Maritain on Democracy: Promise and Peril and Commemorating the 750th Anniversary of St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas

Thursday, April 11 to Saturday, April 13, 2024
Hosted by St. Bernard’s School of Theology, Rochester, NY

Jacques Maritain once observed that “the tragedy of modern democracies is that they have not yet succeeded in realizing democracy.” He understood that because democracy “has arisen in human history as a temporal manifestation of the inspiration of the Gospel,” it is the best political vehicle for realizing the common good of persons. Nevertheless, he also knew that in many of its historical manifestations, a “delusive” and “anarchic” democracy acts instead as the greatest impediment to the common good.

The gulf separating the ideal of democracy from its concrete practice in the contemporary world continues to be a problem inviting philosophical reflection. We invite papers considering Maritain’s analysis of democracy (including, too, the work of his students, such as Yves Simon and Mortimer Adler) in both its promise for advancing the human person, and its peril in inculcating a materialistic relativism. We also welcome papers approaching these problems from any philosophical perspective that complements and enriches our understanding of the issues.

We also invite papers on a secondary theme. This conference coincides with the 750th anniversary of the deaths of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure in 1274. These “two glorious doctors…illustrious teachers…with surpassing genius,” in the words of Leo XIII’s Aeterni Patris, remain touchstones of the Catholic philosophical and theological tradition. Any paper considering their achievement and continued influence is welcome.

The plenary sessions will reflect the dual theme of the conference. Celebrating the work of St. Bonaventure will be Junius Johnson (Executive Director, Junius Johnson Academics) and Timothy Noone (Catholic University of America). Addressing the issue of democracy will be David J. Walsh (Catholic University of America) and Russell Hittinger (Catholic University of America, University of Tulsa, and the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology).

For information about submissions, see the full flyer here.

The  American Maritain Association has reserved a block of rooms at the conference hotel for April 11 through April 14, 2024. The conference rate is $129/night.

The hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Rochester, 1111 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623.

Booking your room is simple. Just follow this link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/rocdtdt-ama-003b29b3-89d1-455f-a696-54c851128a91/

All sessions will be at St. Bernard’s, but there will be a shuttle service  from the hotel to the campus (about 5 miles or 10-12 minute ride).