FOUNDATIONS OF CONSERVATISM SEMINAR

about the seminar

We’re all aware of conservatism as a political movement. But what is (and what has been) conservatism as a political and social philosophy? In what ways is contemporary conservatism similar to and different from its British and American foundations? This seminar will explore some of the historical and philosophical foundations of conservatism, with an emphasis on the history of ideas, through Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot.

Fee: $3 per meeting

meetings: May 15 – October 29, 2020

You are welcome to join mid-seminar, though some catch-up work may be recommended. Meetings will be discussion-driven. We will meet bi-weekly on Thursdays at 7pm CT for 60-90 minutes. There will be no more than 25 pages of reading per week.

about you

No particular education, professional background, or political affiliation is required. Whether you are a liberal seeking to better understand your political adversaries, a conservative wanting to uncover your roots, or not so aligned and want to explore the history ideas, you are very welcome to join.

the facilitator

Chris Damian received his B.A. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. and M.A. in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas. He was a participant in the Intercollegiate Studies Institute Honors Program and has been a fellow for the St. Thomas Department of Catholic Studies and the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Public Policy.