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annual report and prospectus 2013-2014 Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
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annual report and prospectus / 2013-2014
perth western australia 2014
Christopher Dawson A breif Biography
Christopher Dawson, one of
in 1928. This work was followed
the twentieth century’s great
by Progress and Religion in 1929,
historians was born in in the
which probably contains the most
village of Hay-on-Wye, Wales in
succinct enunciation of Dawson’s
1889. Born in a Tudor building
thought on the nature of culture
constructed around a medieval
and religion.
castle the young Christopher Dawson imbued the mythologies
Though Dawson was never to
and stories of ancient worlds
hold a permanent position in any
from a young age. Supplementing
British University his career was
this early learning Dawson was
undeniably influential. He was
formally educated at Trinity
twice a Gifford lecturer, the author
College, Oxford in 1908 where he
of numerous books and scholarly
studied history.
articles, editor of the Dublin Review and from 1958 to 1962
In Easter of 1909 sitting in Rome
held the Chair of Roman Catholic
on the steps of the Capitol,
Studies at Harvard University. At
Dawson first conceived his life’s
the core of all of his work remained
work, the study and writing of
his understanding of religion as
a history of culture. Four years
the dynamic element of history.
later Dawson converted to
Christopher Dawson died, after
Roman Catholicism. Embarking
almost a decade of ill health, in
on a career as an independent
1970.
scholar Dawson’s first work The Age of the Gods was published
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
BIOGRAPHY
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If man limits himself to a satisfied animal existence, and asks from life only what such an existence can give, the higher values of life at once disappear.
C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
A
t the beginning of 2014 we take stock of the year that has passed, and look
thought and activities, and the beginning of what we hope becomes a series of short
towards the year ahead. It does not seem
courses on some of the seminal works of
that long ago that The Dawson Society for
Western Civilisation.
Philosophy and Culture was a mere idea, hastily drawn on the back of a bar coaster. Since then,
In recognition of the invaluable support and
and through the dedication and hard work of
advice given to the organisers of The Dawson
a committed group of people, The Dawson
Society in their first year I am pleased to
Society has seen great successes in a variety of
announce the formation of a board of advisors,
areas.
whose experience and wisdom will be much appreciated in the years ahead. Present
Beginning in February 2013, The Dawson
members of the advisory board include
Society hosted seven Speakers Forum
Professor Celia Hammond, Vice-Chancellor
events with local, interstate and international
of The University of Notre Dame Australia;
presenters detailing such a variety of
Professor Tracey Rowland, Dean of the John
topics as the role of virtue in the media, the
Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family; and
vocation of the laity, and the role of beauty in
Mr Peter Rosengren, Editor of the Catholic
evangelisation.
Weekly, Sydney and former of editor of The Record Newspaper, Perth.
This inaugural year has also seen the successful launch of a website, lovingly put together by
Looking back over the year that has passed
graphic designer and Dawson Society board
and the many cultural and political events and
member Elizabeth Bogoni, and Paul Bui of Monk
movements that have defined 2013, I am more
Media. Recently, through the help of Squire
than ever convinced of the necessity of men
Sanders legal team, The Dawson Society has
and women of faith and of goodwill to engage
become an incorporated association, which will
the culture at the level of ideas. This is why
help us immensely in the organisation of the
the Dawson Society was founded, and it is my
administrative aspects of this venture.
hope that your experience has and will be of an organization that intelligently engages with and
As of March 2014 we have seen the launch of
attempts to Christianise Australian culture.
another successful Speakers Forum series and have begun planning the inaugural secondary school students Glowrey Prize for pro-life
thomas gourlay President and Co-Founder
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
Dear Friends,
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Manifesto The Renewal of Christendom
“
generations could justifiably argue that a broad swath of society accepted and understood basic Christian principles; the current generation cannot. “Every society rests in the last resort on the recognition of common principles and common ideals, and if it makes no
WESTERN MAN has not been faithful to his Christian
moral or spiritual appeal to the loyalty of its members, it
tradition. He has abandoned it not once, but again and again.
