14
We explore the larger issues of our day
11
of beauty, truth, justice and duty
08
We promote thoughtful discussion
03
mutual respect and the joy of discovery
02
We invite the intellectually curious student
01
to think well about the meaning of life
 

 

Cogito Reading Groups

The Brothers Karamazov

Read Dostoevsky’s classic book with Dr. Adam Blincoe, Honors Faculty Scholar at Longwood University. According to Dr. Blincoe, The Brothers Karamazov treats themes of great substance with even greater profundity: sin, suffering, forgiveness, mercy, religious commitment, the problem of evil, atheism, the rationality of belief, the power of love in the face of suffering, and the nature of good and evil, but (in the words of the translator) above all it is a book about joy. The group meets Wednesdays at either 10am or 4pm (there are two options) in the honors lounge on the first floor of Stevens Hall on Longwood’s campus. For more details, contact Dr. Blincoe at blincoeam@longwood.edu.

Just War Theory

Under what conditions can a nation rightly engage in war? Do questionable means justify worthy ends? If so, how questionable? How worthy? Christians and others have been asking these questions and disagreeing on the answers for over 2000 years. Starting with St. Augustine, who formulated one of the earliest criteria for thinking about just war, this group will consider a variety of viewpoints from H. Richard and Reinhold Niebuhr, Leo Tolstoy and Stanley Hauerwas. We will end with Samantha Powers on the obligations of power found in Genocide: A Problem from Hell. This is an advanced group. There will be outside reading and students will be presenting the material. Participants will be expected to share their conclusions at the end of the study.
Meets two different times:  Wednesdays 5:00-6:00, South room of Commons.  Second group is at 3:00-4:00 4th Floor Bortz. For more information contact Director Missy DeRegibus at missyd57gmail.com

 

Anselm’s Circle

This study group seeks to systematically explore many of the big questions of faith and life, such as:

  • Do faith and reason conflict?
  • Does God exist?
  • Was Jesus more than a man?
  • Are the claims of Christianity arrogant?
  • What about the problem of evil?
  • And the perennial question, if you were a brain in a vat, could you know?

This study begins in the spring and meets one hour a week. WARNING: this study is not for the faint-hearted. However, it is open to big thinkers of all (or no) faith positions, and is truly a discussion group. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, for those who like this sort of thing, it is just the kind of study they would love! Because of the systematic, cumulative and challenging nature of this discussion, it is closed after the first few sessions.