CENTER FOR THOMISTIC STUDIES Report

CENTER FOR THOMISTIC STUDIES

Report

2016-2017

University of St. Thomas

§ From the Director§ From the Director

During the past year the Center for Thomistic Studies has continued its

contribution to society and the Church by educating graduate students and

producing scholarship. As you read through the following pages consider

the scholarly achievements of the faculty, students, and alumni, as well as

their influence in forming students, seminarians, and the culture at large.

The visit of our Aquinas Lecturer, Fr. James Schall, who drew on his

years of teaching and publication to explain the importance of Thomism

in today’s political, cultural, and religious context has been particularly

encouraging.

The scholarly and professional achievements of our students and faculty

are many, as can be seen in the following pages. We were saddened by

the loss to cancer of our former colleague, Dr. John Deely. Dr. Brian Kemple, Dr. Deely’s first doctoral

student, was able to defend his dissertation shortly before Dr. Deely’s passing, due to the assistance of

Dr. John Hittinger, who served as co-director.

During this past year our students have been greatly assisted by support from the George Strake Foun-

dation. Mr. Evan Williams, one of four members of the “George Strake” cohort, has completed his

course work, while the other three are returning for further course work. Ms. Rose Langley and Mr. Ja-

cob Alexander will return for the first year of their Ph.D. studies, and Mr. Grossheim will return for his

second year in the M.A. program. The Foundation’s support will also be used to assist one of our three

incoming students, Mr. Elliot Polsky.

You may have heard of the financial difficulties that the University of St. Thomas has experienced and

their effect on the Philosophy Department and the Center for Thomistic Studies. Although all of us on

the Center faculty primarily teach undergraduate courses, we think that the graduate program is im-

portant not only for its enrichment of our undergraduate program, but also for its wider contribution to

UST and to the academic community. The Center has never been in a better professional and academic

condition, but it faces new financial challenges. The administration and Board of Directors have recent-

ly indicated their commitment to the further existence and success of our graduate program. We will be

working with a Development Advisory Board to develop plans to ensure financial support for graduate

students comparable to the support given by our peer graduate programs in philosophy. If you would

like to make a gift to the Center for Thomistic Studies or learn more about leaving the Center in your

will, please contact Steven Jensen at ([email protected]) and Tina Medlin, Assistant Vice President

for Development, UST, at [email protected] or 713-525-3168.

After serving as interim Director during the Fall of 2017, Dr. Jensen has agreed to become Center direc-

tor for the next academic year. We expect continued professional and academic success, and are confi-

dent that we can find the necessary financial support. I am reminded of the telegram that Pope St. John

Paul II sent us through Cardinal Casaroli in 1979, which stated “He [Pope John Paul II] invokes [the]

assistance of God on [the] University and its work of increasing knowledge and understanding in partic-

ular through its Thomistic Studies, with prayers for [the] success of [the] announced Center.”

This sign indicates a Center Historical Document. You may find more such documents at the

Center Archives at http://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Centers-of-Excellence/Center-for-

Thomistic-Studies/Archives/Index.aqf

§ 2017Aquinas Lecture§ 2017Aquinas Lecture::

Reverend James V. Schall, SJ Professor Emeritus at

Georgetown University delivered the 38th Aquinas Lecture on

Jan. 26. Fr. Schall has written hundreds of essays on political,

theological, literary, and philosophical issues in academic jour-

nals. He contributes regularly to Crisis and Homiletic & Pasto-

ral Review. He is also known for his expertise on G.K. Chester-

ton. He is the author of numerous books on social issues, spiritu-

ality, culture, and literature including: Another Sort of Learning,

Christianity and Life, The Distinctiveness of Christianity and A

Student's Guide to Liberal Learning. In his lecture “Is Intelli-

gence Impractical?: Reflections of a ‘Rigid’ Thomist,” Fr. Schall

explained the way in which current intellectual trends show the

need for a revived Thomism. He also gave a class on political

philosophy and a colloquium on “Where does political philosophy fit in the order of

things?” Faculty, students, and the general public all appreciated Father Schall’s acute observa-

tions on the intellectual life.

§ Aquinas and the Arabs§ Aquinas and the Arabs: :

June 1-2, 2017: Dr. R. Edward Houser presented a paper on “Created and

Uncreated Creators: Avicenna and Aquinas” at the Warburg Institute in

London.. The Warburg Institute hosted the meeting of the Aquinas and the

Arabs International Working Group which was devoted to the topic of Cre-

ation and Artifice in Medieval Theo ries of Causality.

Upcoming Events

August 25, 2017: Meeting of the Aquinas and the Arabs International

Working Group at the University of Notre Dame.

November 16-19, 2017: Aquinas and the Arabs International Working

Group will sponsor a lecture by Dr. R. Edward Houser on “Avicenna and

the Five Ways” at the 2017 Annual ACPA Meeting at the Westin Dallas

Downtown in Dallas, TX .

