The debate regarding the validity of the use of neurological criteria to determine death – so-called “brain death” – has been central to the field of bioethics since its inception. At the root of this debate are several philosophical claims regarding the definition of human personhood and criterion of personal identity, concepts such as “organism...
In this presentation, I critique transhumanism, which denies any objective account of human nature and flourishing in favour of “morphological freedom” to reshape ourselves in any way one chooses so long as it does not harm others. I also critique those who reject any non-therapeutic interventions that could alter allegedly definitive qualities of human nature....
In this presentation, I comparatively analyze traditional indirect means of moral enhancement, such as moral education within families and wider societies, with direct biotechnological means that affect a moral agent’s cognitive and emotive capacities. I raise several concerns with the latter and call for enhancing traditional methods of moral education. Nevertheless, certain methods of bioenhancement...
Fr Joseph LaracY (Seton Hall University), ‘Ontological, Anthropological, and Ethical Reflections on Artificial Intelligence in a Thomistic Key’ This lecture offers a Thomistic retrieval of perennial metaphysical and moral insights for contemporary reflection on artificial intelligence. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas and modern Neo-Thomist interlocutors such as Stanley Jaki, OSB, it considers ontological questions concerning the...
Liam McDonnell (Blackfriars), ‘On Studying Aquinas in an Aquinas-like Manner’ Beginning in the twelfth century, scholastic theologians started to write in a new genre: the summa. The stated intention behind the creation of the summa was, in the words of Hugh of St Victor, to furnish a unified account of 'all theology' in one book. This newly...
Fr Michael Sherwin OP (Angelicum), ‘Nietzsche or St Thomas: Thoughts on Alasdair MacIntyre’ Part of this term’s lecture series, Thursdays at 5pm unless otherwise noted, presenting the breadth of Thomistic thought and its applications. upcoming events in this series Wk 5 Jan Bentz (Blackfriars), ‘Aquinas and the Real Distinction: Historical-Philosophical Notes’ Wk 6 Jack Norman (Blackfriars), ‘McCabe’s Social Ontology:...
Jan Bentz (Blackfriars), ‘Aquinas and the Real Distinction: Historical-Philosophical Notes’ Part of this term’s lecture series, Thursdays at 5pm unless otherwise noted, presenting the breadth of Thomistic thought and its applications. upcoming events in this series Wk 6 Jack Norman (Blackfriars), ‘McCabe’s Social Ontology: Sin, Sacraments, and the New Left’ Wk 8 Fr Richard Conrad OP (Blackfriars), ‘“Faith Believes, nor...
Jack Norman (Blackfriars), ‘McCabe’s Social Ontology: Sin, Sacraments, and the New Left’ Herbert McCabe OP’s thought was shaped by and phrased in Marxist social theory, and he shows undeniable sympathy to Marxism. This has been picked up by several recent writings on McCabe. However, read in context, I will show that McCabe gave a critical account...
The Aquinas Institute will be co-sponsoring a two day conference with the Thomistic Institute on the 9-10 March, 2026. Held in the Campion Hall Lecture Room, it will discuss the virtues as guidance for morality. Speakers include: Richard Kim; Fr Nicholas Austin; Daniel De Haan; Roger Teichmann; Terence Irwin; John Cottingham; Gabriele De Anna; Sr Blandine Lagrut;...
Realism about a certain kind of 'abstract object', namely, universals or properties, has been thought to pose a problem for theism. To be a realist about universals or properties is just to believe that they exist. First, I talk about two different kinds of reason to believe in them, which lead to two different roles they...