Left to right: Fr. Ambrose Little, OP, assistant director of the Thomistic Institute and assistant professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies; Charles Zola, assistant to the president for Mission Integration, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute; Evan Merkhofer, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and associate professor of Biology; and Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Interim President of the Mount.
Dozens of scholars from around the country and beyond explored the wisdom of 13th century Dominican friar St. Thomas Aquinas at the 13th Annual Philosophy Workshop hosted at Mount Saint Mary College from May 29 to June 2.
The theme of this year’s workshop was “Aquinas on Divine Simplicity.” The event combined presentations by philosophers with panel discussions and debate sessions, and included participants from France, Ireland, Korea, and China.
The workshop was co-sponsored by the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute and the Thomistic Institute at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
The scholars were welcomed to the conference by Charles Zola, assistant to the president for Mission Integration, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute; Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Interim President of the Mount; Evan Merkhofer, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and associate professor of Biology; and Fr. Ambrose Little, OP, assistant director of the Thomistic Institute and assistant professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
Since its inception more than a dozen years ago, the Aquinas Workshop has become “the preeminent event of its kind, drawing scholars from around the globe,” Zola explained. “It inspires great debate, advances research, and fosters community among those individuals studying these topics. We are honored to play host to this academic event at Mount Saint Mary College.”
This year’s presenters included Jeff Brower of Perdue University; Gregory Doolan of The Catholic University of America; W. Matthews Grant of the University of St. Thomas, MN.; Michael Gorman of the Catholic University of America; Joshua Hochschild of Mount Saint Mary’s University; Sr. Anna Wray, OP of The Catholic University of America; and Fr. James Brent, OP, of the Dominican House of Studies.
The Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute promotes the Mount’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue. The Institute welcomes persons of varied faiths and acknowledges different religious traditions as essential to the college’s intellectual and spiritual life.
In addition to the annual philosophy workshop, the Catholic and Dominican Institute arranges free, public lectures at the college throughout the academic year.