Philosophy professor Dr. Daniel McInerny will deliver a lecture on the concept of beauty at the Catholic Information Center (CIC) in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, September 4. The event, titled “Beauty 101,” will feature a discussion based on McInerny’s acclaimed book, Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts. The book, published by Word on Fire, delves into the philosophical underpinnings of beauty, drawing from the thoughts of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.
In his lecture, McInerny will explore the idea that the human person is a truth seeker, and one of the most compelling ways human beings pursue truth is through the arts. Drawing on ideas and themes explored in his book, McInerny will help listeners develop their own understanding of beauty that is connected to the mimetic (imitative) arts.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a live-streamed presentation followed by a Q&A session, allowing both in-person and virtual attendees to engage with McInerny. Following the lecture, there will be a book signing and reception, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet McInerny and discuss his work further.
McInerny’s Beauty and Imitation was released earlier this year to much acclaim, including from Boston College’s Dr. Peter Kreeft.
“This is literally the best book on beauty that I have ever read,” says Kreeft, who is the famed author of numerous books, including the new series Socrates’ Children. “The most convincing, clear, and comprehensive; the most eye-opening and satisfying; the most insightful and delightful. It is a masterpiece. I do use that word lightly, but there is no other word for it. It is our experience of all the aspects and instances of beauty what sunrise is to a landscape. The ‘aha!’ experience: recognition, ‘that’s the way it is.’”
McInerny, who lives in the Shenandoah Valley, is also a frequent writer of a newsletter called “The Comic Muse,” where he imagines a renaissance in popular entertainment fueled by wonder, philosophy, and the quest for the good life. Readers can find out more here.
McInerny’s latest public lecture is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance. For those unable to attend in person, the CIC will provide a virtual option via YouTube, ensuring that a wide audience can benefit from McInerny’s insights.
To order McInerny’s book, visit here.
Read more about McInerny’s academic accomplishments here.
For more details and to register, visit the Catholic Information Center’s website.