This event is cosponsored and supported by the University of Chicago John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought. It is also cosponsored by The Point Magazine. This event is made possible through the support of ‘In Lumine: Supporting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition on Campuses Nationwide’ (Grant #62372) from the John Templeton Foundation.
In his Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger saw that at the root of the “technological mindset” was an anxiety about how man can come to know the world. Ratzinger contrasted the technological orientation to the world with an orientation of belief. Belief was not incomplete or provisional knowing, but a trustful standing upon and loyalty to that which is given by Creation.
In this symposium, Matt Crawford and Mark Shiffman will come together to discuss the problem of virtue in light of Ratzinger’s distinction. Crawford will begin by exploring how the virtue of gratitude often eludes us under a technological mindset. A better approach is to boldly entrust oneself to that which one cannot make or fully grasp.
Mark Shiffman will respond by using this same distinction between technocracy and givenness to and explain the difference between optimism and hope. Melanie Barrett will also offer comments.
For more information, contact dstrobach@lumenchristi.org.