must inevitably fall to pieces.”1 Australian society finds itself
For since Christianity depends on a living faith and not
bereft of mission, at loss for identity of any sense of the
merely on social tradition, Christendom must be renewed
meaning of life. The previous century witnessed, especially
every fresh generation, and every generation is faced by the
amongst the nations of Europe, great attempts to redefine
responsibility of making decisions, each of which may be an
the spiritual loyalties of their populations away from the
act of Christian faith or an act of apostasy.” – Christopher
Christian tradition. These attempts, nationalism, fascism
Dawson (1889 – 1970)
and communism each failed in their turn; and in its turn, the present compromise, an attempt
The renewal of Christendom is a task that confronts every Catholic. It is a challenge at the heart of the Catholic faith, a personal call to holiness and a demand for cultural renewal. Each generation faces this challenge. The 6
solutions and challenges of each generation are unique, no more so than those of the present generation who come to their task after more than two centuries of political, moral and cultural turmoil, the revolt of modernity and unprecedented technological progress. The present generation of Australians
The renewal of Christendom is a task at confronts every Catholic. It is a challenge from the heart of the Catholic faith, a personal call to holiness and a demand for cultural renewal.
to unite society upon economic progress, materialism and relativism, faces its own failure amidst economic recession and the pressing claims of rival cultures. Perhaps the result of these failures will be a realignment of Australian society towards a Christian way of life; a way of life which, in the words of G. K. Chesterton, “has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried”. Yet this will not be the case unless Catholics can intelligently articulate the Christian worldview. To be a force
cannot expect that the tools employed for the renewal
for renewal amongst the society at large, Catholics must be
of Christian culture by previous generations will remain
able to converse with the universal languages of reason and
effective today. The norms and mores that assisted the
culture to all people.
acceptance of the traditions of the faith have dissolved with the communities that fostered them. Contemporary
It is the task of the today’s generation of Catholics, alongside
man has been set adrift, atomised, isolated. Divorced
all those committed to the primacy of truth, to ensure that
from truth freedom is understood only as license. The
Christian principles find an articulate voice in the Australian
intellectual climate meanwhile encourages the abandoning
public square. For Christianity to evangelise the hearts and
of traditional beliefs and behaviours and favours a cult of
minds of future generations it is essential that Catholics
novelty and aimless progressivism.
possess a deep spirituality, founded primarily upon prayer and the sacraments, but capable also of mature intellectual
It can no longer be assumed that current and future
engagement with the issues that perplex modern man.
generations of Australians will accept the inherent goodness of the faith, its implicit role in public life and the
The Christopher Dawson Society for Philosophy and
desirability of belief. Australian culture is instead, generally
Culture is established with the aim to assist Catholics to
ignorant of and often hostile to, the claims of religion. Past
revitalise an Australian culture suffering from an absence
“Behind this vague tendency to treat religion as a side issue in modern life, there exists a strong body of opinion that is actively hostile to Christianity and that regards the destruction of positive religion as absolutely necessary to the advance of modern culture.” C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N ( 1 8 8 9 – 1 9 7 0 )
of higher values and purpose. The Society intends to achieve its aims through sponsoring and encouraging a revitalisation of lay Catholic thought and intellectual engagement within the realms of philosophy, theology and culture. Thus, by the will of God, the Society shall bring its members towards a deeper understanding of that which is truth, beauty and goodness; and shall assist the laity in their vocation to “seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will.”2 The Society then is understood by its founding members to be: C AT H O L I C The Society is founded firstly, and most fundamentally, upon the tenets of the Catholic faith, defined by the Magisterium of the Church, whose cosmology, anthropology and moral insight must lie at the heart of all the Society’s motivations and doings. R AT I O N A L An essential part of the Catholic anthropology is the understanding of men and women as a rational beings created in the image and likeness of God. The development of man’s rational nature is fundamental to the Society’s mission and to the dignity of the human person. The rational and intellectual charisma of the Society is in no way restricted by the Society’s Catholic identity which, on the contrary, informs us that, “Reason and faith cannot be separated without diminishing the capacity of men
C U LT U R A L That by bringing Catholics into close contact with the cultural fruits of previous generations we may imbue them with a heritage of more than 2000 years of Christian thought, art and literature. This heritage is neither dogmatic nor complete, but a living tradition to be embraced,
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
MANIFESTO
and adapted for the needs of, and developed by, every generation, through which the seeds of renewal of our own culture may be found. Finally, and conscious that all the Society’s efforts must be subordinated to the will of God, we call upon the patrons of the society that, through their intercession, God may smile upon our efforts and, if it be his will, reward them in abundance. M A R Y H E L P O F C H R I S T I A N S , Patroness of Australia, to whom St Pope Pius V entrusted the armada of the Holy League and the defence of Christendom. Pray for Us S T B E N E D I C T, whom as the Roman Empire collapsed about him, established the great tradition of Western Monasticism that has always served as a bulwark for culture and civilisation. Pray for Us B L E S S E D K A R L O F A U S T R I A , last king of the Hapsburgs, who as Europe tore itself apart, strove for peace amongst men and the unity of Christendom. Pray for Us
and women to know themselves, the world and God in an appropriate way.”3
1. Christopher Dawson, “What Had Grown Old Will Be Made New” | 2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 898 | 3. John Paul II, Fides et Ratio n. 16
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The modern dilemma is essentially a spiritual one, and every one of its main aspects, moral, political and scientific, brings us back to the need of a religious solution. C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
Speakers Forum 2013 Report THE DAWSON SOCIETY for Philosophy and Culture was established primarily as a means of encouraging an intellectual engagement with the ideas at the root of many problems that facing us in our contemporary culture. The flagship project of The Dawson Society in 2013 was the regular Speakers Forum evenings.
