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The McKelvy House Scholars will host a dinner discussion Sunday evening on “Five Images of Man,” an exploration of what model best describes humans.
Dinner will begin 6 p.m. at McKelvy House, 200 High Street; RSVP by Saturday to tullk. Led byA.B. engineering major Kristen Tull ’06 (Sicklerville, N.J.), the discussion will start at 6:30 p.m. and requires no reservations.
The five images are man as: wolf to his fellow men, a blank sheet receiving external impressions, a mixture of good and evil, naturally good and able to improve himself, and sure to transcend himself.
”I would like to talk about which model, if any, best describes humans, why one model is a better fit than another, etc.,” says Tull. “In addition, I would like to discuss possible connections among the models and how society functions in terms of government. For example, why does democracy seem to be the best fit? Is it because man is a wolf to his fellow men and we need an institution to control man? Or, if man really is good and can improve himself, why can’t society function effectively without a government?”
Since 1962, the McKelvy House Scholars program has brought together Lafayette students with a wide range of majors and interests to reside in a historic off-campus house and share in intellectual and social activities. Weekly Sunday dinner discussions that engage the students in debate and exchange of ideas are the hallmark of the program. Most members also contribute to the annual McKelvy Papers, written on a topic of each person’s choice. McKelvy Scholars participate in activities together such as field trips to plays, concerts, and exhibits, and sponsor events for the campus as well.
Some past McKelvy discussions in 2003-04:
March 7 — Idealized body forms
Feb. 22 — Countercultures
Feb. 15 — Eternity
Feb. 8 — Bisexuality
Dec. 7 — Anger and frustration toward computers and technology
Nov. 9 — “Unnecessary” crimes
Nov. 2 — Genetic alteration
Oct. 26 — Social construction of gender
Oct. 19 — Greed as an economic force
Sept. 28 — Value