This month the Kirk Center is excited to announce the first of a series of new online seminars on thinkers and themes that shed light on the Pillars of American Order. Beginning on July 7 and meeting weekly during July, our debut virtual Pillars seminar will be on Adam Smith and is entitled: “Liberty, Community, and Prosperity: An Introduction to Adam Smith.”

Although Adam Smith is best known as the father of modern economics, his economic thought sits within a wider enterprise of moral philosophy. Smith’s writings on commerce and his recommendations in public policy build upon his effort to promote a social and political order that protects liberty and human flourishing.

Russell gave a speech at The Heritage Foundation in the early 1980s arguing that Smith ably “described and defended those beliefs and institutions that maintain the beneficent tension of order and freedom.” Our seminar will explore this aspect of Smith’s thought and legacy.

The course will be led by Dr. Erik Matson, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center and Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Program at George Mason University. There are few scholars in America better suited to guiding this discussion of the moral philosophy and political economy of Adam Smith than Dr. Matson.

We are pleased to invite you to participate by registering here. The four-week seminar will be held on Wednesdays in July and will be limited to the first 25 registrants. Participants will receive a Kirk Center certificate upon completion of the course.

The material for this mini-course is adapted from the American Enterprise Institute’s curriculum “Invisible Hands: Adam Smith on Friendship, Community, and Prosperity.” We are grateful to AEI for making this curriculum available and encourage all to watch the lively introductory discussion led by Yuval Levin evaluating how Smith’s ideas resonate with our culture today.

While we are enthusiastic about our new online offering, the Kirk Center remains committed to the in-person seminars at the Kirk library that our students regularly describe as “intellectually and imaginatively stimulating,” “immensely helpful,” and “one of the most formative experiences of my college career.” Due to the personal atmosphere, I’ve noticed that many young people form lasting friendships with like-minded peers here. These Piety Hill seminars will remain at the core of the Kirk Center’s programs.
 

Recently, the Kirk Center hosted a fascinating seminar for Hillsdale College students examining “Shakespeare’s Plutarch.” And the Intercollegiate Studies Institute held a seminar for graduate students considering readings on “Liberty and Liberal Education.” A few photos from these events are included at the end of this email.

This coming July 19-22, the Center is holding an in-person seminar based on Russell’s book, The Roots of American Order, designed specifically for high school teachers. It will be held at the Haworth Hotel in beautiful Holland, Michigan. We are currently accepting applications, so if you know a high school teacher who may be interested, feel free to forward this email to them or encourage them to contact [email protected] for the schedule and application form.

In closing, I’d like to note that the themes considered in these seminars happen to be tied together in economist Alexander William Salter’s recent article which draws upon The Roots of American Order to explain the connection of America’s economic institutions to our political and moral traditions.

I look forward to updating you on these exciting new programs as the Kirk Center seeks to aid in reinvigorating America’s civil social order.

Best regards,

Annette Kirk, President
The Russell Kirk Center