Sixth Annual Scarpa Conference: Keynote Speaker John Finnis
Left to Right: John F. Scarpa, Patrick M. Brennan, John M. Finnis, John Y. Gotanda
The Sixth Annual John F. Scarpa Conference on Law, Politics, and Culture was held in the Law School on September 30, 2011. The keynote speaker was John M. Finnis, a world-renowned legal philosopher. Professor Finnis spoke about his development of a new classical theory of natural law and a systematic philosophical explanation of human life that offers an integrated account of personal identity, practical reason, morality, political community, and law. Finnis is a Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy Emeritus in the University of Oxford and the Biolchini Family Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame.
Other speakers at the Conference included George C. Christie, James B. Duke Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law; Michelle Madden Dempsey, Associate Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law; John Keown, Rose F. Kennedy Chair of Christian Ethics, Georgetown University; Frederick G. Lawrence, Professor of Theology, Boston College; Mark C. Murphy, McDevitt Professor of Religious Theology, Georgetown University; Reverend Martin Rhonheimer, Professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome); Candace Vogler, Stern Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy,University of Chicago; and Michael J. White, Professor of Law and of Philosophy, Arizona State University. and the keynote speaker John M. Finnis, University of Oxford, University of Notre Dame.
Villanova Law’s Michelle Dempsey commented, “The event was a tremendous success in every respect. Professor Finnis is one of the most brilliant legal philosophers of our age - the Villanova Law community was deeply honored by the opportunity to celebrate his work.”
Next year’s keynote speaker will be The Most Reverend Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia. Archbishop Chaput is a highly regarded speaker and writer on matters of church and state. His book Render Unto Caesar was published by Doubleday in 2008. More details about the conference and other speakers will be forthcoming.