These evenings provided a unique opportunity for the public of Perth to delve into a variety of topics in the convivial atmosphere of Rosie O’Grady’s Pub and Restaurant in the heart of Northbridge. In 2013 we were very please to host seven such events which saw an average attendance of over 75 people. The Dawson Society would like to thank all those who have supported these events, particularly our speakers.
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February
CHRISTIAN MAN IN THE MODERN WORLD Our inaugural evening saw presentations from two local
J i n g P i n g Wo n g
speakers, Mr Jing-Ping Wong and Dr Andrew Kania. Given
Jing-Ping Wong is a Masters
the broad topic of Christian Man in the Modern World Mr
Graduate from the John Paul
Wong and Dr Kania approached their subject from two very
II Institute, Melbourne and as
different perspectives.
of 2013, is a sessional tutor at the University of Notre Dame,
Jing-Ping Wong presented some thoughts on the destructive
Fremantle, in the School of
contemporary phenomenon of Gender Theory. Leaning on
Theology and Philosophy.
some remarks of Pope Benedict XVI to the Roman Curia (Christmas 2012), Mr Wong suggested that an objective
Dr Andrew Kania
approach to theological and philosophical anthropology
Andrew Kania PhD is a former
could lead us out of current confusion.
visiting fellow at Oxford University. Dr Kania has been published in
Dr Kania followed Jing-Ping’s address, speaking with fiery
a wide variety of national and
eloquence on the vocation of lay men and women. Warning
international journals. He is
against the dangers of clericalism he reminded his audience
currently Director of Spirituality at
of the importance of their unique role in the world.
Aquinas College, Manning.
SP EAKERS FORUM
April
T H E R O L E O F T H E FA M I LY I N THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH Mr Anthony Coyte addressed the Speakers Forum speaking
Anthony Coyte
on the role of the family in the mission of the Church, Mr
Anthony Coyte is a Masters
Coyte drew heavily on the thought of Cardinal Marc Ouellet
graduate of the John Paul II Institute
to paint in broad brush strokes a renewed theology of the
for Marriage and Family, Melbourne.
family.
He is currently working in the office of University Relations & Development at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
May
U N D E R S TA N D I N G A N D REDEEMI NG T H E MEDIA The Dawson Society was pleased to welcome our first
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D r Te d B a e h r ( U S A )
international speaker, Dr Ted Baehr, who was in Australia to
Dr Baehr writes a syndicated
speak at the World Congress of Families in Sydney. Dr Baehr
column for 29 publications in the
presented a thoroughly interesting account of the history of
US, is an internationally renowned
Christians in Hollywood and argued forcefully for men and
speaker, media scholar and film
women of faith to involve themselves in this fundamental
critic.
aspect of twenty-first century culture.
June
C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N A N D T H E MODERN DI LEMMA The Dawson Society was pleased to host West Australian expat Fr Scot Armstrong of the diocese of Wagga-Wagga, NSW. Fr Armstrong took as his topic the thought of the society’s
Fr S c o t A r m s t r o n g (NSW )
Fr Scot Armstrong is a priest of the
namesake, Christopher Dawson highlighting his almost
diocese of Wagga Wagga, NSW.
prophetic diagnosis of modernity. Drawing upon work in his
He completed his theological
recently submitted PhD thesis, Fr Armstrong showed that
studies at the Pontifical Urban
the legacy of Dawson’s thought can be found in the antidote
University in Rome and has
to the ills of modernity offered by the Vatican II fathers in
recently submitted his PhD thesis
the Trinitarian Christocentric anthorology of Gaudium et
to the faculty of the John Paul II
Spes n. 22.
Institute for Marriage and Family, Melbourne.