Dr. Osborne inducts Fr. Shall into the Order of St. Thomas

VISITING SCHOLARVISITING SCHOLAR

§ Pavel Kilbergr§ Pavel Kilbergr My name is Pavel Kilbergr and I am a student of philosophy with a

particular interest in Virtue ethics and its connection to psychology. My

alma mater is the Faculty of Theology at the University of South Bohe-

mia in Ceske Budejovice. Dr. Tomáš Machula, Ph.D., Th.D. is my super-

visor.

When I began my doctoral study, I wanted to focus on Thomas Aqui-

nas and his philosophical approach. Thus, I decided to visit the Center for

Thomistic Studies in order to meet with authorities at the Center. Thanks

to the support of the University of South Bohemia, I was able to visit the

university twice and had a very productive time. My first visit focused on

the virtue of justice and its earlier sources in Peter Lombard. This resulted

in an article. My second visit focused on a comparison between virtue

ethics as discussed by Aquinas in the Summa theologiae and its renova-

tion found in the work of Philippa Foot and Alasdair MacIntyre. The result of this work will be pub-

lished at the end of May.

The time spent at the Center was very valuable to me. In particular, my consultations with Dr.

Houser, Dr. Osborne, Dr. Jensen and Dr. Hittinger were fruitful. I am thankful for the time and effort

they devoted to me. I am also grateful for my many discussions with the students at the Center. These

greatly expanded and enriched my understanding in the realm of Thomistic philosophy. In short, UST

proved to be a splendid place for philosophical research. I particularly enjoyed the weekly colloquia

which were made even more delightful by the devotion and professionalism of Ms. Valerie Hall.

Thank you for the great study time at your Center!

Best wishes,

Pavel Kilbergr

§ John Paul II Forum§ John Paul II Forum::

During the past academic year, The John Paul II Forum in conjunction with the De-During the past academic year, The John Paul II Forum in conjunction with the De-

partment of Philosophy and the Center for Thomistic Studies sponsored the following partment of Philosophy and the Center for Thomistic Studies sponsored the following

events:events:

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016——Professor Piotr Jaroszynski, University of Lublin spoke on Professor Piotr Jaroszynski, University of Lublin spoke on

John Paul II and the New Evangelization.John Paul II and the New Evangelization.

October 22, 2016October 22, 2016——Mass Honoring the Feast Day of John P. II at the Chapel of St. Mass Honoring the Feast Day of John P. II at the Chapel of St.

Basil, USTBasil, UST

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016——Dr. Fran O’Rourke, Professor of Philosophy, University of Dublin spoke on Dr. Fran O’Rourke, Professor of Philosophy, University of Dublin spoke on

“Thomas Aquinas in the works of James Joyce.”“Thomas Aquinas in the works of James Joyce.”

April 26, 2017April 26, 2017——Fr. Witold Kania, University of Silesia at Katowice, Poland spoke on “Saint John Paul

II on Work and Workers.”

June 12June 12--15, 201715, 2017——Summer Workshop: Summer Workshop: Ecclesia de EucharistiaEcclesia de Eucharistia, led by Msgr. James Anderson with , led by Msgr. James Anderson with

the help of Dr. Steven Meyers, and Jessi and Tim Caruthers.the help of Dr. Steven Meyers, and Jessi and Tim Caruthers.

§ Historical Center Documents§ Historical Center Documents::

§ Center Colloquia Fall 2016:

Under the care of Dr. Thomas Osborne, the Colloquia featured a mixture of students, Center Faculty,

UST Faculty, and illustrious invited guests. Here is the line-up of speakers for Fall 2016:

September 23: John Skalko, Center PhD candidate spoke on “Can One Tell a Lie or Sin Against Na-

ture for the Common Good?”

September 30: Dr. John F.X. Knasas, Professor of Philosophy, Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on

“Thomistic Existentialism and Leibniz's Cosmological Reasoning: Possible Liaisons.”

October 14: Dr. John P. Hittinger, Rudman Chair of Graduate Philosophy, Center for Thomistic

Studies spoke on “Aquinas, Budziszewski and Following an Erring Conscience.”

October 21: Dr. R. Edward Houser, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold Professor of Graduate Philosophy,

Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on “Aristotle and Property: Implications Then and

Now.”

October 28: Dr. Ted Rebard, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of St. Thomas

spoke on “Passionately knowing the Truth.”

November 4: Patrick Madigan, SJ, Editor, Heythrop Journal, Heythrop College, University of Lon-

don spoke on “Expressive Individualism, the Cult of the Artist as ‘Genius,’ and Milton's

Lucifer.”

November 11: Catherine Peters, Center PhD candidate spoke on “The Objective Relativity of Good-

ness: A Rapprochement between Peter Geach and Thomas Aquinas.”

November 18: Dr. Robert Koons, Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin spoke on

“The Many-Worlds (Everett) Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: A Hylomorphic

Critique and Alternative.”

December 2: Dr. Robert Wood, Professor of Philosophy, University of Dallas spoke on "Why Hegel

Now?"

§ Center Colloquia Spring 2017:

Under the care of Dr. Thomas Osborne, the Colloquia featured a mixture of students, Center Faculty,

UST Faculty, and illustrious invited guests. Here is the line-up of speakers for Spring 2017:

January 20: Dr. Turner Nevitt, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of San Diego spoke

on “Aquinas on Essences and Real Definitions.”

