Faith, politics and the pursuit of wisdom: Professor Matthew Ogilvie addresses Formal Hall

Campion College welcomed Professor Matthew Ogilvie as guest speaker at Formal Hall on Thursday 8 October. A distinguished theologian and widely published academic, Professor Ogilvie has taught extensively at the University of Notre Dame Australia, where he previously served as Dean of Philosophy and Theology. His academic career has also included appointments at the Australian Catholic University and the Catholic Institute of Sydney, alongside international teaching and research experience.

Opening his address, Professor Ogilvie reflected on a recent conversation in which he was asked what graduates could do with a liberal arts degree.

“We live in an age with an excess of information, but a shortage of wisdom,” he observed.

Describing Campion College as a place dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom, he emphasised that the value of a liberal arts education extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge to the development of sound judgement and understanding.

“What can you do with a liberal arts degree from Campion College? The answer is absolutely anything, and you can do it better for being a person of wisdom.”

Turning to the central theme of his address, Professor Ogilvie encouraged students to consider the complex relationship between religious belief, political philosophy and international affairs, highlighting the importance of approaching challenging questions with historical understanding and intellectual discernment.

The address was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Campion College President Dr Paul Morrissey, providing an opportunity for further discussion of the Church’s diplomatic responsibilities, charitable work and engagement with different religious traditions.

Returning to the value of liberal arts education in his concluding remarks, Professor Ogilvie praised Campion College’s commitment to an educational tradition concerned not simply with professional preparation, but with the cultivation of wisdom and the formation of the whole person.

Reflecting on the writings of St John Henry Newman and St John Paul II, he suggested that Campion College’s approach to education remains deeply connected to the original purpose of the university.

“In being a genuine liberal arts institution, Campion College is more faithful to the university tradition than many universities today,” he said.

See below for photos from the night.