Speaker Series Archive

Below is a running list of the Committee of Catholic Social Thought's speaker series by year. We have done our best to preserve the original messages that were sent by Dr. Graham McAleer, Fr. John Conley, S.J. and/or Lisa Flaherty.  In some cases, addenda have been added which include updates to the original message.

Spring 2019

• Thursday, February 21st at 5pm
  Dr. Paul Scherz (CUA)
  Well Directed? The Technocratic Paradigm, Entrepreneurial Science, and the Reproducibility Crisis

• Monday, March 18th at 4:30pm 
  Dr. David Dusenbury (Loyola)
  Data and Detection. From Sherlock Holmes to Observant Machines

The Third Annual Andy Warhol Lecture on Catholicism and the Arts

• Monday, April 15th at 6pm
  Dr. Brian Murray (Loyola)
  Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Catholic?

Fall 2018

Loyola’s Committee on Catholic Social Thought is happy to inform the college community of three upcoming lectures on Tolkien, disability, and the moral thinking of Dostoyevsky.

The following lectures are all in the Knott Hall B03, all lectures start at 5 pm.   

• Thursday, October 11, 2018: “The Problem of Smeagol, Pity, and the Common Good,” Prof. Joshua Hren, Belmont Abbey.
• Wednesday, November 7, 2018: “Neurodiversity and Joseph of Multicoloured Coat Fame,” Prof. Sam Levine, Touro Law School.
• Tuesday, November 27, 2018: “The Moral Psychology of Rashkolnikov in Crime and Punishment,” Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, John Brown University.

Spring 2017
Annual Andy Warhol Lecture

Music and the Soul: A Socratic Approach 

 

Dr. Michael Krom, St. Vincent's College

 

Thursday, April 27th, KH B01 at 5 pm. 

Ethics Week 2017 - Ethics and Sport

Monday, February 13	6:30 pm AWSC 4thFloor Program Room	Dr. Mavis Biss,Sexism in Sport
Tuesday, February 14	6:30 pm McGuire Hall West	Dr. Dale Snow,The High Cost of Money’s Influence on Sports
Wednesday, February 15	6:30 pm Loyola/Notre Dame Library Auditorium	Professor Andrea Giampetro-Meyer, View the filmConcussion, followed by discussion
Thursday, February 16	6:30 pm AWSC 4thFloor Program Room	Dr. Andrew Samuel,Does Competition Foster Corruption? Using Game Theory to Analyze Games

Fall 2016

MTS Lecture Series

Wednesday, September 28

"On Poetry & Prophecy"

Dr. Michael Martin
Assistant Professor of Philosophy & English
Marygrove College

Dr. Martin is currently co-director of the Nancy McDonough Geschke Writing Center at Marygrove. His research interests include 16th and 17th century English literature, religion and literature, religious philosophy, religion and film, phenomenology, Continental philosophy, creative writing, poetry, and Romanticism.

Cohn Hall 133, 4:30 PM

Thursday, October 27

“Drinking and the Virtues”

Dr. Michael Krom
St. Vincent’s PA

Room KH108, 5:00 PM

Tuesday, November 1

“Pope Francis and the Family” 

Fr. John Conley, S. J. 
Loyola University Maryland 

Cohn Hall 133, 7:00 PM

Thursday, November 10

“Law and Ethics: What’s the Difference?”

Rabbi Sam Levine
Touro Law School

KH B03, 5:00 PM

Monday, December 5

“Taste and the Virtues” 

Dr. Margaret Hughes
Mount St. Vincent’s NY

KH B03, 5:00 PM

Sponsored by the Master of Theological Studies Program & Catholic Social Thought
Persons with disabilities who may require special services should contact the Office of Disability Support Services at  410-617-2062 at least 48 hours prior to the event.

Theology on Tap, September & October 2016 edition

Tuesday Sept. 20, 8pm, Graham McAleer will lead a discussion about the theological background to Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien. Dr. McAleer is a professor of Philosophy at Loyola University where he teaches, among other things, a course on the philosophy of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones.

Tuesday Oct. 25, 8pm, Matthew Moser hosts a conversation about Dante’s Comedy. Dr. Moser is a professor of Theology at Loyola and teaches courses in Catholic Literature, the Christian Imagination, and this coming Spring will teach a course on the Theology of the Comedy. 

