In the course of live-blogging this conference, I have thought a few times that it might be helpful to clue readers in a little further to Union University. Some readers, particularly those located in the North, may not have heard much about this school. Let me say, very quickly, that I cannot count myself an impartial observer. I am highly impressed by this school and its leadership (I noted the excellent leadership of President David Dockery yesterday–I can’t find a... Read more
I’m blown away by how fast the team here has published the audio from the conference’s first four sessions. If you want to hear any of the first four talks, go here, and listen to your heart’s content. You’ll thoroughly enjoy each of these sessions. I won’t keep posting on the audio updates, though I will give a final notice when all of the audio is loaded online. Note that all of these talks are free, which never fails to amaze me. Kerry,... Read more
The biography of David Novak, the conference’s fourth speaker: “David Novak holds the J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies as Professor of the Study of Religion and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto since 1997. He received his A.B. from the University of Chicago in 1961, his M.H.L. (Master of Hebrew Literature) in 1964 and his rabbinical diploma in 1966 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University in... Read more
I want to give you a quick snapshot of the goings-on of this conference, held at Union University in Jackson, TN from February 25-27, 2009. I don’t merely want to report what’s been said, but to give you a bit of a feel for this event. That, it seems to me, is a huge part of conferences–what they look like, sound like, who’s there, what’s going on behind the scenes. Conference attendees: Pretty strong attendance for such a high-level conference... Read more
The biography of James Stoner, the conference’s third speaker: “Professor James R. Stoner, Jr. has teaching and research interests in political theory, English common law, and American constitutionalism. He is the author of Common-Law Liberty: Rethinking American Constitutionalism (Kansas, 2003) and Common Law and Liberal Theory: Coke, Hobbes, and the Origins of American Constitutionalism (Kansas, 1992), as well as a number of articles and essays. In 2002-03 he was a visiting fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals... Read more
The biography of Russ Moore, the conference’s second speaker: “Russell D. Moore has served as the Senior Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary since January of 2004. Dr. Moore is also a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, where he ministers weekly. Dr. Moore writes and speaks frequently on topics ranging from the Kingdom of God to the mission of adoption to a theology of country music. He is... Read more
The biography of the conference’s first speaker: “Paul E. Kerry is an associate professor in the Department of History and member of the European Studies faculty. His training spans several universities including Oxford, Harvard, and Chicago and his publications have engaged with European intellectual history, transatlantic ideas, and historiography. His book on Goethe and Enlightenment thought is scheduled for paperback release this year. He is an associate editor of the University of California Press Carlyle edition and has served as... Read more
The Making Men Moral conference is, as I noted, being held in honor of Princeton political theorist Robert P. George. Those who know little about Dr. George can catch up a bit with the following information. He is, you will quickly see, a highly impressive individual, and a widely influential scholar. From his official biography on the James Madison program website: “Professor George holds Princeton’s celebrated McCormick Chair in Jurisprudence and is the founding director of the James Madison Program.... Read more
Greeting from Jackson, TN, home of Union University, host of the “Making Men Moral” conference held from February 25-27, 2009 in honor of political theorist Robert P. George. I have the privilege of live-blogging this conference. The following is the schedule of the conference: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 5:30, Reception and dinner, with an address by Paul Kerry. 7:30, Address by Russell D. Moore. Thursday, February 26, 2009 8:00-8:45, Continental breakfast 9:00-10:30, Session 1: James Stoner 10:45-12:15, Session 2: David Novak... Read more
Last Friday I blogged about a New York Times story by Max Roosevelt on student entitlement and grade inflation entitled “Student Expectations Seen as Causing Grade Disputes”. The title has to go down in history as one of the most obviously true headlines in a while. The Times printed a number of letters received in response, several of which I found interesting and wanted to share. First, a professor weighs in: “Students from the earliest grades are encouraged to work... Read more
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