September
C AT H O L I C F E M I N I S M : A N OX Y M O R O N
Speaking on controversial relations between the Catholic Church and twentieth-century feminist thought, The
Professor Celia Hammond
Dawson Society was honoured to host Professor Celia
Professor Celia Hammond is the
Hammond for its September Speakers Forum. Professor
Vice Chancellor of the University
Hammond traced the history of the feminist movement in
of Notre Dame Australia.
an effort to answer the question ‘can one be a Catholic and
Professor Hammond was a private
a feminist?’
practitioner of law in Western Australia and formerly Dean of the School of Law at The University of
October
Notre Dame, Fremantle.
W H AT D I D D O S T O Y E V S K Y M E A N WH EN H E SAI D “ BEAU T Y WI LL S AV E T H E W O R L D ” ? Travelling from Melbourne (VIC) to address the Dawson Society’s October Speakers Forum, leading Australian theologian Professor Tracey Rowland offered her audience
P r o f e s s o r Tr a c e y Rowland ( VIC)
Professor Tracey Rowland is
an historic approach to the philosophical developments and
the author of many scholarly
thought which gave rise to modernity. Offering an integrated
articles and books specialising in
approach to the transcendentals of truth, goodness and
the thought of Joseph Ratzinger/
beauty, Professor Rowland specifically highlighted the
Pope Benedict XVI. She is
essential role of beauty in evangelisation in the twenty-first
currently Professor, Dean and
century. The Dawson Society would also like to acknowledge
Permanent Fellow of the John Paul
the general support of the John Paul Institute for Marriage
II Institute for Marriage and Family
and Family, Melbourne in making this trip possible.
Studies in Melbourne.
November
FA I T H A N D P O L I T I C S
Our final Speakers Forum for 2013 hosted a presentation by Senator-elect Joseph Bullock on the topic ‘Faith and Politics’.
Senator-elect Joe Bullock
Offering a personal account of how his faith interacts
Mr Joe Bullock has been the
with his political philosophy, Joe Bullock concluded his
secretary for the Western
presentation with a stirring call to action for men and women
Australian Branch of the Shop
of faith to involve themselves in the political sphere.
Distributive and Allied Employees Association. He is currently a Senator-elect to the Federal Parliament for Western Australia.
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
SP EAKERS FORUM
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Religion: The Key of History - Why you should read Dawson by Tom Gourlay
ELIGION is the key of history. We
The now Blessed, soon to be Saint Pope
cannot understand the inner form of a
John Paul II spoke of three philosophers who
society unless we understand its religion. We
have been particularly influential in forming
cannot understand its cultural achievements
the modern mindset – three authors whose
unless we understand the religious beliefs that
understanding of human nature is centred
lie behind them. In all ages the first creative
on either power, sex or economics. These
works of a culture are due to a religious
three, the ‘masters of superstition‘ as he
inspiration and dedicated to a religious end.
named them, Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx,
The temples of the gods are the most enduring
have dominated the landscape of the Western
works of man. Religion stands at the threshold
historical and cultural self-understanding
of all the great literatures of the world.
of our contemporary world. And so, the
Philosophy is its offspring and is a child which
writing of history in recent times has become
constantly returns to its parent.”
merely an analysis of the battles over power,
Christopher Dawson - Religion and Culture.
sexual domination or control of the means of production.
Dawson’s deep and profound insight into history and culture hinge on this truth – that religion is the key, or the engine of history. Profoundly different to utilitarian or Marxist/economic interpretations of history, Dawson’s
Dawson’s deep and profound insight into history and culture hinge on this truth – that religion is the key, or the engine of history.
reading of history is
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
“R
This however was not the starting point for Dawson. His writings begin with an anthropology built on the understanding of the dual nature of the person; body and soul – man created and fallen, and man ultimately redeemed by the
radically human centred.
Incarnation of Christ.
In the deeply secular and often almost anti-
Dawson’s history tells the story not of power
religious culture that surrounds us we often
hungry people driven by libido or the desire to
suffer the perception that religion is extrinsic
control the means of production, but rather of
to life – something furnishing, but not essential
people fallen and redeemed by Christ, caught
to the everyday life of individuals. In Dawson’s
up in the cosmic struggle to bring the light of
historical analysis however, we see that the
Christ to the nations. A people who struggle
cultus, or religion is at the heart of every
against sin or who revel in it.
culture. This is why Dawson’s history is so exciting to read – because it is a truly human history.
