Ulrich on Childhood: Academic Retreat Led by Dr. D. C. Schindler
This academic retreat will concentrate on Man in the Beginning: Towards a Philosophical Anthropology of Childhood, one of the Three Short Works by German philosopher Ferdinand Ulrich. What can the experience of a child teach us about all of human existence? In these only recently translated reflections, Ulrich offers childhood as a key to understanding the drama of being, a mystery characterized by gift and love.
Led by renowned scholar and previous Valor Symposium speaker D. C. Schindler, participants will encounter Ulrich’s philosophy through seminars and lectures. In addition to Man in the Beginning, we will also read Atheism and Incarnation, another selection within The Three Short Works. Together, these writings will introduce participants to Ulrich’s account of reality, a vision guided by gift.
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. D. C. Schindler is Professor of Metaphysics and Anthropology at the John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C. where he teaches courses that explore themes such as “Being as Gift,” “Faith and Reason,” and “Person and Community,” among many others. He previously served as Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Humanities at Villanova University. He received his BA from the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame and his PhD in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America.
Dr. Schindler has published widely in academic journals and has written numerous books of original philosoph, including Retrieving Freedom, The Politics of the Real, Love and the Postmodern Predicament, and Plato’s Critique of Impure Reason: On Truth and Goodness in the Republic. He has translated more than a dozen books, including seminal works by Robert Spaemann and Ferdinand Ulrich. He is an editor of Communio, a theological journal founded by Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac, and Joseph Ratzinger, and he has also served as the President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.