Ethics Week 2016 - Technology, Business, and Morals

Monday, February 15

"It’s the End of the World and They Know It: How Dystopian Fiction Shapes Political Attitudes"

There has been a dramatic rise in dark, dystopian, politically-laden pop culture (especially in series such as The Hunger Games and Divergent). Why is dystopian fiction so popular today, and what does this say about our beliefs and fears about power in the world today, be it government power, corporate power, or technological power?

Celia Paris (Loyola) & Callie Jones (University of Maryland, College Park) 6:30 pm, McGuire Hall

Tuesday, February 16

Viewing and discussion of Ex Machina

Graham McAleer (Loyola)
6:30 pm, Library auditorium

Wednesday, February 17

"The Making of Mad Men (and Women): Moral Minefields in Predictive Analytics"

Businesses increasingly rely on the use of “big data” to shape marketing campaigns.  Recently, such practices have created a consumer backlash.  This pragmatic failing is partially rooted in a moral one; data mining violates our very conception of personal identity.  

Meghan Page (Loyola)
6:30 pm, McGuire Hall

Thursday, February 18

“Expecto Patronum: the Functions of Technology and techne in Wizarding Education”

Skill and technology in the wizarding world of Harry Potter are not neutral to ethical and political value, but are rather fraught with significance and tension, especially in the realm of wizarding education. From restrictions on underage and dark magic, to the bureaucratic encroachment on defensive magic, the vulnerable (half-bloods), and magically disabled (squibs), magical skill and technology are two parts of what continues to make this series so important for the 21st century imagination.

Dan McClain (Loyola)
6:30 pm, McGuire Hall

2016 Andy Warhol Lecture

Each year Loyola's Committee on Catholic Social Thought invites an artist or commentator to campus to speak on themes dear to Andy Warhol. This year's Andy Warhol Lecture is delivered by Natalie Carnes (Baylor University). 

Tuesday, April 12

"Weeping With Marina: Presence in Art, Image, Christ”

Natalie Carnes (Baylor University)
5:00pm, KHB03.

Students studying modernity, aesthetics, philosophy of religion would all enjoy the lecture which will be high in visual content.  

2015

Spring

Ethics of Luxury: Loyola University Maryland's Ethics Week 2015

Loyola University Maryland’s Ethics Week is an annual series of speakers and presentations around the topic of ethical business and social issues. Now in its sixth year, Ethics Week is a collaborative effort across the University to inspire intellectual curiosity, support thoughtful discussion, and raise awareness about topical ethical issues.

Ethics of Luxury in Contemporary Music
Monday, February 9
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Andrew White Student Center

A student panel will discuss the message of luxury/materialism in contemporary music. Moderated by Michael B. Runnels, J.D., associate professor of law & social responsibility.

Panelists include Patricia Isabel Bryan (WLOY General Manager, Global Studies Major), Nnacheta Iloabanafor (Biology Major, Christian Hip-Hop Artist), Kat O'Brien (WLOY Music Director, Communications Major), Kevin Hattrup (Instructor of Literature and Creative Writing at Calvert Hall, MA in Liberal Studies at Loyola), Michael Watkins Jr. (Communications Major) 

Gone Girl: What Price Are You Willing to Pay for Luxury?
Tuesday, February10
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Library Auditorium

Film viewing and discussion of “Gone Girl,” which raises provocative questions on how the financial collapse of 2008 affects the protagonists in this film. After the film, Graham McAleer, D. Phil., professor of philosophy, will lead the discussion.

The Business of Luxury
Wednesday, February 11
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Location: Andrew White Student Center

A panel discussion about doing business in the luxury market and whether there is a place for justice in luxury experience.  

The University is delighted to host art gallery owner, Myrtis Bedolla, and bespoke luxury travel provider, Rhona Wendler. Moderated by Graham McAleer, professor of philosophy and Dan McClain, professor of theology.

Keynote Address: Can Haute Couture Clothe the Naked? 
Thursday, February 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Andrew White Student Center

Patrick Beldio, a contemporary artist, art theorist, and expert in Indian and Christian religious practices, will discuss the topics of art, beauty, and high fashion, and to what degree they have a role in making the world a more just place.  

