In this semester's Lectio Humana, Going Nowhere: The Wit and Wisdom of Thomas More's Utopia, we will undertake a thorough examination of More's Utopia together with some of More's other writings on trials and tribulation, love and friendship as well as some scenes from Shakespeare who was thoroughly influenced by Thomas More, from his first great tragedy Richard III based on More's history of Richard III to his last great play The Tempest set on a fictional island in the brave new world.  

We'll raise several crucial questions during our journey to Utopia: what is the ideal political regime? Can an ideal political regime exist in practice? What does it mean to be a good citizen? Does education benefit the state or is the ivory tower too theoretical to have practical impact? Is private property the basis of the state or the source of all our woe? Is Utopia the stuff of nightmares or such stuff as dreams are made on? And perhaps most fundamentally, what does it mean to be human and what practical, political consequences follow from that question?

Collegium Institute invites you to sign up for the Spring 2026 Reading Group, exploring Utopia. Sessions will be facilitated by Joe Perez-Benzo.

Dates: Fridays, 3:00-4:00pm, starting Jan. 30

Location: Fox-Fels Leadership Hall (3814 Walnut St)

Click the button to register!

This program is made possible by support from the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education