Author: Kleiner

Associate Vice Provost and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Utah State University. I teach across the curriculum, but am most interested in continental philosophy, ancient and medieval philosophy as well as Catholic thought, all of which might be summed up as an interest in the ressourcement tradition (returning in order to make progress). I also enjoy spending time thinking about liberal education and its ends.

Upcoming talk of interest

USU’s Intercollegiate Studies Institute is sponsoring a lecture this week that should interest USU philosophers.  Thaddeus Kozinski, Dean of Wyoming Catholic College, will be presenting on “Real Conservatism: Guardini, Girard, and Apocalypse”.  Wednesday, April 19, 4pm in Huntsman Hall 130.

His most recent book might be of interest as well, The Political Problem of Religious Pluralism and Why Philosophers Can’t Solve It.

Intercollegiate Studies Institute

USU Philosophy was well represented at the “The Roots of American Constitutionalism” – Intercollegiate Studies Institute conference over the weekend.  We spent the weekend discussing federalism and anti-federalism, as well as what must lie behind constitutional order (virtue, liberal education, etc).

ISI is dedicated to a robust investigation of the core ideas and great books that are behind the American founding and western civilization more generally, the sort of thing one is unlikely to get at universities today.  It is intellectually conservative in bent, but is a big tent and encourages dissent (several times throughout the conference, faculty implored students to disagree with them).  ISI has chapters across the country, including our new ISI “CS Lewis Society” chapter.  We do book clubs and discussions locally (books and dinners provided by ISI), and then students can take advantage of all expense paid conferences and honors programs that focus on great ideas and leadership (networking, etc) — typically at really nice hotels with exceptional faculty (myself excluded).  Contact Dr Kleiner if you are interested.

Our esteemed group from this weekend, from left to right: Catherina Aust, Richard Sherlock, Gavin Mill, Jennifer Burris, Jonathan Toronto, Millie Tullis, Chase Robbins, Taylor Wyatt, Harrison Kleiner, Emma Wright

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Philosophy Club Lecture

Thursday, Feb 16, 4:30pm in RWST 113

We will have a visiting scholar – R.J. Snell – on campus this Thursday.  He will be presenting on a 2oth century philosopher named Bernard Lonergan.  Though Lonergan is under-read these days, he was quite famous in his time (Time Magazine ran a feature on him in the 1970s, calling him the finest philosophical thinker of the 20th century).  Dr Snell will introduce us to Lonergan, what he had to say, and why he is significant.

His talk will be called, “Authentic Subjectivity is Genuine Objectivity: Self-Knowledge and the Hope of Philosophy.”

All are welcome!

 

Theology on Tap

A former USU philosophy student is part of a group who has organized a weekly “Theology on Tap”.  It is open to all denominations and indeed open to believers and non-believers alike.

This week the topic is, “Is There Evidence for God?”

Theology on Tap – Logan

Beehive Pub and Grill (255 S Main St, Logan)

Tuesdays, 6:30pm