[eastsider]

I would be curious to know how many students at Georgetown have studied the Nichomachean Ethics.

I can't say that I know how many students have studied this great work, but at least the Nicomachean Ethics appears on Georgetown's Index to Online Great Books in English Translation that is linked to on its Philosophy Department page.

Having said that, I note that ethics is notably absent from the department's enumerated aims ("In short, the Department aims to equip its students both with technical skills in philosophy--logical, linguistic, exegetical and phenomenological--and with thorough knowledge of the great traditions of Western philosophy--ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary.").

[maryallyson]

I was one of the Georgetown University students graduating two weeks ago when Cardinal Arinze delivered his speech.

To clarify - yes, the "mocked by homosexuality" line was read at the ceremony. Moreover, the text of the speech posted here is incomplete - my suspicion is that the copy sent by the Dean was a draft rather than a transcript. The Cardinal expounded upon issues of homosexuality, divorce, and premarital sex to a degree that is not reflected in this version of the speech.

A large percentage, if not the majority, of the graduates at that ceremony had probably read _Nichomachean Ethics_ during their time at Georgetown. Many of Georgetown's professors of philosophy and ethics - and all of the best of these professors - include NE on their syllabi. When reviewing Georgetown's incorporation of and emphasis on ethics, it is important to note that the University consists of four distinct schools (Arinze spoke at the commencement for the College of Arts and Sciences; the other schools are the Business School, Nursing School, and School of Foreign Service), and that each of these schools have their own requirements. In the college, it is required that all students complete a minimum of one course in ethics and one philosophy course.