For the past couple of years, I've had the pleasure to co-host a little intellectual discussion group called Dallas Society Room (DSR), and our first monthly meeting of the new year is tomorrow (Monday morning). We will meet from 7am - 8:05am at Breadwinners Uptown (3301 McKinney Ave, in the back, phone 214. 754.4940).
We will discuss the Trinity Forum reading “On Being Human” by Princeton Seminary President and US President Woodrow Wilson. The reading presents an early, personal reflection and philosophical statement of the future 28th president, which is interesting to consider not only given his terms as commander in chief, but when contrasting view of two other internationally active presidents, Bush and (fellow Nobel Peace Prize recipient) Obama.
You can find it online at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/5068.>
A brief description of the reading follows:
"The piece was written for the Atlantic Monthly in 1897, just after Wilson had achieved tenure as a professor at Princeton. It is among the most personal of Wilson’s public writings and reveals an enthusiastic nature not often associated with the former President.
"While it makes little direct reference to faith, the essay opens a window on Wilson’s view of the good life, which is both hopeful and historical, drawing upon both Aristotle’s notion of “the golden mean” and Augustine’s view of the ordo amorum (the order of the loves)—specifically, that the good life consists largely in a well-balanced, harmonious ordering of one’s passions and priorities."The coming decades would test Wilson’s hopes and ideals. Whether he was credulous in his hopes or mistaken in his reasoning may be debated, but the sympathies and effervescence on display in this little-known piece give insight into how the formation of a leader’s view of human nature and the world can eventually flower into large-scale initiatives, institutions, and movements."Had Wilson’s view of human nature differed, so would his conception of the League of Nations. Above all else, “On Being Human” illustrates the manner in which an emerging leader’s assumptions may be imprinted on national and international policy."
Bring your thoughts, guests and questions, regardless of if you get a chance to read the material. There will be plenty of ideas to discuss. We also will discuss the reading list for the remainder of the year and have extra TTF readings for sale (great way to start the new year with fresh ideas and historic thoughts)! We look forward to a great conversation!Dallas Society Room welcomes anyone who seeks to transform culture for Christ through their calling…please feel free to extend the invitation to join us. Please forward to any friends or colleagues who might be interested.
