Western-Heritage
Western Heritage

Hannibal Lectures

Popular lecture series centers on Western Heritage texts

Every other Thursday afternoon at Carthage, a professor presents a lecture about a current Western Heritage text. The lectures are called “Hannibal Lectures” – and the series is a popular, well-attended event.

Fall 2009 Lecture Series

Hannibal Lectures are held at 4:55 p.m. in the Niemann Media Theatre. Admission is free. Refreshments are served after the lectures.

"Homer and Art" — Sept. 17
Dr. Temple Burling, associate professor of Great Ideas, presents the first Hannibal Lecture of the 2009-2010 academic year with "Homer and Art."

"Buried Foundations: The Singularity of the Aeneid" — Oct. 1
Joseph McAlhany is an assistant professor of Great Ideas and Classics.

"Human Rights and the Humanities: How Great Books Inform the Work of Great Lawyers" — Oct. 15
Margaret Winter, J.D., ACLU lawyer, Supreme Court arguer and writer, will discuss the relevance of the liberal arts in the [extremely] real world

"Unresolved Conflict in the early Church: Peter, Paul, Antioch, and the Redaction of Matthew 16:13-23" — Oct. 29
Christian von Dehsen, professor of religion and chair of the Humanities Division, will lead a discussion of "Matthew."

"Truth, Tropes, and Translations: Reading Augustine and Luther" — Nov. 12
Leonard Schulze is a professor in the Communication and Digital Media Department and the English Department, chair of the Division of Fine Arts, and director of the Augustine Institute.

"Faculty from all fields and disciplines are encouraged to participate, and students of any major or minor are invited," said D. Ben DeSmidt, director of the Western Heritage and Great Ideas programs at Carthage. "There is always a lively discussion afterward."

This discussion is led by students, DeSmidt said. Students start the discussion with their questions; questions from faculty and other attendees follow.

The topics are rich and intriguing. Previous lectures have included:

"Love and Logic in Augustine’s Confessions"
Dr. Michael McShane

"Solomon’s Odyssey: Fundament Law in Bacon’s 'New Atlantis'"
Dr. Paul Kirkland

"The Call of Nature: Chaucer’s 'Miller’s Tale'”
Dr. Maria Carrig

“Odysseus as Apocalypse”
Dr. Seemee Ali

“Tragic Foundations: Political Theatre in Aeschylus’ 'Oresteia'”
Dr. Paul Kirkland

"Taking Happiness Seriously: Virtue and Wisdom in Rousseau’s First Discourse"
Dr. Thomas Powers

"New, Newer, Newest: 'The Tempest' as Vehicle of Remembrance"
Dr. D. Ben DeSmidt

“Without a Plan, Without a Promise”: Montaigne’s Attack on Memory and Rhetoric
Dr. John Isham

"Reciprocal Robberies: Image and Text in Raphael’s 'School of Athens'"
Dr. Anne Cassidy

"Virgil’s 'Aeneid': Do empires have consciences?"
Dr. D. Ben DeSmidt

“Looking for Love in the Book of Genesis”
Dr. John Isham

"Darwin in the 21st Century: The Evolution of Human Identity, Community, and Justice"
Dr. Thomas Carr

"Rousseau’s Psychology of Recognition and Vanity"
Dr. Thomas Powers

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