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Prospectus 2014 SP EAKERS FORUM 2014 In 2013 we were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic reception of the Speakers Forum,
PA I D E I A L E C T U R E S E R I E S
which averaged over 75 attendees for each event. In 2014 we hope to replicate and build
We are very excited to announce a significant
on the overwhelming success of this, our
new project of the Dawson Society. This project
flagship project.
aims to build on our Speakers Forum by allowing participants to more deeply engage with
Our program of speakers for 2014 is
philosophical issues and great cultural works.
currently being finalised but I am pleased to
The Paideia Lecture Series will provide of 5 – 8
announce that Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
lectures exploring a Speakers Forum topic in
SDB, Melinda Tankard Reist, and Anna Krohn
greater depth than is possible in a single evening.
will all form part of an exciting schedule of presenters.
We are extremely happy that the first Paideia Lecture Series will be launched in May of 2014. It
14 We were particularly happy to have Professor
will take as its topic a seminal work of Christian
Matthew Ogilvie, Dean of the School of
culture, Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Divine
Philosophy and Theology at The University
Comedy charts a man’s quest for sanctity in
of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle campus
an epic journey through Hell, Purgatory and
launch the 2014 Speakers Forum program with
Paradise. Dante’s exploration of the essential
a lecture titled ‘Religion and Terrorism’ on
questions of human nature have immortalised
25 February.
this work and make it particularly worth of study. We are particularly grateful to Associate Professor John Kinder of the University of
As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western culture. It lies at the base not only of Western religion, but also of Western morals and Western social idealism. C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
Western Australia for agreeing to present the lectures for this first series and we are also very grateful to the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle for allowing us to host this short course on their premises.
GLOWERY PRIZE Building a culture of life
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
PROSPECTUS 2014
GLOWREY P RIZE
Another new and exciting project for the
The Inaugural Glowrey Prize will consist of
Dawson Society is the establishment of the
two cash prizes of $500. These prizes will be
Glowrey Prize. The prize will be an annual
awarded in two categories, one for a written
award given the Dawson Society, in conjunction
piece and one for pro-life activities. Topics
with Pregnancy Assistance Inc. The award is
for the writing competition will be posted on
open to all West Australian secondary school
the Dawson Society website and will also be
students and has been established in order to
made available for secondary school teachers
recognise and encourage the promotion of a
to use in their assessment for both the Year
culture of life in Perth through ideas and social
11 and 12 Religious Education courses in
action.
Catholic Secondary Schools. The Dawson Society encourages teachers, parents and
The award is named after Australian Medical
fellow students to nominate candidates to be
Doctor Mary Glowrey, also known as Sr Mary
recognised for their prolife activities.
of the Sacred Heart, who was named a Servant of God in 2013. On 5 May, 1957 Dr Mary
The Glowrey Prize will be awarded at a
Glowrey died in Bangalore, India after serving
breakfast hosted by the Dawson Society in
for 37 years as a religious sister and doctor
September of 2014.
to the people of India. Her work, particularly with the women and children of that country serves as a brilliant example of our Christian commitment to the building of a culture of life.
For more information on these events please visit www.dawsonsociety.com.au
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Social Media Engagement in the Digital Age IN AN EFFORT to reach out to the public of Perth, Western Australia and beyond, The Dawson Society has embraced a number of social media initiatives. The Dawson Society’s presence on Facebook has steadily grown since its launch in March 2013 and has a weekly reach of over 400 views. On Twitter the society has engaged over 180 followers. The Dawson Society’s facebook and twitter pages allow us to promote articles, of opinion and cultural critique and to market coming events to a wide audience. The Dawson Society website was launched in 16
September of 2013, through the meticulous design work of Elizabeth Bogoni and a corporate donation from Paul Bui of Monk Media, Mount Lawley. The website hosts recordings of previous lectures, and promotes coming events. An active blog shares opinion and social commentary.
C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
“You can give men food and leisure and amusements and good conditions of work, and still they will remain unsatisfied. You can deny them all these things, and they will not complain so long as they feel that they have something to die for.�
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The Historical Vision of Christopher Dawson By Daniel Matthys
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O
NE OF THE QUESTIONS I am often asked in
work. Dawson, it is true, studied and wrote works of history
relation to the Dawson Society is why we would
however it is his work on metahistorical issues which is most
choose to name a society after Christopher Dawson. The
significant and deserving of study. Metahistory is described
question is a fair one. What is it about the thought of a fairly
by Dawson himself as “concerned with the nature of history,
obscure, twentieth-century, British historian that could
the meaning of history and the cause and significance
possibly have relevance to a Society founded over 40 years
of historical change.”1 It a study of the philosophical,
after the death of said historian, in a continent he never
sometimes theological, beliefs, that inevitably underpin all
visited? Dawson’s own legacy, following his death in 1970,
historical works. Every historian incorporates into their
presents us with a mixed picture. Though Dawson was
history metahistorical beliefs even if the author is largely
widely known and respected in his own time the impact of
unconscious of their presence.
