Thirteenth-Century Debates on Human Freedom

Summer Seminar of the Institute of Dominican Studies 

Thirteenth-century philosophers and theologians intensely debated the nature of human freedom, and their insights had an immense impact on competing modern conceptions of human liberty and autonomy. What conditions human willing, and how does it relate to reason, or to divine grace? To what extent does our willing depend on what we consider good or bad? Can God act directly on the will, and if so, are we still free?

An ideal way to engage such questions is from a historical and interdisciplinary perspective, both philosophical and theological. This summer seminar will walk advanced undergraduate students, graduate students and postdocs of various disciplines with a serious interest in medieval thought through classic texts by three of the most influential medieval thinkers: Thomas Aquinas, Henry of Ghent and John Duns Scotus.

  July, 3-7 2024

 
Schloss St Emmeram, Regensburg, Germany

 Registration needed

• Information

  When
  July, 3-7 2024

  Where
  Schloss St Emmeram, Regensburg, Germany

  Language
  Interventions in English

  Principal Organizer
  Institutum Studiorum dominicanorum, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

  Co-sponsors
  Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome
  Thomistic Institute, Washington, D.C.

  Additional Sponsors
  Forum Alberus Magnus
  McDonald Agape Foundation

  Registration
  Those wishing to attend should apply for acceptance no later than March 15^th, 2024.

• Registration conditions and details

  Registration
  Those wishing to attend should apply for acceptance, by sending their CV as well as a statement of interest explaining why they would like to participate in this program, no later than March 15^th, 2024 
  The number of participants is limited to 20 scholars.
  Registration Form

  Participation fees
  Lodging and most meals are provided by the event organizer and sponsors.
  Participants are asked to fund their travel to and from Regensburg, and some meals.
  The total cost is €60 per participant for the full conference.
  There is no registration fee.

  Further information
  Readings of the three main medieval thinkers will be provided in advance, to encourage a seminar format.
  The event includes the possibility of attending daily Mass.

• Speakers

  Prof. Bernhard Blankenhorn, OP (University of Fribourg)

  Prof. Tobias Hoffmann (Sorbonne)

  Dr. Albert von Thurn und Taxis (Angelicum, Rome)