Cost/registration information
All Ethics Week events are free and open to the public, no tickets required

Fall

Catholic Social Thought Lecture: Pope Francis & Care of the Earth

Lecture presented by Rev. John Conley, SJ, Francis J. Knott Professor of Philosophy & Theology, Loyola University Maryland 

Thursday, October 1st
4:00 p.m. in Maryland Hall 342

Catholic Social Thought Lecture: Taste and Gallantry

Lecture presented by Madeline Cronin, Affiliate Instructor of Political Science, Loyola University Maryland

Tuesday, October 20th
5:00 p.m. in Knott Hall B01

Catholic Social Thought Lecture: Kant on Taste

Lecture presented by Oliver Thorndike, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland

Monday, November 2nd
5:00 p.m. in Knott Hall B01

Catholic Social Thought Lecture: Business Law and Ethics

Lecture presented by Sam J. Levine, Professor of Law and Director of the Jewish Law Institute, Touro Law Law Center

Wednesday, November 4th
11:30 a.m. in Sellinger Hall 003

Catholic Social Thought Lecture: Leisure v. Work

Lecture presented by Jeff Witt, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland

Tuesday, November 17th
5:00 p.m. in Knott Hall B01

Persons with disabilities who may require special services should contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 410-617-2062 at least 48 hours prior to the event.

Discussion of Pope Francis’s letter on care of the earth, Laudato Si’

2014

Spring

Catholic Social Thought Lectures: 

Prosecutorial Ethics: the Zimmerman Trial
Professor Samuel L. Levine, professor of law and director of the Jewish Law Institute at Touro Law Center
Monday, February 17, 5 p.m. Knott Hall B01

Breaking Bad and the Ethical Life
Professor Thomas Hibbs, dean of the Honors College and distinguished chair of ethics, Baylor College, Texas
Tuesday, March 11, 5 p.m., Knott Hall B01

The Committee of Catholic Social Thought presents: 

Pope Francis and the Return of the Social Gospel: EG 176-258
Presented by Rev. John J Conley is the Henry J. Knott chair of philosophy and theology at Loyola University Maryland
Thursday, March 20, 12:15 p.m., HU 221
The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium pp. 176-258 located on the Vatican website.

Joy and Mercy in Evangelii Gaudium
Presented by Professor Robert Miner, Baylor University
Thursday, April 24, 12:15 p.m., College Center M107
Dr. Robert Miner is a professor of philosophy in the Honors College at Baylor University. His areas of interest include medieval philosophy and early modern philosophy and he has published books such as Thomas Aquinas on the Passions and Truth in the Making.
The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium located on the Vatican website.

Fall

The Loyola’s Committee on Catholic Social Thought invites you to attend any of the events in our speaker series.  The talks will cover a variety of topics related to Catholic Social Thought.

Beauty in the Movies
Presented by Professor Brendan Sammon, St. Joseph’s University
Date: November 3rd at 5 p.m.
Location: KHB03

Business and Criminal Law
Presented by Professor Sam Levine, Tuoro Law School
Date: November 4 at 5 p.m.
Location: KHB01

Kant on Character
Presented by Professor Mavis Biss, Loyola University Maryland
Date: November 13 at 5 p.m.
Location: KH007

Commerce and Christianity
Presented by Professor David Cloutier, Mt. Saint Mary’s, Maryland
Date: December 9 at 5 p.m.
Location: Cohn Hall 133

Pope Francis and the Return of the Social Gospel: EG 176-258 Presented by Rev. John J Conley is the Henry J. Knott chair of philosophy and theology at Loyola University Maryland Thursday, March 20, 12:15 p.m., HU 221 The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium pp. 176-258 located on the Vatican website.

Joy and Mercy in Evangelii Gaudium Presented by Professor Robert Miner, Baylor University Thursday, April 24, 12:15 p.m., College Center M107 Dr. Robert Miner is a professor of philosophy in the Honors College at Baylor University. His areas of interest include medieval philosophy and early modern philosophy and he has published books such as Thomas Aquinas on the Passions and Truth in the Making. The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium located on the Vatican website.

Pope Francis and the Return of the Social Gospel: EG 176-258 Presented by Rev. John J Conley is the Henry J. Knott chair of philosophy and theology at Loyola University Maryland Thursday, March 20, 12:15 p.m., HU 221 The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium pp. 176-258 located on the Vatican website.

