Catholic liberal education in Santa Paula, California
Thomas Aquinas College Lectures & Talks
“‘The great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open': The Baby and the Book in Dante's Divine Comedy and Melville's Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale”, a lecture by Dr. Elizabeth Reyes (Thomas Aquinas College, California). Given on August 28, 2026, as part of the 2026-27 St. Vincent de Paul Lecture & Concert Series.
“Sapientis est Ordinare: Order in the Thomas Aquinas College Curriculum,” a lecture by Dr. Josef C. Froula (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Given on August 28, 2026, as part of the 2026-27 St. Vincent de Paul Lecture & Concert Series.
“The Presence of the Spirit Overcomes All Barriers”, a homily by His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley, Archbishop Emeritus of Boston. Given at Convocation 2026, Thomas Aquinas College, New England.
“We are Called to Be Protectors”, remarks by His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley, Archbishop Emeritus of Boston. Given at Convocation 2026, Thomas Aquinas College, New England.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
How should we understand artificial intelligence, and what place should it have in a genuinely human future? Held at Thomas Aquinas College August 3–6, 2026, The Mind and the Machine brought together philosophers, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to examine artificial intelligence through the perennial questions of the Western intellectual and Catholic traditions. Across lectures, seminars, and panel discussions, speakers explored whether machines can truly reason or become conscious, the promises and dangers of artificial general intelligence, the distinction between intelligence and wisdom, and the implications of AI for human freedom, education, work, faith, and flourishing. Rather than asking only what increasingly powerful machines can do, the symposium returned to a more fundamental question: What is the human person, and what constitutes a truly good human life? The talks examine AI not simply as a technological development, but as an occasion to reconsider reason, virtue, freedom, judgment, wisdom, and the purpose of education. This playlist contains the lectures and conversations from The Mind and the Machine, offering perspectives ranging from optimism about AI as a powerful intellectual tool to serious warnings about its potential to reshape human society and our understanding of ourselves.
“The Problem of Bread: Art and Nature in Thomas's Ontology of Artifacts” by Matthew Lomanno (University of St. Thomas, Houston). Presented at the Thomas Aquinas College 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Metaphysics of Peace” by LTC Joshua Lehman (United States Military Academy). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Theology as a Guide to Aquinas's Cognitive Philosophy” by Benjamin Augros (Baylor University). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Ways of Seeing: Experience of Lower Methods as Prior to Divine Science” by Dr. John McCarthy (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Thomas Aquinas's Philosophical Doctrine of Creation” by Dr. Brandon Zimmerman (University of St. Thomas, Houston). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Plotinus: Omnipresence and Transcendence of the One in VI 5 [23]” by Rev. Gary Gurtler, S.J. (Boston College). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Two Distinctions of the Same Realities: Movement and Activity vs. Transitive and Immanent Action” by Dr. John Francis Nieto (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Aquinas on Simplicity and Analogy: A Problem in Natural Theology” by Rev. David Paternostro, S.J. (Creighton University). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Privatizing the Good: The Metaphysical Roots of Envy in St. Thomas Aquinas” by Dr. Michael Wahl (Providence College). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“‘Let One the Ruler Be, One the King': The Many Gods of Aristotle's XII.8” by Dr. Joshua Lo (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“The Treatise on the Divine Essence within Sacra Doctrina: Its Importance and its Properly Theological Character” by Dr. John O'Neill (Holy Apostles College and Seminary). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“The Order of the Universe as the Greatest Good Intrinsic to It” by Dr. Daniel Gutschke (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Substance and Form in Human Being” by Dr. Herbert Hartmann (Lyceum Institute). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Aquinas in the Western Tradition of Divine Simplicity” by Dr. Brett Smith (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Hans Urs von Balthasar and St. Thomas Aquinas on Divine Suffering and Theological Predication,” by Dr. Taylor O'Neill (Thomas Aquinas College, New England). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“How to Start Metaphysics,” by Dr. R. Glen Coughlin (Thomas Aquinas College, California). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“Analogica Entis, Abstraction via Seperatio, and the Subject Matter of Metaphysics,” by Dr. Steven Long (Ave Maria University). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
“St. Thomas the Hopeful Romantic,” by Dr. Michael Pakaluk (The Catholic University of America). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
"A Fractured Mirror? Multiplicity and Intellection in Aquinas's Account of Eucharistic Presence," by Rev. Reginald Lynch, O.P. (Blackfriars, Oxford). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2026 Thomistic Summer Conference.
