Beyond Work and Play: Aristotle on Friendship, Contemplation, and The Value of Human Activity – Prof. Marshall Bierson

<p>Prof. Marshall Bierson uses Aristotle’s distinction between work, play, and deeper “energetic” activities to argue that friendship and contemplation uniquely allow us to “rest” in what is truly good and meaningful, and then shows how Aquinas radicalizes this by making both contemplation and friendship with God the heart of human fulfillment.</p><p><br></p><p>This lecture was given on November 20th, 2025, at Cornell University.</p><p><br></p><p>For more information on upcoming events, visit us at <a href="https://thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events" target="_blank">thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>About the Speakers:</p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Marshall …