In another milestone announcement, as part of Trent University’s $50 million campaign, Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, today announced a personal gift of $50,000 to create the Louis and Paul Groarke Philosophy Endowment, which will support philosophy events for students, the public, and others interested in philosophy at Trent University.  President Groarke challenged others to help him raise $100,000 for endowments for Philosophy at Trent.

Trent’s president named the endowment in honour of Louis and Paul Groarke, two brothers who also hold PhDs in Philosophy. The gift was announced as part of Philanthropy Week at the end of the Ryle Lecture series, where President Groarke gave three lectures on the changing roles of words and pictures in our understanding of the world.

“I was very fortunate to study philosophy,” said Dr. Groarke. “It makes you an independent thinker – ready to think outside the box, see different points of view, and weigh the evidence on all sides. I wanted to pay something back to a discipline that gave me the skills and knowledge that gave me a career as a professor and an administrator. At a time when the benefits of studying the liberal arts are undervalued, I felt this is especially important.”

As the announcement was made, Dr. Groarke challenged others with a passion for philosophy to contribute an additional $50,000 to new or existing endowments that will allow Trent to sustain and enrich a vital philosophy program that fosters public discourse and debate, student development and community engagement.

"In turbulent times it's important to stop and think about deep questions; to ask about the fundamental reasons behind things,” explained Dr. Louis Groarke. “Philosophy does this in a great many ways. It investigates the history of ideas, moral questions, what logic requires, natural philosophy, God and religion, the human condition, the nature of art. It makes us think long and hard about fundamental issues. I am pleased to be associated with an endowment that will further this endeavor."

“The principal tools of modern philosophy are logic and a rigorous examination of language. I have usually worked in applied philosophy and am glad that this endowment will highlight the usefulness of such a study when we examine the foundations and practices of all the other disciplines,” said Dr. Paul Groarke.  

About the Louis and Paul Groarke Philosophy Endowment

The annual interest from the fund will be used to support public philosophy events that involve students, alumni and others interested in philosophy. This fund recognizes two brothers who studied and taught philosophy. At a time when the importance of foundational disciplines like philosophy are undervalued, this is a gesture that aims to support its continued importance at Trent.

Dr. Groarke lauded the growing culture of philanthropy at Trent University as vital in supporting students, building bridges with the community, and enabling activities that advance the sharing of knowledge and debate of ideas. He hopes to see others follow suit and start new endowment funds for other programs across the University.

“Building endowments can help us provide our programs with something extra that can keep us an exceptional institution with a great deal to offer students, faculty and the communities we engage with.”

About Philosophy at Trent University

The philosophical community at Trent is thriving. Trent is a place where students and faculty are actively engaged in thinking well together. With a dynamic curriculum, more and more students are choosing to enroll in philosophy courses each year. Every member of faculty is actively engaged in research and the scope of their collective work is truly incredible. In recent years, faculty members in Philosophy have published on topics ranging from the methods employed by ancient philosophers working to explain the natural world to the significance of adventure and risk in relation to living well. 

With support from members, alumni, and friends, the Philosophy program has been in a unique position to expand possibilities for students and faculty. Students majoring in philosophy at Trent have gone on to all kinds of success after graduation, a testament to the fact that graduates of the Trent Philosophy program are well prepared for life after University. We are committed to building on our successes to generate even more opportunities for the generations of students yet to experience philosophy at Trent.