The Gift: Academic Retreat Led by Dr. Michael Taylor
This academic retreat will concentrate on The Gift by the Canadian philosopher Kenneth Schmitz. Creation myths exist in cultures around the world and attest to a primordial human concern with the origin of things. Who is this Creator, and what is the nature of his creation? Engaging the thought of Thomas Aquinas as well as that of 19th- and 20th-century humanists, Schmitz provides a penetrating meditation on creatureliness and the importance of “gift” in an accurate account of creation.
Led by Dr. Michael Taylor of Thomas More College, the retreat will consist of sustained engagement with Schmitz’s text in seminar and lecture. Together, participants will read, discuss, and reflect on the essay, deepening our understanding of gift and creation.
Retreat Details
Our multi-day academic retreats are small gatherings focused on great texts, thoughtful conversations, and intellectual friendship. Each retreat is led by a professor and centers on a specific thinker, theme, topic, or text.
The heart of the retreat is a robust academic program of twelve one-hour sessions—typically nine seminars and three lectures. Seminars are limited to 15 or fewer participants and emphasize close reading, intellectual humility, and the shared pursuit of truth. The professor's lectures synthesize themes and situate the readings within a broader whole.
The atmosphere is intentionally contemplative and relational—free from digital distraction and grounded in attentiveness, presence, and receptivity.
Location
Our academic retreats are held at our Kingfisher Center, which is located on the southwest side of Austin, Texas.
Cost
For accepted participants, the Valor Institute will cover the cost of the program fee, texts, lodging, and meals. We ask for participants to pay for their own travel to and from the retreat — though we do offer travel scholarships for those in need. We do not want cost to be a barrier for anyone desiring to participate in our programs.
Schedule
A typical retreat day runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. including time for lunch, dinner, and breaks.
Preparation
Participants are expected to carefully read and annotate all texts before arriving at the retreat. Because of academic retreats involve a significant amount of time in seminar, preparation is essential.
Registration & Questions
Space in our retreats is limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. For any questions, please contact us.
About the Leader
Dr. Michael Dominic Taylor is Teaching Fellow and Dean of Students at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Taylor grew up in rural Connecticut and spent his summers sailing and lobster fishing on the coast of Maine. He earned his B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College in 2007, writing his honors thesis after studying in Alaska on a NOAA Hollings Scholarship. After college, he served as a Catholic missionary in Peru and Chile before studying philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, bioethics at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, and philosophy at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.
In addition to Thomas More, Dr. Taylor has also taught at the Edith Stein Philosophy Institute, San Dámaso Ecclesiastical University, and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. He has previously served as Executive Secretary of the Laudato Si’ Institute for the Archdiocese of Grenada and is a board member of the International Ratzinger Foundation. He has written on a variety of topics, including bioethics, solidarity, economics, and metaphysics. His recent book, The Foundations of Nature: Metaphysics of Gift for an Integral Ecological Ethic, received the Expanded Reason Award from the Joseph Ratzinger Foundation in 2021.