his thought has been much diminished today to the point where, even amongst well read Catholics, it is unusual
Dawson’s own metahistorical approach to history is
to find someone fully conversant in his ideas. However it
characterised by a broad approach to his discipline. Dawson
must also be said that those who have read Dawson’s work
believed that history shared its object of study, the social
rarely disagree that he occupies an important, perhaps
life of mankind, with other emerging disciplines amongst
even essential, position in the history of English-speaking
what are termed today as the social sciences. Archaeology,
thought.
anthropology and sociology, all in Dawson’s view had their own perspective to add to this common field of study. The
Christopher Dawson is often described as a historian and
danger Dawson saw was that any one of these disciplines
while this description is technically correct to my mind it
might claim for itself the sole and complete right to
fails to properly convey the depth and significance of his
comprehend and explain man’s social life. The consequences
of such claims would inevitably be a disastrous narrowing of
in social life and a belief in the legitimacy of science as a
the philosophical conception of man, his purpose, morals and
means of explaining these factors. Concurrently Dawson’s
meaning. By the time Dawson had entered the discussion
belief in the fundamental importance of philosophical and
sociology in particular was susceptible to this danger, and
religious issues in human societies avoids the materialist
indeed the subsequent role of poor sociological thought
trap that so many of his contemporaries were to fall into.
in the disastrous ideological movements of the twentiethcentury have only served to highlight the danger Dawson
Dawson’s history then, like his understanding of man,
feared.
was both material and spiritual, according to both their legitimate spheres of importance in order to truly arrive
Dawson’s solution to this danger encouraged robust
at a social understanding of mankind. In his own time
communication between these disciplines that shared social
Dawson set his vision of history against the materialistic
life as their object of study. Using history as a reservoir of
conceptions of the like of Oswald Spengler to whom culture
empirical data against which the claims of the new sciences
was an unconscious physical process. Spengler’s history
could be tested, Dawson drew from the work of the French
envisaged each culture as a single, isolated whole unable
sociologist Frederick Le Play in defining social life as the
to interact with any foreign culture that does not share
interaction of three communities;
its material foundations. At the
a community of folk, a community
same time Dawson was to critique
of place and a community of work. To stress any single community as the defining feature of the social life of mankind would, for Dawson, represent a retardation of thought. In his own life nationalisation, an overemphasise of place, fascism, an overemphasis of folk and communism, an overemphasis of work, would all present a perverted picture of human activity with devastating consequences. Yet for Dawson, the threefold division found in Le Play also failed to
The renewal of Christendom is a task that confronts every Catholic. It is a challenge from the heart of the Catholic faith, a personal call to holiness and a demand for cultural renewal.
completely comprehend all spheres
rival metahistorical understandings of the like of R. G. Collingwood,
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
T H E H I S T O R I C A L V I S I O N O F C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
whose thought eliminated the physical and material from culture, treating culture as purely the spiritual movement of ideas. What is important to note is that Dawson does not discount the impact of the physical world on culture found in Spengler or the movement of ideas in Collingwood. Rather Dawson admits both elements, spiritual and material, in a holistic explanation of mankind and mankind’s social life. Similarly in the present day it is possible to see how Dawson’s metahistorical
of social life. To the three communities mentioned above,
understanding offers a path out of the deadlock of Marxist
Dawson added a fourth; a community of thought. It is this
and postmodern conceptions of history that are found in
community of thought, a community that for most of human
contemporary academia. Each has it value yet each is too
history has been grounded in religious belief, which provides
narrow an understanding of humanity and the world.