January 27: Rev. James V. Schall, S.J., Emeritus Professor of Government, Georgetown University

spoke on “Where Does Political Philosophy Fit in the Order of Things?”

February 3: Jeffry Zents, Center PhD candidate spoke on “Pyrrhonian Skepticism and Some Possi-

ble Implications for Philosophy.”

February 10: Daniel Wagner, Center PhD candidate spoke on “On the Elegance of APo, II.19 as Pla-

tonic Division.”

February 17: Dr. R. Edward Houser, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold Professor of Graduate Philosophy,

Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on “Avicenna and the 5 Ways.”

March 3: Dr. Gaston LeNotre, Northwest Vista College spoke on “Thomas Aquinas and His

Latin and Arabic Sources on the Role of Logica Docens.”

March 10: Fr. Mario O. D'Souza, CSB, PhD, Basilian Fathers Chair in Religion and Education

University of St. Michael's College spoke on “Maritain and the Unity of the Person.”

March 24: Dr. John F.X. Knasas, Professor of Philosophy, Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on

“Aquinas: Which Division of Philosophy Proves God?”

April 7: Dr. Ted Rebard, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of St. Thomas spoke

on “A Brief Introduction to Gender Reality.”

April 28: Dr. Thomas Osborne, Director, Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on “Which Es-

sence Is at Stake in the Essence/Existence Distinction?”

May 5: Dr. R. Edward Houser, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold Professor of Graduate Philosophy,

Center for Thomistic Studies spoke on “Creative Creatures and the Creative God.”

CENTER FACULTYCENTER FACULTY

§ John P. Hittinger§ John P. Hittinger

PhD 1986 The Catholic University of America

MA 1978 The Catholic University of America

BA 1974 University of Notre Dame

Research:

Two week trip to Franciscan House in Lowell, Michigan for research and writing on Saint John Paul II. A paper

was delivered.

Two week trip to Katowice and Lublin, Poland for research on Saint John Paul II. Two papers were delivered.

Trips to Pasadena, Ca (International Conference on Saint John Paul II) and Portsmouth, RI (International Confer-

ence on Religion and Public Life)

Presentations made:

“Liberty and Religion,” a lecture presented at the University of St. Thomas, as inaugural lecture in The Charles

Koch Foundation Political Theory and Public Policy Lecture Series: In Search of Liberty. January 26 2016

“John Paul II and the strength of mercy,” a talk to Franciscan associates, Franciscan Life Center, Lowell, Michi-

gan, February 5, 2016.

“Tocqueville on the role of religion in Democracy,” a Lecture presented at the University of Silesia/Katowice,

Poland. May 10, 2016.

“John Paul II and three principles on the vitality of culture,” lecture presented at a conference of on Global immi-

gration and the problem of culture, Catholic University of Lublin, May 17, 2016.

Presentation Pilgrimage to Poland, John Paul II Forum Summer Workshop, Houston, Tx, June 2016

“John Paul II and the renewal of culture,” International Conference on the Reenchantment of Culutre, Pasadena,

Ca. July 21, 2016.

“Freedom of conscience and religion in John Paul II’s thought,” German American Colloquium on Religious Free-

dom, Rhode Island, July 28, 2016.

§ R. Edward Houser§ R. Edward Houser

PhD 1981 University of Toronto

MA 1973 University of Toronto

MSL 1976 Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies

BA 1968 University of Texas

Publications:

Author: Rhetoric and Reasoning: Logic as a Liberal Art. Center for Thomistic Studies Publications. 2016. Prelimi-

nary printing in December, 2015. Submitted to The Catholic University of America Press, April 2017.

Editor and contributor of two essays, Aquinas and Hope, in the series Aquinas and the Virtues Series, Washington,

DC: Catholic University of America Press. Essays complete in 2015-16. Dr. Houser is General Editor of this

seven book series, for which he has a formal agreement with Catholic University of America Press. Dr. Mary

Catherine Sommers is Associate Series Editor, and Dr. Benjamin Smith, Aquinas College, Nashville, is Assis-

tant Series Editor. This book will be submitted shortly.

“Essence and Existence in Avicenna,” Routledge Companion to Arabic Philosophy, ed. Richard C. Taylor and Luis

Lopez-Farjeat. London: Routledge, 2015: 212-224.

“Divine Illumination,” Routledge Companion to Medieval Philosophy, ed. Richard Cross. Invited chapter, written,

submitted and accepted, Spring 2016.

“Justice as a Cardinal Virtue,” accepted for Proceedings of the ACPA (2016 meeting).

“Creators—Created and Uncreated: What Aquinas Learned from Avicenna,” accepted for volume to be published by

the Warburg Institute.

Conferences:

“On Using Definitions in Demonstrations, According to Aristotle.” Invited comment on paper. Annual meeting of

the Southwest Conference on Ancient Philosophy. Rice University. 19 February 2016.

Invited Lecture: “Creators—Created and Uncreated: What Aquinas Learned from Avicenna,” Warburg Institute,

University of London, UK, 2 June 2017.

Professional Service:

Member, Editorial Board, Bonaventure Texts in Translation Series (BTTS), Franciscan Institute, St.

