2015-16 Bitar Memorial Lecture

April 13-14, 2016

Series Title: Philosophical Wisdom for Business Savvy: The Character of the Manager

Dr. Gregory R. Beabout

Dr. Michael J. Ophardt

This year′s Bitar Memorial Lecturer is Dr. Gregory R. Beabout. 

Gregory R. Beabout is Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. His professional work focuses on ethics, philosophical personalism and the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Informed by his engagement with the history of philosophy, some of his work involves applying personalism and the tradition of the virtues to business and the professions. His books include The Character of the Manager: From Office Executive to Wise Steward (Palgrave MacMillan, 2013); Freedom and Its Misuses: Kierkegaard on Anxiety and Despair (Marquette, 2009); and Applied Professional Ethics (with D. Wennemann; University Press of America, 1994). Dr. Beabout has received awards and recognition for his teaching.

Dr. Michael J. Ophardt will serve as Respondent to Dr. Beabout's lectures. 

Michael J. Ophardt is Professor of Business Ethics at Malone University, and Chair of the Department of Business there. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Duquesne University, a Masters of Philosophical Foundations at the Institute for Christian Studies and a BA in Philosophy and English at Allegheny College. He credits former Geneva professor Dr. Peter Steen with his lifelong vision of celebrating God’s love in all areas of life to transform the world for good.

Past Bitar Lecturers include

• 2004-05: Dr. Stephen Evans, Baylor University – “Can Love be Commanded?: Kierkegaard on the Foundations of Moral Obligation”        
• 2005-06: Dr. Paul Helm – “John Calvin′s Big Idea”
• 2006-07: Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff – "Love and Justice"
• 2007-08: Linda Zagzebski – "Self-Trust and Religious Belief"
• 2008-09: Dr. James K.A. Smith  – "A Liturgical Phenomenology for a Post-Secular Age"
• 2009-10: R.J. Snell – "Culture of Boredom, Culture of Death"
• 2010-11: Dr. Paul K. Moser  – “Expecting a Severe God.”
• 2011-12: Dr. Alvin Plantinga –  “Science, Religion and Naturalism”
• 2012-13: Dr. Nancey Murphy – "Human Nature at the Intersection of Science, Religion and Philosophy"
• 2013-14: Dr. Merold Westphal – "Getting from There to Here: From Modernity to Postmodernity"
• 2014-15: Dr. D.C. Schindler – "A Pre-Modern Response to the Post-Modern 'Lonely Mind’"

Check out the schedule of public activities and their locations. For additional information, contact the Philosophy Program at 724-847-6700, or email rmfrazie@geneva.edu or emeek@geneva.edu.