the dynamic element in human relations. It is here that the spiritual enters history and man’s free will can affect the
Dawson’s conception of social life as encompassing
communities of folk, place and work; communities that
a community of thought is particularly valuable for
would otherwise be entirely deterministic. Thus Dawson’s
contemporary Australia. Though academics may
vision of history is a profoundly Catholic understanding of
divide themselves amongst Marxist and postmodern
the discipline, firmly rooted in a belief in the material world
understandings of human life, the accepted view of the
as well as spiritual realities. Dawson’s eagerness to engage
culture at large is decidedly materialistic. This was not a
with sociological and anthropological methods and theory
phenomenon that would be entirely strange for Dawson. In
was motivated from a respect for the role of material factors
fact much of Dawson’s work was aimed at convincing both
1 Dawson Christopher, “The Problem of Metahistory” in Dynamics of World History, ISI Books, Wilington Delaware, 2002, page 303
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T H E H I S T O R I C A L V I S I O N O F C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
public and academic opinion that ideas, and particularly
thrice a day for a thousand years the voice of the muezzin
religious ideas formed a fundamental component of man’s
proclaiming the unity of God cannot live the same life or see
past and indeed his present
with the same eyes as the Hindu who worships the life of nature in its countless forms, and sees the external world
Were one to describe the most important topic of Dawson’s
as a manifestation of the interplay of cosmic sexual forces.”2
work one would probably cite his study of culture, not
Moreover the decline of organised religion in the west
only as a specific and concrete reality; but culture in the
does not in Dawson’s understanding, result in a culture that
abstract, what makes and unmakes cultures, what governs
escapes the influences of religious thinking. Rather the rise
a culture’s development and how cultures interact. Culture,
of secularism for Dawson represented the triumph of a new
which Dawson defined as a shared moral order, governs our
religious belief in eternal progress via humanity’s scientific
understandings of our physical space. In the second, and
and rational facilities. Religious belief in Dawsonian thought
possibly the most important, of his early works ‘Progress
is the key to understanding culture. It is culture, as the
and Religion’, Dawson took great pains to challenge the idea
dynamic element of human societies, that will interacts with
current in the fashionable society of his time that culture
man’s physical environment in different and extraordinary ways.
was a product of physical forces and religion was a superstitious and parasitic growth on top of primitive societies. This belief is summed up Herbert Spencer who in reconstructing the mentality of an uncivilised native proposed 20
that, ‘he thinks of nothing except the matters that immediately concern his daily material needs’. Arguing the contrary Dawson cited, in a fashion that should resonate with contemporary Australians, the indigenous
It is culture, as the dynamic element of human societies, that interacts with man’s physical environment in different and extraordinary ways.
So much then for Dawson’s thought as it applied to the past. The finalaspect of his thought that I would like to explore is his application of his understanding of culture to the future. This was the great task of his last public years during which he held the Chair for Roman Catholic Studies at Harvard University; and during which he published his own understanding of education in a work entitledCrisis of Western
Australian tribes and their deeply
Education in 1961. For Dawson as
spiritual and ceremonial relationship with their material surrounds. Another, somewhat amusing,
we have seen ideas, particularly ideas that become imbued
example is of a tribe in Papua, who being shown wireless
and transmitted by a culture, are of paramount importance
technology completed a perfect replica for the purpose of
to the social life of man. In the modern west Dawson saw
communicating with their dead.
formal education as the new, primary vehicle by which ideas are accepted by the culture at large. This education which
Though careful never to overstate the influence of
is both mandatory and with some exceptions secular, by
ideas over physical conditions, Dawson was nonetheless
virtue of its secular nature fails at transmitting a religious
adamant on the defining role culture plays in human life.
conception of man. The resulting culture is one in which
The source of culture and ideas for much of human history
religious belief has not so much been definitely rejected but
furthermore was to be found not merely in the physical
repressed; treated with indifference and comprehended in
conditions of man’s environment but more importantly in
ignorance.
the religious and spiritual impulses of humanity. “Behind every civilisation is a vision” Dawson writes, “a vision which
The solution for Dawson, was not merely preach Christian
may be the unconscious fruit of ages of common thought
beliefs. Separated from a worldview that comprehends
and action, or may have sprung from the sudden illumination
how religion fulfils a fundamental need of mankind
of a great prophet or thinker … A people which has heard
abstract beliefs play the part of the wireless amongst the
2 Dawson Christopher, Progress and Religion, Catholic University of America Press, Washington D.C., 2001, pages 67 - 68
tribe in Papua. The dogma and doctrines of the faith will be understood only in a manner that is consistent with the dominant zeitgeist and in this manner will be devoid of meaning. Rather Dawson suggested that Christians must act as interpreters of the Christian tradition as it has existed as an integrated whole. This tradition makes for a valuable study in its own right for in many ways it is not a dead tradition but one that still profoundly affects the world in which we live. More importantly this tradition offers Christian beliefs in a context by which their essential meaning and importance may properly comprehended. This is a task in Dawson’s view not only for institutions but also and more importantly, for the individual Christian, a task completed by embracing an apostolate of study to complement the apostolates of prayer and action. It is these elements of Dawson’s thought that were influential for the founding of the Dawson Society. If the Society is to be an effective transmitter of ideas the organisers must first
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
T H E H I S T O R I C A L V I S I O N O F C H R I S T O P H E R DAW S O N
have their conception of man in order. Man is not merely a glorified animal nor is he a pure spirit. This may seem like a simple idea but if it were at once properly comprehended it is arguable that more than half the modern heresies would vanish overnight. In contemporary Australia the intellectual climate very much favours man as a glorified animal, thus Dawson’s understanding of the religious nature of man is of essential importance to the Society’s work. Finally there is the apostolate of study. It is not right to despair over modernity. Very well. The alternative is hard work in prayer, thought and action.
