Dr. Christopher Kaczor, a philosophy professor from Loyola Marymount University, delivered a lecture titled “Erotic Love, Deep Friendship and Heavenly Happiness.” Brought by the Baylor Thomistic Institute to “promote Catholic truth in the contemporary university.” Kaczor’s talk examined how becoming a parent reshapes one’s life and relationships through classical philosophy, scripture and personal experience.
Browsing: Philosophy
The polymath archetype is nothing new and has not gone anywhere. The arts, sciences and understanding of the human person dictate our collegiate and professional studies today, and in many cases produce scholars who fit the description. But who are these polymaths, and where can we find them?
There are heroes and villains in this world. Russia and other totalitarian states are embroiled in corruption, countless unreported atrocities and general malpractice. We are right to distance ourselves from such antagonistic powers. But does knowing what makes a nation not good mean that we embody — let alone know — what makes one good?
Seventy years ago in the fall of 1954, the dream that was Tidwell Bible Building came to fruition and was completed. Since then, thousands upon thousands of students have made their way through the building’s halls and classrooms, becoming a part of Baylor’s long legacy of scholars.
For 1,000 years, Boethius’ book — “The Consolation of Philosophy” — was the second most-read book in the world behind the Bible since his death in A.D. 524, Murray said. However, in the past few centuries, fewer and fewer people have read it, and as a result, fewer people remember who Boethius was.
No one is excluded from questioning how to live well, and Great Texts prepares you to answer.
I believe that God did not give everyone the drive they needed to achieve what they wanted. Not everyone has the drive to work hard to pursue their dreams. The drive to push distractions aside with no hesitation. The drive to risk everything to make sure the world is shaped the way they envision. Some people are OK with having other people tell them what they’re supposed to do in life, but how can someone go on their own path if they’re too busy listening to others?
What do ancient Greek figures such as Phaethon and Arachne have to do with us today, and why should we pay attention to the lessons they learned? These are the questions that Emmy-nominated film producer and Baylor professor SJ Murray seeks to answer in her newly-founded nonprofit, “The Greats Story Lab.”
It’s natural to be stubborn when you’ve had an opinion for a long time. That being said, I implore nonreligious students to at least try a more in-depth religious course. You could truly learn new things and see the world from a different point of view.
So, if you’re looking for something to break the cycle and add a bright spot during your week this Spring semester, you’re in the right place. Here are some of the most interesting undergraduate classes you can take in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Spring of 2024.
How should we address these types of controversial questions? We need to be able to create safe spaces for these discussions. That means acknowledging that everyone’s experiences are valid, recognizing that their political philosophy does not determine their worth as a human being and using respectful rhetoric.
“The Great Texts major offers an apprenticeship in the long conversation — from the ancients to the present — about the most practical and important questions informing daily life and intellectual inquiry in the modern world,” Donnelly said.
Following in the footsteps of figures like Plato and Aristotle, the field of philosophy has historically been a male-dominated area of education. At Baylor alone, only three out of the 13 full-time faculty members are women.
Some people think majoring in philosophy is impractical, but others believe there are hidden benefits.
“A great myth of our day is that philosophy does not lead to a high paying position,” said Dr. Todd Buras, associate professor of religion.