"The Sky Upholds the Earth", by Rev. Andrew M. Beauregard, F.P.C. Vocations Director, Franciscans of the Poor Christ Baccalaureate Mass of the Holy Spirit Commencement 2026 Thomas Aquinas College, New England
Class Speaker Liam O'Brien's Address to the Thomas Aquinas College, New England, Class of 2026: “The Madness of Our Chase for Wisdom” (May 23, 2026)
Dr. Gavin Ashenden's Address to the Thomas Aquinas College, New England, Class of 2026: "Smugglers" (May 23, 2026)
“Become Peacemakers in an Age of Confusion” by The Honorable Brian F. Burch II United States Ambassador to the Holy See Commencement 2026 Thomas Aquinas College, California
“This Wisdom Is a Grasping of God; Its Fruit Love and Joy” by Gregory Haggard (CA'26) Senior Address Commencement 2026 Thomas Aquinas College, California
“No Other End than the Truth Itself” by Thomas Aquinas College Lectures & Talks
“Music of the Triduum”, a concert performed by the Thomas Aquinas College, New England Choir & Orchestra on April 16, 2026, as part of the 2025-26 St. Vincent de Paul Lecture & Concert Series. Choir and orchestra organized and conducted by Matthew Santos (NE'26). - 00:11 — “Adagio for Strings in G Minor” | Albinoni - 07:03 — “Stabat Mater” | Pergolesli - 11:11 — “Ave Verum Corpus” | Mozart - 14:19 — St. John's Passion, BWV 245, No. 39, Chorus: “Ruht Wohl” | Bach - 24:21 — Membra Jesu Nostri, No. 3: “Ad Manus” | Buxtehude | Soloists: Rose Reilly (NE'27), Helena Krestyn - 34:32 — Membra Jesu Nostri, No. 7: “Ad Faciem” | Buxtehude - 43:02 — Easter Oratorio, BWV 249, Chorus: “Kommt Eilet und Laufet” | Bach | Soloists: Samuel Livingston (NE'26), William Rosa (NE'27) - 48:14 — Christ Lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4, Versus 2: “Den Tod Niemand Zwingen Kunnt” | Bach | Soloists: Maureen Shields (CA'30), Eleanor Stoutz (NE'26) - 52:13 — “The Messiah”, Part 2, No. 44: “Hallelujah” | Handel - 56:24 — “The Messiah”, Part 3, No. 53A: “Worthy Is the Lamb” | Handel
In the latest installation of the St. Vincent de Paul Lecture Series, Thomas Aquinas College, California, welcomed Rev. Dr. Isaac Morales, O.P., Associate Professor of Theology at Providence College in Rhode Island. His lecture, titled “The Bible and Baptism,” was given on March 20, 2026.
"Thucydides as a Philosopher", a Tutor Talk given by tutor Dr. John McCarthy at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, on March 18, 2026.
"Thucydides as a Philosopher", a Tutor Talk given by tutor Dr. John McCarthy at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, on March 18, 2026.
Dr. John Nieto ('89), a tutor at Thomas Aquinas College, California, gave this informal talk on wisdom to the men of campus in St. Peter & Paul's Hall on February 27. 2026.
"Rational Mind and Non-Rational Agency: Aquinas' Augustinian Account of the Sinning Will & the Hierarchy of the Soul", a lecture given by Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, on February 27, 2026. Part of Thomas Aquinas College's St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series.
Dr. Adam Seagrave ('05) gives the annual President's Day lecture at Thomas Aquinas College, California, on February 20, 2026, entitled “God Willing: How the Idea of Divine Providence Shaped the Careers of John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and Abraham Lincoln”.
"Foreign Policy Principles Underlining the Constitution" by Dr. Thomas West of Hillsdale College. Given for President's Day 2026 at Thomas Aquinas College, New England.
