As a preview of next year’s series on the common good, Thomas Mengler, dean of the School of Law, will present a talk on law and the common good from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in Room 201, John R. Roach Center for the Liberal Arts.
The Office for Mission will sponsor Mengler’s talk as well as a new series, “The Common Good” Ethics Colloquium, which will begin next fall.
Mengler will be referencing "Vocation of the Business Leader," just released by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, as well as "A Vatican document to make Socrates proud," and offering suggestions about how a Catholic university can encourage its students to view their lives in vocational terms.
Central to the mission of the University of St. Thomas is the education of students to be “morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.” The purpose of this colloquium is to provide an ongoing forum for faculty and staff at the university to discuss in greater depth the nature and meaning of the “common good” and how it might be advanced, and in so doing assist the university in fulfilling its mission.
The colloquium will meet regularly throughout the fall and spring terms, typically once a month. The typical session will focus on the presentation of a paper or project (either completed or a “work-in-progress”) on an ethical topic or issue that in some way raises questions about the common good. Whenever possible, one member of the colloquium will offer a brief “response” to the paper or project. General discussion will follow.
Colloquium co-directors are Dr. Paul Wojda, Theology, and Dr. Steve Laumakis, Philosophy. Those who plan to attend Thursday's talk are asked to email Laumakis in order to get a count for snacks and refresments.
