In Need of Fresh Air

The unique contribution of Catholic social thought to the current political debate

With Prof. V. Bradley LEWIS, Associate Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, and
R. R. RENO, Editor, First Things

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Center, First Things and The Catholic Center at NYU

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with the political class, trust in the possibilities of politics has been historically high for some time. Among educated people, it manifests itself as the common belief that, if only politicians could get their act together, most social problems could be solved by applying the correct policy solutions. Few people seem to think that there may be fundamental cultural or educational problems that escape the grasp of technical-political expertise. For others, politics is also a vehicle to advance social justice, fight privilege, eliminate all unjust discrimination, etc... Many ordinary people, on the other hand, feel betrayed and abandoned by the political system. But also some extreme anti-political reactions seem to share somehow in an excessive faith in politics, except that in that case political un-realism expresses itself as wholesale rejection of the "system" and the quest for a "political savior from politics." Like all reactions, this one is also ultimately sterile.

We would like to ask two distinguished Catholic intellectuals what can be the distinctive Catholic contribution to finding a proper and balanced place for politics in our national life. Catholic political thought and the social doctrine of the Church have a distinguished tradition of opposing utopianism and perfectism, of recognizing the limited goals of political action and at the same time of giving politics its necessary role in the life of society. Can this tradition be brought to bear on some of our current debates?

The event is free and open to the public.

About this Event

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: The Catholic Center at New York University
238 Thompson Street, New York
map

About the Speakers

V. Bradley Lewis
Associate Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America

R. R. Reno
Editor of First Things

Invitation

Download the invitation.

Video

R. R. Reno
V. Bradley Lewis
Q&A Part I
Q&A Part II

Transcript

Read Prof. Bradley Lewis's presentation

Photos - click on image below