Dr. Rebecca DeYoung visits Asbury University

On Tuesday, Sept 13th, Calvin University Philosophy Professor, Dr. Rebecca DeYoung, spoke to a packed room of students about the vice of vainglory. Here is a handout of the topics covered. This presentation comes from her work on recovering the medieval understanding of the vices and the virtues. Two of her books on this topic include: “Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and their Remedies” and “Vainglory: The Forgotten Vice.”

Dr. DeYoung helped us understand that vainglory is different from pride, although oftentimes they come as a pair. Vainglory is desiring to receive recognition for something that is either not worthy of positive recognition (i.e., inglorious) or for something that warrants glory but which should be attributed elsewhere, not to the self. The Q/A time following the presentation was insightful and rich.

Next month the AUHP welcomes philosopher Dr. Jennifer Frey (10th) and filmmaker Pierre Sauvage (20th).