Bonaventure University. Ongoing.

Member, Editorial Board, Aquinas Translation Series, Catholic University of American Press.

Ongoing. Director, Center for Thomistic Studies, Publications, 2009 to present.

§ Steven Jensen§ Steven Jensen

Ph.D. 1993 University of Notre Dame

B.A. 1987 University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Reviews:

Review of Riccardo Saccenti, Debating Medieval Natural Law: A Survey. (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre

Dame Press, 2016) in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, 2017. http://ndpr.nd.edu/news/debating-medieval-

natural-law-a-survey/ (accessed April 2, 2017).

Review of Gary Atkinson, Our Search with Socrates for Moral Truth. (Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University

of America Press, 2015) in American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 90 (2016):751–753.

Presentations:

“Moral Issues Surrounding Organ Transplantation,” invited lecture at the University of Southern Bohemia, Ceské

Budejovice, Czech Republic, May 29, 2017.

“The Dead Donor Rule as a Moral Standard for Organ Transplantation,” invited lecture at the Institute of State

and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, May 31, 2017.

“Sins from an Evil Will,” at the American Maritain Association meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 2–4, 2017.

“Non nisi te, Domine,” invited lecture at the Third International Conference on Thomistic Studies at the Universi-

ty of St. Thomas, Santiago, Chile, July 19–21, 2016.

Professional service:

National Treasurer for the American Catholic Philosophical Association, 2008 to present.

§ John F. X. Knasas§ John F. X. Knasas



BA 1970 Boston College

Submitted for Publication:

“Suffering and the “Thomistic Philosopher”: A Line of Thought Instigated by the Job Commentary”

“The Role of Sense Realism in the Initiation of Thomistic Metaphysics”

“Thomistic Existentialism and Leibniz’s Cosmological Reasonings: Possible Liaisons”

Prof. Knasas has also been at work on a new book entitled, Thomistic Existentialism and Cosmological Rea-

soning. He has completed nine of a proposed twelve chapters.

§ Christopher Martin§ Christopher Martin

DPhil 1984 Oxford University

BPhil 1981 Oxford University

MA 1979 Oxford University

Accomplishments:

This year I have been continuing with my project on analytical Thomism, extending my classes on this field

into philosophy of the mind, using especially the work of Geach and Anscombe, as well, of course, as examining

relevant texts of St Thomas. This has turned out to be unexpectedly closely connected with work on the moral psy-

chology which underlies Catholic teaching and practice in the field of moral theology.

I have also taught an undergraduate course on Faith and Reason, which has also opened up unexpected fields.

The intentionality of faith and repentance are surprisingly closely connected.

I am also working on St Thomas’s commentary on Aristotle’s work on friendship, in the Nicomachean Ethics.

I have recently been involved in discussions related to the philosophy of law, particularly in the fields of contracts

and truth-telling.

§ Mirela Oliva§ Mirela Oliva

Ph.D. 2007 Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg (Philosophy) B.A. 2000 University of Bucharest (Philosophy)

M.A. 1999 University La Sapienza Rome/University of Bucharest

(Political Sciences)

B.A. 1998 University of Bucharest (Political Science)

Publications:

Analyzing Catholic Philosophy. Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, ed. Mirela Oli-

va, Philosophy Documentation Center, vol. 89, 2015.

Justice: Then and Now. Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, ed. Mirela Oliva &

Mary Catherine Sommers, Philosophy Documentation Center, vol. 90, 2016. (forthcoming).

"Hermeneutics and the Meaning of Life", in Epoche, 2017 (forthcoming).

Conference Papers:

"Hermeneutics and the Meaning of Life", at the Annual Meeting of the North American Society for Philosophical

Hermeneutics, September 2016.

"Is Life a Story? Providence, causality and self-movement" at the Annual Meeting of the American Catholic Philo-

sophical Association", November 2016.

Research Stay:

Oxford University, St Benet's Hall, June 2017.

Professional service:

National Secretary of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.

§ Thomas Osborne, Jr.§ Thomas Osborne, Jr.

LMS 2002 Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies

PhD 2001 Duke University

MA 1995 Boston College

BA 1994 The Catholic University of America

Articles:

“What is at Stake in the Question of whether Someone Can Possess the Natural Moral Virtues without Chari-

ty?” In Harm Goris and Henk Schoot, eds., The Virtuous Life: Thomas Aquinas on the Theological Nature of

Moral Virtues, 117-130. Leuven/Paris/Bristol, CT: Peeters, 2017.

“How Sin Escapes Premotion: The Development of Thomas Aquinas’s Thought by Spanish Thomists.” Thomism

and Predestination: Principles and Disputations, 192-213. Ed. Steven A. Long, Roger W. Nutt, and Thomas

Joseph White. Ave Maria, Fl.: Sapientia Press, 2016.

Review of Camille de Belloy, Dieu comme soi-même: connaissance de soi et connaisance de Dieu selon Thomas

d’Aquin: L’herméneutique d’Ambroise Gardeil. Paris: Vrin, 2014. In The Thomist 80 (2016): 472-476.

