2005 Human Dignity Conference
Integritas Institute for Ethics,
John Paul II Newman Center at the
University of Illinois at Chicago
Fifth Annual Conference on Human Dignity & Health Science
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, in the Chicago Room, UIC Student Center West
Title: Human Body, Human Self
Topic: The relationship between the human body and the human self
Thesis: There is in much contemporary thought a strong dualizing tendency that instrumentalizes
the human body and views it as extrinsic to the human self. According to this radical body/self
dualism, the body is malleable, subject to manipulation to suit the desires of the self who occupies
it. Our conference will critique this view, will propose instead to reclaim from the Judeo-Christian
intellectual heritage a unitary conception of human nature created in the image of God and composed
of an integrated unity of body and soul, and will explore some of the ways in which the radical dualism
affects healthcare practices.
Lectures:
From the Catholic Pastoral Heritage:
"John Paul II’s Theology of the Body."
Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Ph.D. Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago.
In tribute to the memory of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal George will reflect on John Paul’s theology of
the body, with particular emphasis on the relationship between body and soul in the human self.
http://www.archchicago.org/cardinal/cardinal.shtm
From the Catholic Philosophical Heritage:
"Human Beings: Animal and Spiritual."
Patrick Lee, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
A Thomistic philosopher, Professor Lee has, together with co-author Robert P. George, written a major text
on the topic of our conference, which is slated for imminent publication.
http://www2.franciscan.edu/plee/
Social and Political Implications:
"Human Embodiment in 21st Century America."
Jean Bethke Elshtain, Ph.D, Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics at the
University of Chicago Divinity School.
In turning us to the application phase of our conference, Dr. Elshtain will draw some of the social and
political implications of the radical body/self dualism.
http://divinity.uchicago.edu/faculty/elshtain.shtml
Implications for Nursing:
"The 'Intimate Moment of Connection' in Contemporary Nursing Practice"
Geraldine Gorman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing at the UIC College of Nursing.
Students aspire to become nurses in large part because they yearn for the moment of intimate connection with
their patients. With the singular exception of hospice care, modern nursing practices tend to rob them of
the opportunity for such moments.
http://www.uic.edu/nursing/pma/pmafaculty.htm
Implications for Medicine:
"The Tyranny of the Measurable."
John Patrick, M.D., President and Professor of history of science, medicine and faith at Augustine College in Ottawa.
Dr. Patrick will examine the topic through the lens of his many years as a practicing physician, a medical
school professor, and a keen observer of the points where faith and science intersect.
http://www.johnpatrick.ca
Schedule:
The conference will last a full day.
Each presenter will be allotted an hour for presentation and Q&A. The
welcomes, introductions, and first two presentations will cover the
morning. The lunch break will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., followed
by the next three presentations. The conference will end with a one-hour
panel discussion in which the presenters, except for the Cardinal, will
make final comments, pose questions to each other, and field final
questions.
Follow this link for a .pdf copy of a flyer for this event that can be printed out.
Schedule
8:30 Conference Registration opens
9:00 "Call to order," Robert Cassey, J.D.,
Conference Moderator and Director of the Integritas Institute.
"Welcome," Sylvia Manning, Ph.D., Chancellor, UIC
"Welcome," Eric Gislason, Ph.D.. Vice Chancellor for Research, UIC
9:15 From the Catholic Pastoral Heritage: "John Paul II’s
Theology of the Body" Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Ph.D., S.T.D., Catholic Archbishop of Chicago
10:15 Break
10:45 From the Catholic Philosophical Heritage: "Human Beings: Animal and Spiritual"
Patrick Lee, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Franciscan University of Steubenville
11:45 Lunch
1:00 Social and Political Implications: "Human Embodiment in 21st Century America"
Jean Bethke Elshtain, Ph.D., Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics, University of Chicago Divinity School
2:00 Implications for Nursing: "The 'Intimate Moment of Connection' in Contemporary Nursing Practice"
Geraldine Gorman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing, UIC
3:00 Break
3:15 Implications for Medicine: "The Tyranny of the Measurable"
John Patrick, M.D., President and Professor of History of Science, Medicine, and Faith, Augustine College, Ottawa
4:15 Round table: Lee, Blanchard, Elshtain, Gorman, Patrick
5:15 Adjourn