The University Honors Program is sponsoring the Odyssey of Freedom lecture series under a grant from the Templeton Foundation Freedom Project.
The lectures coincide with a three quarter sequence of courses but the students do not need to take all three courses. In addition, the lectures are open to any student even if the student is not in the Honors Program or the course.
The first lecture was titled “Thomas Hobbes’ Understanding of Freedom” and Professor Timothy Fuller from Colorado College spoke to students. Fuller, a political theorist, touched on many issues throughout the evening including Hobbes’ understanding of freedom and the rule of law. A total of 19 people attended the lecture, which included both faculty and students.
Todd Breyfogle, director of the University Honors Program, stated, “In our present circumstances, reflection on the meaning and responsibilities of freedom are more important than ever. Students in the course and those who attend the lectures will have the opportunity to think critically about what freedom is, its preconditions, its opportunities and the demands it places upon us as rational and moral beings.”
Upcoming lectures focus on a variety of topics and include Robert McMahon from Louisiana State University speaking on “Love, Lust and the Spirit of Liberty in Dante’s Divine Comedy,” Peter Burnell from the University of Saskatchewan speaking on “Freedom and the Problem of Evil in St. Augustine and Albert Camus.” Both will be held in February.
In the spring, Norma Thompson from Yale University will be discussing “Tocqueville and American Literature” and Peter Berkowitz from the George Mason University School of Law will be speaking about the legacy of Stuart Mill. After each presentation there is significant time for questions and answers from the audience as well as informal discussions.
In addition, small group lunches will be arranged so that interested students and faculty can discuss topics with the guests. The lecture series will continue into the spring quarter since the Templeton grant extends to the end of the academic year.
“My hope is that the Honors Program will become a regular forum for these sorts of discussions and for the interaction of students and faculty with distinguished visiting guests,” stated Breyfogle.