Review of Adriano Oliva, Amours: L’Église, les divorcés remariés, les couples homosexuels. Paris: Cerf, 2015. In

The Thomist 80 (2016): 137-140.


Board of Advisors, Nova et Vetera (English Edition), 2012-

Wissenschaftlicher Beirat, Das Lindenthal-Institut (Koeln), 2010-

Editorial Advisory Board, Post-Reformation Digital Library, 2010-

§ Mary Catherine Sommers§ Mary Catherine Sommers


MSL 1976 Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies


BA 1971 Whitman College

Scholarship:

Presented a paper “Aquinas, Hospitality and the Stranger’s Debt” in a session, Aquinas and Postmodernity 1, at

the American Catholic Philosophical Association Annual Meeting Justice: Then and Now 3-6 November

2016 in San Francisco CA.


Chaired two sessions at the American Catholic Philosophical Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Ca 3-

6 November 2016: “Justice in Aristotle & Modernity” and “Thomistic Personalism: Current Issues, Future

Relevance.”

Chaired a session at Aquinas and the 'Arabs' International Working Group conference Creation and Artifice in Me-

dieval Theories of Causality 01-02 June 2017, Warburg Institute, University of London.

Co-edited 2016 Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.

Reviewed articles for American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly.

Presented a lecture on “The Authority of Women in the Church” at the Archdiocesan Fall & Spring In-Service for

the Catholic Schools Office 10 October 2016 and 20 February 2017.

Presented a lecture on "Philosophy and University Teaching " at Incarnate Word Academy annual Career Day 06

March 2017.

§ From Fr. Brezik§ From Fr. Brezik::

Rev. Victor Brezik, C.S.B - 1913—2009

Founder of the Center for Thomistic Studies

Anyone who agrees with the above analysis [that the modern crisis is the

result of a collapse of belief in the existence of “truth”] will quickly under-

stand the responsibility and the burden which falls upon the shoulders of Cath-

olic colleges and universities. Instead of moving with the academic tide of de-

emphasis on metaphysics, the world crisis calls for an effort to stem the tide.

Instructors are faced with the urgency of trying to make students more con-

scious than ever of the basic metaphysical problems and by prudent and cour-

teous dialogue with the staffs and students of non-Catholic schools to spread

that interest to other campuses.

Victor B. Brezik, CSB

(The Basilian Teacher, Vol. VI, No. 2, November, 1961)

CENTER STUDENTSCENTER STUDENTS

§ Dissertations Defended§ Dissertations Defended::

Brian Kemple, "“Ens Primum Cognitum in Thomas Aquinas and the Tradition.” Brian Kemple suc-

cessfully defended his dissertation on August 26 2016 before the following board: Dr. James Clarage,

(Department of Physics, UST), Chair; Dr. John Deely, Director (In absentia); Dr. John Hittinger, Co-Director; Dr.

Mirela Oliva, Reader; Dr. Steven Jensen, Reader; Dr. Thomas M. Osborne, Jr, Reader; and Dr. Peter Redpath

(Professor of Philosophy, St. John’s University, Staten Island), External Reader. Dr. Redpath joined by conference

call.

Casey Edler, “Thomas Aquinas and the Kalam Cosmological Argument: Tension at the Heart of Natural

Theology.” Casey Edler successfully defended his dissertation on September 16, 2016 before the following board:

Dr. James Clarage, (Department of Physics, UST), Chair; Dr. John F.X. Knasas, Director; Dr. R. Edward

Houser, Reader; Dr. Christopher Martin, Reader; Dr. John P. Hittinger, Reader; and Dr. Robert Koons (Professor

of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin), External Reader.

§ Dissertations Defended§ Dissertations Defended::

Nelson Ramirez, “From the Natural Understanding of Truth, to Aquinas’s adaequatio rei et intel-

lectus Definition of Truth, and Beyond.” Nelson Ramirez successfully defended his dissertation on February

13, 2017 before the following board: Dr. Clinton Brand, (Department of English, UST), Chair; Dr. John F.X.

Knasas, Director; Dr. Steven Jensen, Reader; Dr. R. Edward Houser, Reader; Dr. Thomas Osborne, Jr., Reader; Dr.

Michael M. Waddell (The Edna and George McMahon Aquinas Chair in Philosophy, Saint Mary's College, Notre

Dame, IN), External Reader.

Charles Robertson, Charles Robertson successfully defended his dissertation on March 31, 2017 before

the following board: Dr. Albert Ribes-Zamora, (Department of Biology, UST), Chair; Dr. Steven Jensen, Director;

Dr. John F.X. Knasas, Reader; Dr. Christopher Martin, Reader; Dr. Thomas Osborne, Jr., Reader; and Rev. Tade-

usz Pacholczyk, PhD (Director of Education and Ethicist, National Catholic Bioethics Center), External Reader.

§ Dissertations in Progress:§ Dissertations in Progress:

John Boyer, Causality and Scientific Explanation in Aristotle (Dr. Houser, Director, Dr. Hittinger, and Dr.

Martin).

James Capehart, Gilson and Christian Philosophy (Dr. Hittinger, Director, Dr. Knasas, and Dr. Sommers).

