2026 Fall Meeting
American Culture: Past and Present (and Future?)

All Society meetings are private, closed door, and invitation-only, following the Chatham House Rule. Meetings are open to Soceity members and their invited guests. All attendees agere to adhere to the Society's Code of Conduct and Cancellation Policy. 

Important Dates

Meeting Location Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 221102 (Hotel Website) (Directions to Hotel)

Group Reservations

We strongly encourage attendees at our meetings to utilize the Society’s hotel block, as filling our room block directly supports the Society's ability to negotiate favorable contracts for future meetings. We make every effort to negotiate attractive prices for rooms and meals, but our negotiating strength is heavily based on the Society's utilization of rooms for previous meetings. In addition, when we aren't able to guarantee and fill a strong room block (hotels make money on "heads in beds") we incur higher rates and penalties that ultimately raise our registration fees. Thank you for helping to keep this and future meetings as affordable as possible by booking your accommodations in the Society's room block using the link below.

Registered Attendees - Book Here

Meeting Program 

The themes we will cover in this meeting are timely and important. Societies that survive have a “culture.” But what does that mean? Where do cultures come from, and how do they shape who we are – individually and collectively? If culture is upstream of politics, then culture is older than the state, deeper than the market, and more flexible than biological evolution. Culture creates shared meaning and understanding, fostering large group cooperation. But culture is inherited from how we are raised and socialized; this process is far from automatic. Culture answers questions that politics and markets cannot: Who are we? What do we owe to one another? What gives life meaning? Does culture happen, or must it be created and nurtured by the state? Was there ever an “American culture”? Is it being handed down intact to new generations, or is it changing? What is the future for faith, families, and the formative institutions of education?

• Additional inforamation forthcoming (updated 6/3/26). 
• Please note - Current Board Members & Founders' Fellows have additional programming that is shared separately.

Friday, September 18

4:00             Registration Opens

5:00–5:45  New Member Welcome Cocktail (by invitation)

5:30–6:00  Fellowship Orientation

5:45–6:50  General Reception (Hosted with thanks to our sponsors)

7:00–9:00  Dinner & Program: Was There an American "Culture"
  Chair: Michael C. Munger, President, The Philadelphia Society 
  Keynote: Mark Bauerlein, Emory University 

Saturday, September 19

7:30–8:30  Networking Breakfast

9:00–10:15  Session 1: Culture's Origins and Significance
  Robin Hanson, George Mason University
  Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill, Council of Independent Colleges

10:15 - 10:45  Break

10:45–1200 Session 2: A Culture of Freedom: Fundamental or Functional?
  John Hasnas, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
  Matthew Peterson, Claremont Institute
  Luke Sheahan, Duquesne University; The University Bookman

12:30–2:00  Luncheon & Program - American Dream: Myth or Majesty?
  Keynote: Katherine Mangu-Ward, Reason

2:30–3:34  Session 3: Education: The Future of American Culture
  David Bobb, Bill of Rights Institute
  Carol McNamara, Great Hearts Institute
  Jenna Robinson, James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal

3:45–4:15  Coffee Break

4:15–5:30  Session 4: The Kids Are Not All Right: Can Culture Be Restored? 
  Will Biagini, Leadership Institute
  Allen Mendenhall, The Heritage Foundation
  Amy Wax, University of Pennsylvania Law School

5:30–6:45  Reception (cash bar without sponsorship)

Fellowship Information

Visit the Society's Fellowship page to learn more about our Founders' Fellows & General Meeting Fellowship programs. Requirements, deadlines, and application links, are regularly posted. 

Questions?

Please contact Charissa Reul, CMP, Director of Operations with questions or for additional information by email (charissa.reul@phillysoc.org) or by phone (517-688-51111).