with beauty and aesthetic experiences, yet we seem no closer to being saved than in Dostoevsky’s day. Does that mean he is wrong? Or does it suggest that something is wrong with the beauty offered to us and to which we look for some form of redemption? In this seminar, we’ll look at how beauty is portrayed in the works of Flannery O’Connor, Dostoevsky, C.S. Lewis, and others, and we’ll consider beauty’s redemptive capacity.

All Princeton undergraduate or graduate students are warmly invited.