Alexander Lynch, Reason’s Relationship to the Passions (Dr. Houser, Director, Dr. Jensen and Dr. Martin).

Matthew Moore, Did Aquinas Teach a State of Pure Nature for the Human Being? (Dr. John F.X. Knasas,

Director, Dr. Hittinger and Dr. Deely).

Nathan Poage, Aristotle, Avicenna and Aquinas on the Subject and Principles of Metaphysics (Dr. Houser,

Director, Dr. Sommers, Dr. McGinnis-Professor of Philosophy, University of Missouri).

John M. Schaff, The Person: Empathy and Sympathy in Edith Stein and Max Scheler (Dr. Hittinger, Director,

Dr. Oliva, and Dr. Haney).

John Skalko, Why Is It Intrinsically Evil to Violate the Purpose of a Power or Use Assertions Unnaturally? (Dr.

Jensen, Director, Dr. Osborne, and Dr. Martin).

Daniel C. Wagner, φύσις καί ἄνθρωπος: The Aristotelian Foundations of the Good of the Human Person (Dr.

Hittinger, Director, Dr. Houser, and Dr. Jensen).

Brandon White, Plotinus: Reclaiming Existentialist Metaphysics for the Platonic Tradition: The Pla-

tonic Protest against Aristotle’s Essentialism (Dr. Houser, Director, Dr. Sommers, and Dr.

Damian Caluori, Trinity University, San Antonio).

Jeffrey Zents, Abstractive Thomism and the Pyrrhonian Skeptical Tradition (Dr. Martin, Director, Dr. Knasas,

Dr. Osborne).

CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS

§ PhD Degree Awarded§ PhD Degree Awarded::

Dr. Casey Edler

Dr. Brian Kemple

Dr. Nelson Ramirez

Dr. Charles Robertson

§ Dissertation Topics Approved§ Dissertation Topics Approved::

Catherine Peters’ dissertation proposal The Causality of “Nature” in Avicenna’s Physics of the Healing

was approved by her Dissertation Board: Dr. Houser, Director, Dr. Osborne, Reader and Dr. McGinnis, Reader on

February 20, 2017.

§MA Degree Awarded§MA Degree Awarded::

May 2017: Jacob Alexander, Keaton Lambert, Rose Langley

§ Successful Completion of Comps§ Successful Completion of Comps::

Jacob Alexander, MA; Keaton Lambert, MA; Catherine Langley, MA; Rose Langley, MA

STUDENTS MAKE CTS LOOK GOOD

Keaton Lambert, Joseph Cherny, Jon Haines, and Evan

Williams at the Aquinas Lecture Reception .

Founding Members of Society for 21st Century

Thomism: Francisco Plaza, Daniel Wagner, John Boy-

er, Brian Jones, and Catherine Peters.

Thao Nguyen, Catherine Peters, and Keaton

Lambert at the Aquinas Lecture Reception.

Catherine Peters and Daniel Wagner at

the ACPA Conference in San Francisco. Fr. James Schall speaks at a satellite session for the Society for 21st

Century Thomism at the 2016 meeting of the ACPA.

UST’s Philosophy Program Wows at Home and Abroad an on-line article fea-

turing grad students Brian Jones, Francisco Plaza, Catherine Peters and John

Skalko found at: https://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Centers_of_Excellence/

Center_for_Thomistic_Studies/About_the_Center/News_Article.aqf?

John Boyer and his son,

James, at the Aquinas Lecture

Reception.

Joseph Grossheim, Evan Williams, and Jacob Alexander

listen intently at the Aquinas Lecture by Fr. James Schall.

Student Activities

§ Jacob Alexander

Mr. Alexander completed his Master's comps, was awarded a Master's degree and was

admitted into the Ph.D. Program.

From June 15 to June 16, He attended the Society for Aristotelian Thomistic Studies Con-

ference co-sponsored by Thomas Aquinas College. The theme of this year’s conference

was Epistemology and Logic.

§ Maureen Bielinski

Conference Papers:

“A Temperance of the Memory and the Imagination: The Thomistic Virtue

of Studiositas Reexamined,” at the American Catholic Philosophical Association (ACPA)

National Convention in San Francisco: 4 November 2016.

“‘Omitting to Think’ and Sins Against Prudence,” at the 52nd International Congress on Me-

dieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI: 11 May 2017.

Ms. Bielinski served as the editorial assistant for the 2015 Proceedings of the American Cath-

olic Philosophical Association: Analyzing Catholic Philosophy, Vol. 89,

2015, Charlottesville, Virginia: Philosophy Documentation Center, 2017, pp. 340.

She is preparing to defend her dissertation proposal under Dr. Thomas Osborne. The provisional title is

“Connecting the Virtues: The Integral Parts of Prudence, Moral Perception, and the Cogitative Power in Aquinas."

§ John Boyer“ Conferences:

“Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas on What is “Better Known” in Aristotle’s Posterior

Analytics and Physics,” (Co-Authored with Daniel Wagner), American Maritain Association

Conference, New Orleans, March 2-4, 2016.

“Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas on What is “Better Known” in Aristotle’s

Posterior Analytics and Physics,” (Co-Authored with Daniel Wagner), American Catholic

Philosophical Association Conference, ACPA Sponsored Satellite Session 2, San Francisco,

CA, October 3-6, 2016.

Organizer of Satellite Session “Politics, Culture, & the Modern Crisis,” American Catholic

Philosophical Association Conference, “Satellite Session I,” Sponsored by the Society for 21st Century Thomas,

San Francisco, CA, October 3-6, 2016.

Publications:

“You Don’t Need to Vote for the Lesser Evil.” The Federalist. 08/18/2016. http://thefederalist.com/2016/08/18/

you-dont-need-to-vote-for-the-lesser-evil/

“The Regensburg Address and Western Secular Intolerance.” Crisis. 09/16/2016.

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/regensburg-address-intolerance-western-secularism

Service:

Co-founded the Society for 21st Century Thomism, with Daniel Wagner, Catherine Peters, and Francisco Plaza.

§ Joseph Cherny

Presented a paper"Are Religion, Piety, and Gratitude Unjust in St. Thomas Aquinas?" at

Center Philosophy Club, "Gather Round the Thomists," on November 17, 2016.

Attended a Discussion Day, "Readings in the Tradition of Supply-Side Economics" at Sam

Houston State University on April 22 hosted by Dr. Brian Domitrovic.

Accepted to present a paper "The Natural Desire for God as an "a Priori" Structure of the

Mind: The Argument From Desire in Transcendental Thomism" at the 2017 Dominican Col-

loquium in Berkeley: "Person, Soul, and Consciousness: Philosophical and Theological Per-

spectives."

§ Andrew Grimes

Attended the American Catholic Philosophical Association, 2016 National Meeting "Justice:

Then and Now" in San Francisco, CA, November 3-6, 2016.

Took part in the Society for Aristotelian-Thomistic Studies, 2017 West Coast Meeting:

"Epistemology and Logic" at Thomas Aquinas College, CA, June 16-17, 2017.

Served as Assistant Editor of the ACPA Proceedings 2016.

§ Jon Haines

Presented "Custom as a Matter of Legal Justice" at the American Catholic Philosophical

Association Conference in San Francisco, CA. November 3-6, 2016.

§ Timothy Jacobs

Conferences:

Attended the Evangelical Philosophical Association in San Antonio on November 15–17,

2016.

Presented “Expression of Intention and Final Causality.” Evangelical Philosophical Soci-

ety (Southeast Regional), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, March

17–18, 2017.

Publications:

“Virtue.” Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Accepted 2014. Accepted

July 2014. Published 2017.

§ Brian Jones

Essays and Publications:

“Capitalism and The Quest for Community.” Forthcoming, Public Discourse.

“Tenure and the Foundations for Quality Teaching.” Forthcoming, The Imaginative Conservative.

“Are We Still Social Animals?” Forthcoming, The Federalist.

“Contemporary Education and the Question of Upward Mobility?” Forthcoming, Catholic World

Report.

“Wendell Berry, The Liberal Arts ,and the Quest for Place.” Forthcoming in a collection of essays

from the “Leisure and Labor: Liberal Arts and the Professions,” Conference at St. Gregory’s Univer-

sity (Published by Ignatius Press).

“Countryside or City, or Countryside and City?” Forthcoming, Those Catholic Men.

“Truth or Happiness? A Proposal on Teaching Young People,” Forthcoming, Those Catholic Men.

“What is a University For?” Forthcoming, The American Conservative .

“An Ancient Lesson for Understanding Contemporary Politics and Religion,” Anamnesis (June 2, 2017).

“Seeking Holiness and Wholeness in an Age of Technology,” Catholic World Report (May 30, 2017).

“Conserving America: Patrick Deneen and Recovering the Practice of Political Theory.” The Imaginative

Conservative (May 24, 2017).

“Keeping Men Open to the Divine: James V. Schall on Modernity and Catholic Social and Political Thought.” Fellowship of

Catholic Scholars Quarterly 40, nos. 1 & 2 (Spring/Summer 2017): 55-58.

“Do You Want to be Educated?” Those Catholic Men (May 20, 2017).

“Does Contemporary Technology Discourage Thought?” Crisis (April 3, 2017).

“On Giving Too Much To the Human,” Anamnesis (March 13, 2017).

“Losing Our Roots and Ourselves: Structural Flaws in Contemporary Education,” Catholic World Report

(March 3, 2017).

“Why Americans Need Philosophy,” Those Catholic Men (February 28, 2017).

“Technology vs. Reality,” Those Catholic Men (February 20, 2017).

“Choosing Tyranny,” Those Catholic Men (February 10, 2017).

“As the Family So the Church,” Those Catholic Men (January 23, 2017).

“Counter-Cultural Home: Lessons from Chip and Joanna Gaines,” Anamnesis (December 28, 2016).

“Political Form and Modern Liberalism,” Those Catholic Men (November 15, 2016).

“Politics and the Inherent Dilemmas of Liberal Democracy,” Catholic World Report (September 23, 2016).

“How Modernity Undermines our Need for Rootedness,” Crisis (September 21, 2016).

