A Contemplation of Building – 2025 National Conference
Charleston,
SC
Francis Marion Hotel
Sold Out
This event has sold out. See more information below.
• If you did not secure a seat make sure to sign up for the waiting list. We WILL have cancelations throughout the year.
• Can’t make it in person? Watch online as a group or an individual.
• Don’t forget about the Youth Conference which will be running simultaneously.
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The 2025 CiRCE National Conference will take place in Charleston, SC, July 16-19, at the Francis Marion Hotel.
Speakers and further details to be announced soon.
The 2025 Paideia Prize Winner: Dr. Francis J. Beckwith
Francis J. Beckwith is a philosopher who teaches, publishes, and speaks on a variety of topics and issues in ethics, law, politics, and religion. Since 2003 he has been on the faculty of Baylor University, where he currently serves as Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Affiliate Professor of Political Science,Associate Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy, and Resident Scholar in the Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR). Prior to arriving at Baylor, he was a 2002-2003 Visiting Research Fellow in the James Madison Program in the Department of Politics at Princeton University.
He and his wife, Frankie, make their home in Woodway, Texas. His website is http://francisbeckwith.com, where you can find a video of Stephen Colbert quoting from one of his tweets.
Confirmed Speakers
Francis Marion Hotel
The historic Francis Marion Hotel, named for the Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” has a long tradition of gracious service, elegant accommodations, and hosting splendid banquets and events dating back to its opening in 1924. Built by local investors at a cost of $1.5 million from plans by noted New York architect W.L. Stoddard, the Francis Marion was the largest and grandest hotel in the Carolinas. The 1920s was the Golden Age of railroads, radio and grand hotels, and the Charleston Renaissance was in full bloom and the Francis Marion Hotel was “the place to be”.
Please click here to book your hotel room on our block at the discounted rate! Use code CIRCE25.
Schedule
EST time
July 16
Wednesday
5:30 – 8:00pm – Check-In & Welcome Reception
July 17
Thursday
8:30 – 9:45am – Plenary I – TBD
10:15 – 11:30am – Pillar I – TBD
12:00 – 1:00pm – Breakout Session A:
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Colloquy – TBD
Colloquy – TBD
2:30 – 3:30pm – Breakout Session B:
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Colloquy – TBD
Colloquy – TBD
4:00 – 5:00pm – Poetic Knowledge Panel
5:30pm – State Of Circe – Andrew Kern
July 18
Friday
8:30 – 9:45am – Plenary II – TBD
10:15 – 11:30am – Pillar II – TBD
12:00 – 1:00pm – Breakout Session C:
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Colloquy – TBD
Colloquy – TBD
2:30 – 3:30pm – Breakout Session D:
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Colloquy – TBD
Colloquy – TBD
4:00 – 5:00pm – Breakout Session E:
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Colloquy – TBD
July 19
Saturday
9:00 – 10:00am – Plenary III – TBD
10:30 – 11:30am – Plenary IV – TBD
12:00 – 1:15pm – Q&A Panel and Closing Remarks – Andrew Kern
Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve already registered for the conference, do I need to register for the banquet also?
No. The banquet registration is included in the standard conference registration.
Will recordings of the sessions be available after the conference?
Absolutely. Nearly all of the sessions will be available to purchase as downloadable mp3s a few weeks after the event.
Are meals included in the registration fees?
Breakfast is provided Thursday, Friday, and Saturday along with lunch on Thursday and Friday, and dinner at the banquet on Friday evening. The Wednesday evening reception includes heavy hors d’oeuvres.
What time does the conference end?
The conference will end at lunchtime on Saturday, July 15th.
What is the cancellation policy?
Refund requests received by January 1st, 2024 will be honored in full, minus a $20 cancellation fee per person. Cancellations received between January 1st and April 1st, 2024 will receive a 50-percent refund, minus the cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after May 1st unless your seat can be replaced by someone on the waiting list, in which case we will refund 50% of the registration. Please note that seats pre-ordered at the 2022 conference do NOT qualify for refunds. Cancellations and refund requests must be made by email: matthew@circeinstitute.org.
I saw the word “colloquy” on your schedule page. What does it mean?
A “colloquy” is a session that is designed to be discussion-based. Each colloquy is moderated by one of our speakers whose job is to kindle the conversation and maintain the session’s civility. Because of the Socratic nature of these sessions, they are limited to twelve per colloquy. There are two colloquies and 5 workshops per break-out period.
How many sessions does the conference have?
There are typically 2 plenaries each day, the Friday night banquet, the Thursday Poetic Knowledge Panel, approximately 35 total workshops, and 14 total colloquies.
What time does the conference begin?
The conference begins at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 17th with a welcome reception and meet-and-greet. Food is provided. The sessions begin Thursday morning, July 18th, at 8:30 am.
Do you allow the transfer of tickets?
Due to the length of our waitlist, we do not allow the transfer of tickets, except under extreme circumstances. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions about this policy please email us at matthew@circeinstitute.org.