virtue
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Why Education Still Needs Institutions
From Experiment to Institution: a reflection on the Lyceum’s Journey and Future. Recent years have seen a rapid decline amongst Americans in the perceived value of a college education. Earlier this month, Gallup reported that, compared to 70 percent in 2013, now only 31 percent of Americans consider a college education “very important”. Does this…
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On the Effects of Curiosity
Do you want to know “what is happening”? Cannot resist peeking behind that curtain, over that fence, clicking that link? Join our Philosophical Happy Hour in this member-led discussion of curiosity. Curiosity Aristotle starts his Metaphysics with the claim that “All men naturally desire knowledge.” (1.1.1.980a21-2, Tredenick Translation). To modern eyes he seems to be…
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The Common Good and the Toleration of Evil
Pornography, prostitution, gambling, capital punishment, slavery: each seems somehow evil, and yet—at one time or another—each has been tolerated by governments. Do these tolerations violate the common good? Our Philosophical Happy Hour takes up the unhappy question. How do we live rightly as members of a society when that society is permeated by evils? There…
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For the Love of Wisdom
What makes a human being “wise”? What is “wisdom”? Why is it important? In an age of passionate reaction, it seems a virtue all too scarce, and most notably absent from those who govern. Join our Philosophical Happy Hour to discuss its nature and pursuit. We have more knowledge, expertise, and access to information today…
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On the Balance of Work and Study
How can we make time and space in our busy—and seemingly ever busier—lives for the life of the mind? Join our Philosophical Happy Hour this week as we strive together for a more balanced way of life. For much of human history, the life of the mind has been a domain of the privileged few—reserved,…
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On Imperfection and Error
Why is life imperfect? Why are human beings so deeply flawed? This week’s Philosophical Happy Hour looks at the imperfections and errors that characterize life—both those given to nature and those produced by our own choices. To err is to be human. Is this a maxim for forgiveness or to excuse our follies? In some…
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Humility: Wellspring of Virtue, or Cowardice in Disguise?
A Philosophical Happy Hour on the nature of humility and its status in contemporary society. What is Humility? For reasons personal, professional, and perhaps preposterous, I’m attempting to learn French. However, I must confess: I am having a rough go of it. Though I’ve a bit of a knack for picking up languages, I nonetheless…
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Lecutre: Self-Sufficiency of Happiness in the Nicomachean Ethics
In 2024, the Lyceum Institute this thoughtful interpretation of a perennial difficulty in interpreting Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, presented by Joseph M. Cherny, PhD Candidate at the Center for Thomistic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. Mr. Cherny asks: how is happiness self-sufficient? Does it find fulfillment in one good, or a…