Recent years have seen unusual activity in what might be called the apocalyptic space of public and private discourse. Political, social, cultural, and environmental developments in the United States and beyond have inspired commentary, analysis, and even a little prophecy — not just from the usual quarters but also from sources not ordinarily prone to predictions of paradise or doom. These developments have a history, of course, including important precedents in religion, politics, literature, and science, but they also have a future.

These are a few of the reasons why the Critical Engagements theme for 2018–2019 was The End of the World: Crises, Turning Points, Renewals. Our events, courses, and discussions brought together critical analysis and constructive dialogue to bear on issues ranging from changing political norms to the environment, from apocalyptic thinking in the strict sense to the end of the “end of history.”

See what we did here.