The danger Dawson saw was that any one of the social sciences might claim for itself the sole and complete right to comprehend and explain man’s social life. The consequences of such claims would inevitably be a disastrous narrowing of the philosophical conception of man, his purpose, morals and meaning.
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Financial Report AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, the Dawson Society
As we look to 2014 and further into the future
is a newly incorporated association that
the organising committee of the Dawson Society
survives on the tenacity of its volunteers and
for Philosophy and Culture is keen to move the
the generosity of those individuals who have
Society’s finances onto a more formal footing,
donated their time and expertise.
as we have now become a formal incorporated association with legal rights and responsibilities.
We would especially like to thank the generous
To this end we have included a summary of the
donations of the following:
Society’s financial totals in 2013 and a budget of projected expenses for 2014.
Squire Sanders legal firm, for their efforts in aiding the society to achieve incorporated
Though the Dawson Society is run largely by
status.
volunteer labour and is consequently relatively cheap to run it is simply not possible to provide
Paul Bui of Monk Media, for his work in
the events we host without cost. We are
coding and hosting the website.
currently in the process of financing events for the coming year and are seeking grants and
Elizabeth Bogoni, for the generous
private donations so that these events can go
donation of many hours of design work, for our
22
ahead successfully.
invitations, general branding and the Dawson Society website.
EXP ENSES
2014
2013
30,000 24,100 25,000
20,000
15,000 10,275 10,000 4,250 5,400 5,000
5,500
5,200
6,000
Glowery Prize
Paideia Lectures
4,000 2,000
Speakers Forum
Website
2,025
General Expenses
TOTAL
SINCE WE BEGAN the Dawson Society last year I have been
support of those in the community who share our goal of
continually impressed by the support we have received from
the Christianisation of Australian Culture. Whilst we have
a variety of sectors within the community. Our events and
currently budgeted a financial need of $24 100 for 2014
activities are made possible by generous donors who really
any donations above this amount will be invested in the
are investors in cultural renewal.
continuing activities of the society, with an aim not merely to maintain, but to grow.
Due to the voluntary nature of the society our expenses are minimal for their overall return, however it would be
I personally would like to thank those individuals and
impossible to proceed with our planned events without
institutions who, through their generous donations and
solid financial backing. We are currently seeking donations
contributions made our work in 2013 possible. I firmly
for either specific projects, as detailed above, or general
believe in the continuing mission of the Dawson Society and
donations to support the society’s activities.
I invite you to join with us in this exciting mission.
If just 40 people were to commit to a pledge of $50 a month our expenses for the year ahead would be entirely met. Understanding that this might not be possible for many people, any monthly or one-off contributions will go a long way to supporting our proposed activities for 2014. Myself and the other organisers of the Dawson Society are also seeking grants from a variety of sources and institutions however these donations cannot replace the dedicated
thomas gourlay President and Co-Founder
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SUPPORT
SUPPORT THE DAWSON SOCIETY Contributions can be made via the following D I R E C T PAY M E N T
PAY PA L
The Dawson Society
Secure Paypal transactions may be made at
BSB 066 118
www.dawsonsociety.com.au
Account Number 10347746
CHEQUES
C A S H D O N AT I O N S
Cheques can be made out to
Cash donations are always gratefully accepted
The Dawson Society,
at Dawson Society events
PO Box 1413 Booragoon WA 6954
Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture / Annual Report and Prospectus 2013-14
F UNDRAISING APPEAL
Advisory Board THE DAWSON SOCIETY for Philosophy and Culture is proud to appoint three members to a new advisory board. The purpose of the board is to lend their expertise and advice to assist the committee of management in the overall direction of the Society’s activities. We thank these founding members for thier ongoing support.
P r o f e s s o r Tr a c e y Rowland
Dean of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family
M r Pe t e r R o s e n g r e n ,
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Editor of The Catholic Weekly
(Sydney), former Editor of The Record (Perth)
Professor Celia Hammond,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Australia
C O M M I T T E E O F M A N AG E M E N T
Thomas Gourlay
Daniel Matthys
Elizabeth Bogoni
Richard Sellwood
J i n g - P i n g Wo n g
Deon Matthys
President
Artistic Director
Vice-President