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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
The smoke visible from the California campus comes from the Hughes Fire, located over 30 miles east of campus, past Lake Castaic and Interstate 5. Although it poses no danger to the College at this time, we are monitoring the situation closely and will post updates as warranted. Please pray for the safety of our campus and all first responders.
The smoke visible from the California campus comes from the Hughes Fire, located over 30 miles east of campus, past Lake Castaic and Interstate 5. Although it poses no danger to the College at this time, we are monitoring the situation closely and will post updates as warranted. Please pray for the safety of our campus and all first responders.
Dr. Shivone Offers Insight into Love & War in Homer’s Iliad
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With classes officially back in session at Thomas Aquinas College, the St. Vincent De Paul Lecture and Concert Series, too, has resumed. Dr. Stephen Shivone, a tutor and the assistant dean for student affairs on the New England campus, came to the California campus last Friday to open the Series for the semester with his lecture, “The Extremity of Love: On Homer’s Achilles.”
The subject of Dr. Shivone’s lecture, Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, was one that his audience knew well, as it is the very first work that students read and discuss in Freshmen Seminar. Dr. Shivone offered the students new insight into the epic, however, exploring the character of Achilles, whose infamous wrath causes such devastation, from an unusual perspective.
“Love and friendship are probably the last things readers think of when they read The Iliad or contemplate its main character, Achilles,” he observed as he opened his talk. Nevertheless, he argued, “Achilles is not only an extreme in wrath and heroic excellence, as is commonly acknowledged, but in friendship and love.” Leading his listeners through passages of Homer’s poem, Dr. Shivone drew out an image of Achilles as a man whose very desire for peace and friendship drives him to a violence fueled by grief and rage.
Before he joined the College’s teaching faculty in 2017, Dr. Shivone served as a professor of English and assistant dean of academic affairs at Belmont Abbey College. After two years of teaching at Thomas Aquinas College’s California campus, he made the journey to Massachusetts to help the College open the New England campus in 2019. Having earned his master’s in English and doctorate in literature from the Institute of Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas, Dr. Shivone has written and spoken on many topics, including liberal education, poetry, and the works of Shakespeare, Dante, and, of course, Homer.
At the conclusion of his lecture, Dr. Shivone met with students and faculty for a discussion period, where he further expounded on the imagery, characters, and themes of Homer’s masterpiece.
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