Can artificial intelligence really think, understand, or know anything at all? And if not, what does our relationship with AI reveal about who we are as human beings? In this tenth and final episode of The Mind and the Machine: Aquinas on AI, philosopher Dr. Michael Augros (Thomas Aquinas College) brings the series to a close by exploring the deeper human and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Building on the conclusions of the previous nine videos, this episode argues that AI does not truly think, understand, or perform any real cognitive act. From there, it asks five crucial follow-up questions that shape how we should live with and use AI: • How should we talk about what AI does? • Are human beings superior or inferior to AI? • Is AI a tool, assistant, teacher, or something else entirely? • What can comparing AI to ourselves teach us about human cognition? • Will AI ultimately promote or suppress human goods like wisdom, creativity, freedom, friendship, art, and science? Drawing on Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, Dr. Augros explains why human beings are essentially and permanently different from AI systems, even the most advanced large language models. He clarifies why AI is best understood as an instrument and extension of human intelligence, not a new kind of living or thinking being. This episode also examines: • Why AI can outperform humans in speed, precision, and data processing without possessing intelligence • The dangers of anthropomorphizing AI as a “friend” or “teacher” • Why human creativity, wisdom, and genuine understanding cannot be automated • How AI may ultimately clarify what is truly human rather than replace it Whether you are interested in AI ethics, philosophy of mind, Aquinas, Aristotle, technology and humanity, or the future of artificial intelligence, this final lecture offers a rigorous and deeply human framework for understanding AI without hype or fear. This concludes the full lecture series: The Mind and the Machine: Aquinas on AI.
Original score for the YouTube limited series "The Mind and the Machine" a production of Thomas Aquinas College, original score composed by Richard Goforth, produced by Douglas Cummins and executive producers Chris Weinkopf and John Goyette. Watch the series at ThomasAquinas.edu/Mind
Original score for the YouTube limited series "The Mind and the Machine" a production of Thomas Aquinas College, original score composed by Richard Goforth, produced by Douglas Cummins and executive producers Chris Weinkopf and John Goyette. Watch the series at ThomasAquinas.edu/Mind
Original score for the YouTube limited series "The Mind and the Machine" a production of Thomas Aquinas College, original score composed by Richard Goforth, produced by Douglas Cummins and executive producers Chris Weinkopf and John Goyette. Watch the series at ThomasAquinas.edu/Mind
Original score for the YouTube limited series "The Mind and the Machine" a production of Thomas Aquinas College, original score composed by Richard Goforth, produced by Douglas Cummins and executive producers Chris Weinkopf and John Goyette. Watch the series at ThomasAquinas.edu/Mind
Original score for the YouTube limited series "The Mind and the Machine" a production of Thomas Aquinas College, original score composed by Richard Goforth, produced by Douglas Cummins and executive producers Chris Weinkopf and John Goyette. Watch the series at ThomasAquinas.edu/Mind
Why does Thomas Aquinas believe that thinking and understanding require life itself? And what does that imply about the limits of artificial intelligence? In this ninth episode of The Mind and the Machine: Aquinas on AI, philosopher Dr. Michael Augros (Thomas Aquinas College) develops a causal explanation—rooted in Thomistic metaphysics—for why AI systems cannot truly perform cognitive acts such as thinking and understanding. Building on the previous episode's deductive arguments, this lecture goes deeper by asking why, in principle, cognition must belong only to living beings. Drawing on Aquinas's philosophy of life, unity, immanent action, and cognition, the video argues that genuine thought cannot arise from machines because machines lack the kind of substantial unity and self-movement proper to living things. This episode explores: Aquinas's definition of a living thing as a self-moving being What it means for something to be “one being absolutely” rather than an aggregate Why living beings possess a unity machines lack The difference between immanent operations (like thinking) and transitive actions Why cognition presupposes life, not mere computation Why AI systems, even highly complex ones, are not genuine subjects of thought Using examples from biology, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind, Dr. Augros shows that cognition is not something that can emerge from collections of parts acting together, but must belong to a single, unified, living subject. This episode is a key installment in the series, connecting intelligence, life, and being, and preparing the ground for the final conclusions about why artificial intelligence can simulate thought without ever truly thinking. Whether you're interested in AI consciousness, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, neuroscience, ethics, theology, or the future of artificial intelligence, this lecture offers a deep and rigorous account of what it truly means to be a thinking being.
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