³Ô¹ÏÍø

Aquinas Lecture

The Aquinas Lecture

Aquinas MedalSince 1982, the Philosophy Department has hosted an annual Aquinas Lecture. In the spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas himself, the goal of the lecture series is to develop contemporary Catholic thought in close dialogue with the tradition—above all, of course, with Aquinas’s own work. The speakers invited have covered a broad spectrum of Thomism, some attempting to defend traditional teachings against contemporary challenges, others endeavoring to develop Thomism in more of a give and take with current ideas. One important feature of the Aquinas Lecture has to do with the events surrounding it: the Aquinas Lecturer is usually invited to stay in Irving for a few days, teach a seminar on a text of his or her choice, share meals with faculty, and speak informally with students. This creates the opportunity for the community to engage in a genuine exchange, rather than just listening to an individual lecture. The Aquinas Lecture and most of the events associated with it are open to the general public.

The list of Aquinas Lecturers who have addressed the university community over the past thirty years (and been awarded our beautiful Aquinas Medal) is long and impressive:

Aquinas Lecturers

  • 2024 Philipp Rosemann
  • 2023 David Walsh
  • 2019 John P. O'Callaghan
  • 2018 Linda Zagzebski
  • 2017 Holger Zaborowski
  • 2016 Eileen Sweeney
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012 Eleonore Stump
  • 2011 Robert P. George
  • 2010 William Desmond
  • 2009 Thomas Hibbs
  • 2008 Alain de Libera
  • 2007 Timothy B. Noone
  • 2006 John Milbank
  • 2005 Jan Aertsen
  • 2004 Merold Westphal
  • 2003 Sr. Prudence Allen, R.S.M.
  • 2002 Jorge J. E. Gracia
  • 2001 John Haldane
  • 2000 Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C.
  • 1999 Kenneth Schmitz, John Caputo, Ralph McInerny
  • 1998 Jean-Luc Marion
  • 1997 Thomas Langan
  • 1996 Jude Dougherty
  • 1995 Rev. Norris Clarke, S.J.
  • 1994 Alfred J. Freddoso
  • 1993 Louis Dupré
  • 1992 Msgr. John F. Wippel
  • 1991 Alasdair MacIntyre
  • 1990 Ralph McInerny
  • 1989 Rev. Benedict Ashley, O.P.
  • 1988 Kenneth Schmitz
  • 1987 Msgr. Robert Sokolowski
  • 1986 Edmund Pellegrino
  • 1985 Rev. Joseph Owens, C.SS.R.
  • 1984 John Caputo
  • 1983 Rev. William Wallace, O.P.

Since 2013, our Aquinas Lecture is published in handsome booklets by St. Augustine’s Press. To order copies, please click on the names of the Aquinas Lecturers in the list above.