The 18th Annual John F. Scarpa Conference on Law, Politics and Culture, 02/26

“Antihumanism and the Post-Political Condition”

Monday, February 26
4:00–6:00 p.m.

Laurence E. Hirsch ’71 Classroom (Room 101)
John F. Scarpa Hall

The 18th Annual John F. Scarpa Conference on Law, Politics and Culture will feature Matthew B. Crawford, senior fellow at the University of Virginia's Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. His books include the New York Times bestseller Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work (The Penguin Press, 2009), The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2015) and Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road (Mariner Books, 2020). His shorter writings have appeared in numerous press and outlets such as UnHerd, Compact Magazine, The New Atlantis and his own Substack, Archedelia. Patrick Brennan, the John F. Scarpa Chair in Catholic Legal Studies and professor of law, will provide a response.

Crawford suggests society is heading toward a way of governing where leaders make decisions themselves instead of adhering to the democratic process. Common sense is considered less important, diminishing the majority's political influence. Some developments in human sciences, such as smart-driving cars, portray society as being stupid, obsolete, fragile and hateful. These four antihumanism ideas, which criticize traditional human-centric views, support each other and shape the thinking of our leaders. The result is that our society is adopting strange and unsettling forms of control.

The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has approved this symposium for 1.5 ethics CLE credits. Please note registration prior to the event is required for CLE credit. A reception will follow the event in the Ambassador David F. Girard-diCarlo ’73 and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo ’74 Student Lounge.

Co-sponsored by the Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture