Lyceum Institute

From mnemonic techniques and the advent of written language to smartphones and “AI” assistants, we have sought technological extension of memory from the beginnings of our existence. But what is memory, truly? What are its operations? And how do technologies extend or hinder them?

What are the tactics the dialectician employs in his pursuit of the truth, his attack of a position? How does he gather propositions for the assault? How does he map the terrain of disputation? We will think this through today!

House Publications - Lyceum Institute In addition to our reprints, the Lyceum Institute also publishes original works intended to continue and advance the intellectual inheritance of the tradition. These works will grow to comprise a wide range of studies, with focus on the trivium, philosophy, and more.

If you like books about language, we have a recommendation for you: lyceum.institute/hou...

Maritain Musings I would like to draw attention to two episodes of the American Maritain Association’s podcast, Maritain Musings, hosted by our own Dr. Matthew Minerd. The first features friend of the Lyceum Institute, Dr. Jim Jacobs, Director of Philosophy Programs at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. Together with Dr. Minerd, Dr. Jacobs discusses the relationship between church and state in Maritain’s work, …

Maritain Musings

I would like to draw attention to two episodes of the American Maritain Association’s podcast, Maritain Musings, hosted by our own Dr. Matthew Minerd. The first features friend of the Lyceum Institute, Dr. Jim Jacobs, Director of Philosophy Programs at Notre Dame Seminary in New…

Signs of Life: Music, Literature, Science, and Philosophy Dr. Kanzelberger discusses a diverse intellectual life, shaped by love of music, literature, science, & philosophy—bound through the study of signs.

Does philosophy have a future—is it to be anything other than mere repetition of the endless same? Or may it continue to grow in understanding of the truth?

On Making Distinctions A Philosophical Happy Hour on distinctions, the doctrine of their kinds, and the importance making them correctly.

What are distinctions, how are they made, and why are they important? Join us this evening for a very precise conversation in our Philosophical Happy Hour!

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Signs of Life: Music, Literature, Science, and Philosophy Listen to Dr. Kirk Kanzelberger as he relates his intellectual journey through life—the continuous thread of learning—from young tragedy and early literacy, through music, moral formation through the literature of Tolkien, work in science, technology, semiotics, philosophy, and more. An enlightening and moving conversation that sheds great light on what it means to pursue knowledge and wisdom. 00:00 – The Journey into Intellectual Life…

Dr. Kanzelberger discusses a diverse intellectual life, shaped by love of music, literature, science, & philosophy—bound through the study of signs.

Lyceum Institute - YouTube The Lyceum Institute provides a digital environment dedicated to fostering the philosophical habit–of questioning the truth of things and the good of life–in...

Did you know we have a YouTube channel? You should visit and subscribe! We’re posting more regularly, there.

On Making Distinctions A Philosophical Happy Hour on distinctions, the doctrine of their kinds, and the importance making them correctly. The failure to make good distinctions characterizes the stupidity of our age.  Observe the social networks and see how few distinctions are proposed, how unquestioning the categories, how obstinate every adherent to his or her ideology!  How many relationships are ruined or concepts muddled because someone refuses to make—or acknowledge—a distinction?  

On Making Distinctions

A Philosophical Happy Hour on distinctions, the doctrine of their kinds, and the importance making them correctly. The failure to make good distinctions characterizes the stupidity of our age.  Observe the social networks and see how few distinctions are proposed, how…

Our twelve faculty are making a real education available (to all who truly want it) in the digital age.

Learn how they bring wisdom to students and support our efforts today.

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How does the digital environment impact our institutions and structures of education? How does it change the habits involved? What are the opportunities open to us?

Today we think in line with these questions.

What precisely are dialectical loci? How do they differ from the rhetorical? Why are they important for our advance in knowledge and argumentation?

These and other questions structure our discussion today.

Understanding our Environments In this conversation, Adam Pugen explores how new technologies amplify aspects of the human psyche, particularly focusing on the differences between auditory and visual cultures. He discusses how these sensory modalities shape our experiences and perceptions in distinct ways—and the need for media literacy, the changes between television and digital, the thinking of Marshall McLuhan, and a phenomenology of technological environments.

Dr. Adam Pugen sits down to discuss media environments, the intellectual life, our sensory modalities, and psychological survival.

Felicitates de Quodlibet, II.4 A Philosophical Happy Hour on... whatever! The fourth installment in our Felictates de Quodlibet series for 2025, in which we talk about whatever we want, so long as it is interesting, and for as long as we are interested. Or, to put this otherwise: do you have a philosophical question—any question whatsoever—you want seriously to discuss with other people? In the Scholastic university, renowned thinkers would regularly engage in open debate on questions posed by other scholars or students at the institution.

Felicitates de Quodlibet, II.4

A Philosophical Happy Hour on... whatever! The fourth installment in our Felictates de Quodlibet series for 2025, in which we talk about whatever we want, so long as it is interesting, and for as long as we are interested. Or, to put this otherwise: do you have a…

Truth, Goodness, and Beauty In this conversation, Francisco Plaza shares his journey into the intellectual life, influenced by his experiences moving from the US to Venezuela. He discusses the current state of education, the importance of classical education, and the role of political philosophy in understanding justice and order. Plaza emphasizes the need for a hierarchy of values in education, the interplay between education and politics, and the importance of cultivating intellectual habits in students.

Francisco Plaza shares his journey into the intellectual life, influenced by his experiences moving from the US to Venezuela, and the goal of education as a lifelong journey towards contemplating truth, goodness, and beauty.

On Morality, Law, and the Exercise of Choice - Lyceum Institute A Philosophical Happy Hour on the relationship between morality and law, and what falls to our exercise of choice.

How does natural law informs human legislation? In this week’s Philosophical Happy Hour, we will take a look at the perennial tension between the desire to legislate for virtue, the need for tolerating certain vices, and the cultivation of prudence in citizens.

On Morality, Law, and the Exercise of Choice A Philosophical Happy Hour on the relationship between morality and law, and what falls to our exercise of choice. St. Thomas Aquinas defines law as an ordinance of reason ordered to the common good, promulgated by one who holds responsibility for the community.  This broad but precise definition allows us to distinguish kinds of law without confusion: eternal law as divine governance (the whole cosmos ordered to the common good of the universe), natural law as the rational creature’s participation in that governance (the common good of human souls), and human or positive law as determinations for concrete circumstances (the common good for political communities).  

A Philosophical Happy Hour on the relationship between morality and law, and what falls to our exercise of choice.

Warm, comfortable, stylish. Just in time for the colder months.

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Beyond the University Twelve people: that is how many faculty teach for the Lyceum Institute. In a world of billions, it is a very small number. But as history attests, twelve people can make profound and lasting changes in the world. Our faculty teach philosophy, languages, the Trivium, and more. They guide students ...

We are raising money to pay our Faculty a better stipend for their amazing contributions to learning.

Learn more about how you can help at the link, and thank you for taking the time!

Is “the economy” a form of technology? Is it one, today, disordered with respect to the human good? Can it be restored to a more-human mode of realization—and, if so, how?

Questions we take up today in week five of our seminar!

How certain can we be in our judgments? Are there different kinds of certitude—alongside different degrees? What distinguishes belief and certain knowledge?

Questions we probe today in week five of our seminar!

Classics, Language, and Philosophy In this conversation, Richard Sharpe discusses his journey into the intellectual life, the significance of classical education, and the importance of language study. He emphasizes the integration of thinking and living well, the cultivation of habits in education, and the role of community in fostering a love for learning. The discussion highlights the virtue of understanding tradition and the necessity of attention to detail in both academic and moral pursuits.

Magister Richard Sharpe joins Brian Kemple to discuss classics, classical & liberal education, language, philosophy, and educational habits.

Testimonials - Lyceum Institute Read and listen to testimonials from Lyceum Institute community members that explain what makes our approach beneficial to their lives.

(See if you can guess which one is a graduate student!)
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We learn little by the witness of an individual: the singular mind often is given to bias, prejudice, an idealization unmerited by the facts.

But when many persons, diverse in character and background, say the same thing, we pay more attention.

Listen to the testimonials of Lyceum members!
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Digital Life Improving our way of life through the internet requires carefully understanding the technology involved and building better habits of its use.

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The Lyceum Institute is restoring our use of technology to the flourishing of humanity rather than to the dehumanization today so prevalent. Learn more about how at the link below.
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Who is My Enemy? A Philosophical Happy Hour inquiring into the nature of enmity, the distinction of public and personal enemies, and the morally rightful manner of holding oneself in opposition to others. We hear a lot these days about friends and enemies, and—it seems—not unreasonably.  The world seems awash in hostility.  But what is it, in fact, that makes someone an enemy…

A Philosophical Happy Hour inquiring into the nature of enmity, the distinction of public and personal enemies, and the morally rightful manner of holding oneself in opposition to others.