The Agora Foundation

Special Event
One-Day Seminar & Lecture
Saturday, September 6th, 2008
The Qur'an
Seminar I 10:00AM - 12:00PM:
Suras 1, 12, 53, 81-114
Seminar II 1:00 - 3:00PM:
Suras 2-4

Lecture: An Introduction to the Qur'an and the life of Muhammad

Although thematically the Qur'an has much in common with the Bible, it is formally very different and can be quite a challenge for the uninitiated reader. In this lecture, Dr. Wolfe will seek to make the Qur'an more accessible to the beginner by discussing its form and content, the power of its language, and the role it played in the life of Muhammad and the nascent Islamic community.

Tutor:
Kenneth Wolfe, Ph.D.
St. John's College

Saturday-Sunday,
October 4th-5th, 2008
Human Being and History
Seminar I 10:00AM - 12:00PM:
Hegel,Introduction to The Philosophy of History
Seminar II 1:00 - 3:00PM:
Hegel,Introduction to The Philosophy of History continued
Sunday - Seminar III
10:00AM - 12:00PM:
Heidegger,essays:
The Question Concerning Technology and The Turning

Tutors:
Carolyn Thomas, M.A.
Lecturer, University of New Mexico
Buck Wales, M.A.
St. John's College

In his Philosophy of History, Hegel seeks to show that history is rational—that the acts, states, ethos, ideas, and individuals of history are not random but together represent a meaningful progress toward human freedom and human understanding. The true history of human being is, according to Hegel’s story, the history of Reason itself. It is the progress of understanding out of ignorance, spirit out of nature, and freedom out of despotism. And it is political history, the history of humans striving for the political state that is most reasonable, most free for human living. For Hegel, human being is the place where Reason shows itself.

Our current political strivings, struggles, and terrors, and those of the twentieth century can suggest that Hegel’s story is just story, that our age is not more reasonable than earlier historical ages, such as the Oriental, Greek, or Roman. Martin Heidegger, who participated in the strivings and terrors of twentieth century Germany, asks in Question Concerning Technology whether in realizing Reason as technology, human beings have blinded themselves by a mode of thought (technology) that appears progressive but isn’t, that appears to liberate human being, but as it is currently understood, doesn’t.

This seminar’s aim is to first reflect on Hegel's account of history and then to consider Heidegger's challenge that technology and our relation to it is dangerous, even disastrous, to human being and Reason itself.

One-Day Seminar
Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Tragic Rulers
William Shakespeare

Seminar I 10:00AM - 12:00PM:
Julius Caesar
Seminar II 1:00 - 3:00PM:
Macbeth

Tutors:

Paul O'Reilly, Ph.D.
Tutor, Thomas Aquinas College

Dan Lowenstein, LI.B.
Professor of Law, UCLA

December event in Los Angeles posting soon.

Pricing Structure

The Agora Foundation offers a pricing structure to allow more interested participants to experience the unique benefits these seminars provide. We ask each attendee to select the category that best fits their circumstance.

Bronze-Level Sponsor - $75 per event
Silver-Level Sponsor - $100 per event
Gold-Level Sponsor - $200 per event
Platinum-Level Sponsor - $300 per event

Sponsorship tuition includes attendance at the one- or two-day event, books, refreshments and lunch. Lodging is not included.

Note: Beginning March 27, 2008, the Bronze level minimum contribution has been raised to $75. We appreciate your support and understanding.

All events will be held at
BST
417 Bryant Circle, Ojai, CA 93023
www.bstsolutions.com
unless otherwise specified