On Sept. 20th, 2014 the Schemel Forum hosted the annual University for a Day lecture series.
This year’s lectures included:
From Democracy to Oligarchy? Self Love & the Future of America
Matthew Meyer, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, The University of Scranton, draws on the insights of Plato and Aristotle in an examination of the potential role that a nefarious form of self-love plays in resistance to redistributive tax policies and the emergence of “American oligarchy.”
The Rise of Constitutional Veneration
Aziz Rana, Associate Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, explores how the Constitution became a site of symbolic and political agreement over the course of the 20th century and how this process was tied to the emergence of the U.S. as a global power. He also discusses the effects of modern constitutional veneration on popular politics.
Novel Perspective on Our New World
Stephen Whittaker, Professor of English, The University of Scranton, delves into the intricate braid of narrative voices within Colum McCann’s novel “Let the Great World Spin” – examining the idea of America – past and present.
A Quest for Truth in Twitter Time
Kevin Klose, President Emeritus of National Public Radio and former Dean of the College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, leads a discussion of the challenges we face in the new media era. Examining the quest for truth amongst an ocean of fractional “fact.”
