About Thomistic Institute at UC Berkeley
The Thomistic institute chapter at Berkeley organizes reading groups, public lectures, debates, seminars and retreats based on the medieval intellectual tradition through the works of St. Thomas Aquinas. We seek to collectively engage students and faculty across various disciplines on campus through facilitating academic discussions on Aquinas’ philosophy and theology.
Who was St. Thomas Aquinas?
St. Thomas Aquinas was Dominican Friar who lived during the Medieval Period. The philosophical system adopted by St. Thomas was that of the great Ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle. Aquinas's magnum opus is the Summa Theologiae, a series of systematic writing on topics pertaining to God and Creation, the virtues, and the person of Jesus Christ and the sacraments.
Intellectual Retreats
The TI chapter hosts a few retreats a year and are typically held at the House of Studies for the Western Dominican Province, St. Albert the Great Priory.
Guest Lectures
TI will invite speakers to give lectures on particular topics that are open to the general public. The lectures are recorded and posted on the main Thomistic Institute's podcast.