Joy and Mercy in Evangelii Gaudium Presented by Professor Robert Miner, Baylor University Thursday, April 24, 12:15 p.m., College Center M107 Dr. Robert Miner is a professor of philosophy in the Honors College at Baylor University. His areas of interest include medieval philosophy and early modern philosophy and he has published books such as Thomas Aquinas on the Passions and Truth in the Making. The discussion is based on Evangelii Gaudium located on the Vatican website.

2013

Department's Philosophy Speaker Series:

John Haldane, St. Andrews University: Moral Realism 
Thursday, September 26th, 4:30 till 6, HUG Lounge.

Lectures sponsored by Loyola's Committee on Catholic Social Thought: 

Brendan Sammon, St. Joseph's University: Beauty and Disability
Thursday October 17th, 5 p.m., Room Knott Hall B03.

Brendan was a student here and gives really fantastic lectures ... a skill learnt from some people here perhaps? Your students will love this lecture, no question. 

John Peck, SJ, Boston College: Giorgio Agamben on the Church in Society 
Thursday, November 14th, at 5 p.m., Knott Hall B03

Professor John W. Peck S.J. studies Theology at Boston College. He earned his Masters in Philosophy at Fordham University and was formerly a Professor in the Philosophy department here at Loyola University. He is fluent in Italian and interested in the Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben.  John's earlier essay on this topic has just been accepted at Gregorianum. 

Patrick Beldio, artist,  Warhol's Last Supper" Can Art Feed the Hungry?
Thursday, November 21, at 5 p.m., Maryland Hall 440

Patrick Beldio earned his Masters Degree in Fine Arts in sculpture from the George Washington University, and a Masters in Catholic theology from the Washington Theological Union in DC. His artwork is in private and public collections across the United States. 

2012

Philosophy Speaker Series

Luxury and Commerce: What Does Christian Social Theory Think? 
Cohn Hall 133 Wed. Oct. 24 @ 5 p.m.
David Cloutier, Mt. St. Mary's, Maryland.

Commerce in the Thinking of Benedict XVI
KH B01 Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at @ 5 p.m.
Brian Benestad, Scranton University.

White Collar Crime and Jurisprudence
KH B03 Wed. Nov. 7 @ 5 p.m.
Rabbi Sam Levine, Tuoro Law School.

Viewing and discussion of Will Smith film The Pursuit of Happyness.
Wed. Nov. 14@ 7:00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Knott Hall B03.
Graham McAleer, Loyola.

Discussion of Will Smith film The Pursuit of Happyness
Sellinger VIP Lounge Thurs. Nov. 15 @ 5 p.m.
Thomas Hibbs, Baylor.

Seminar with the topic Divine Irony: Pascal on Faith and Reason
College Center 107. Friday Nov. 16 @ 3:00 p.m. -4.30 p.m.
Thomas Hibbs, Dean of the Humanities College, Baylor University, Texas.

2011

Catholic Social Thought Lectures: 

Kant on Suicide and the Unforsakeable
Tues. Mar. 1, 2011 @ 7 p.m.  4th Floor Programming Room
Dr. Eric Wilson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Georgia State University

2008

Festival of Philosophers

Feb 19th @ 5 p.m. in KH 801: Jon Jacobs (Colgate University) on Hume and commerce

Feb. 21st @ 5 p.m. in 4th Floor Programming Room: Nick Zunic (Waterloo University) on Scheler and love

March 11th @ 5 p.m. in 4th Floor Programming Room: Sam Levine (Pepperdine Law) on Jewish ethics and law

March 12th @ 5 p.m. in KH B03: Fr. John Conley (Loyola) on Regensburg

March 31st @ 5 p.m. (place TBA): Chantal Del Sol (University of Paris) on de Tocqueville

April 8th @ 5 p.m. in College Center 113/14: John Kekes and Jon Jacobs

A not-to-be-missed event: This ethics forum brings together two very well published moral philosophers. Each will speak for about ten minutes, especially about John Kekes's work, The Illusions of Egalitarianism, and then take questions from the floor about equality, evil, and ethics in general. This should be a superb debate/ discussion.

April 9th @ 12 p.m. in Sellinger 101a: Richard Blum (Loyola) on Regensburg

April 11th @ 3:30 p.m. in Conference Room 105: John Crosby (Franciscan University) on personalism