“Metaphysics as an Act of Mercy,” Catholic World Report (August 27, 2016).

“On the Relationship between Catholicism and Science,” Crisis (June 15, 2016).

Conferences:

“Wendell Berry, The Liberal Arts ,and the Quest for Place.” Paper presented at “Leisure and Labor: Liberal Arts

and the Professions.” Conference at St. Gregory’s University, Shawnee, Oklahoma. March 20, 2017.

“Jacques Maritain and James V. Schall on Liberal Democracy.” Paper presented at the American Maritain Associ-

ation Conference, New Orleans, LA. March 3, 2017.

“Fr. James Schall on Political Philosophy and Modernity.” Paper presented at the Society for 21st Century Tho-

mism, Satellite Session for the American Catholic Philosophical Association, University of San Francisco.

November 6, 2016.

“Modern Social Theory.” Paper presented with Clifford Staples at the Society for Catholic Social Scientists Con-

ference, Aquinas College. October 29, 2016.

§ Brian Kemple

Brian defended his doctoral dissertation, Ens Primum Cognitum in Thomas Aquinas and the

Tradition on 26 August, 2016 and was awarded his PhD. The dissertation has since been

accepted for publication in Brill’s Gilson Series, edited by Peter Redpath, is in press, and

anticipated to be published before the end of the calendar year. The book addresses founda-

tional issues of a Thomistic philosophy of knowledge.

Furthering this research, Brian is under contract for a second book, Peirce and Heidegger in

Dialogue: The Intersection of Phenomenology and Semiotics, to be included in Mouton de

Gruyter’s Semiotics, Communication and Cognition series. The manuscript is currently

under review and publication is anticipated in either late 2017 or early 2018.

Additionally, Brian’s presentation at the 2015 American Maritain Association’s annual conference was published

in the proceedings volume, Engaging the Times: The Witness of Thomism. Currently, he is working on several

articles for publication, covering topics in semiotics, phenomenology, and Thomism.

He will present “Sophists and Semioticians” at the Aquinas Leadership International World Congress, 2017 July

15, on a panel in memoriam of his dissertation director, Dr. John Deely.

§ Catherine Peters

Catherine Peters spent the summer of 2016 attending an Italian Immersion Program in Rome at the Società Dante

Alighieri Scuola di Italiano before participating in the Summer Seminar of the Lumen

Christi Institute for Catholic Thought (“Aquinas’ Five Ways and Where they Lead”) with

Fr. Stephen Brock at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.

She returned to the United States for the 11th Annual Witherspoon Institute's Thomistic

Seminar (“Aquinas and the Philosophy of Nature”) in Princeton in August.

Ms. Peters is a founding member of the Session of the Society for 21st Century Thomism

and chaired their inaugural session (on “Politics, Culture, and the Modern Crisis”) with Fr.

James V. Schall, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Catholic

Philosophical Association in San Francisco in November, 2016.

In March, 2017 she presented her work on “Jacques Maritain on Dianoesis and Perinoesis in the Natural Sciences”

at the American Maritain Association Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

She presented her paper “Participation and the Thomistic Definition of Natural Law” at the 52nd International

Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) in May, 2017.

Ms. Peters was invited to present at the upcoming Catholic and Dominican Institute's Seventh Annual Philosophy

Workshop, "Aquinas on Metaphysics," held at Mount Saint Mary College in June, 2017.

§ Francisco Plaza

In the fall of 2017, Mr. Plaza (along with Brian Jones, Catherine Peters and John Skalko)

was featured in an article on-line at the UST web site. You will find the article at:

http://www.stthom.edu/About/Online_Newsroom/News_Detail.aqf?

Content_ID=107442&0=0&Source_URL=%2FAbout%2FOnline_Newsroom%

2FNews_Features.aqf%3FNewsScriptAction%3DAdvanced_Search%26AQ_Year%

3D2016

At the ACPA meeting in San Francisco during the fall of 2017, he presented a paper on

“Jacques Maritain’s Philosophy of Culture," at the satellite session “Society for 21st Century

Thomism.” founded by him, Daniel Wagner, John Boyer, Catherine Peters, and Brian

Jones. Three papers were presented at the session: Mr. Plaza’s Brian Jones’ and Fr. James Schall.

He also presented his paper “Maritain’s Philosophy of Culture: A Bridge between Metaphysics and Politics” at the

American Maritain Association held in March, 2017 in New Orleans.

He has been accepted to participate in two different seminars in Harvard at the end of this Summer. The first is

"Kierkegaard and the Happy Life" run by the Program on Integrative Knowledge and Human Flourishing, and the

second is called "Tocqueville, Murray, and the American Proposition" run by the Abigail Adams Institute.

§ Charles Robertson

Charles Robertson successfully defended his dissertation, "The Ethics of Embryo Adoption

and Embryo Rescue: A Thomistic Approach," on March 31, 2017.

In November of 2017, he presented his paper "Is Marriage a Basic Good?" at the regular

session of the American Catholic Philosophical Association's meeting in San Francisco.

This paper will be published in the Proceedings of the ACPA.

His article, “Navigating an Impasse in the Embryo Adoption Debate: A Response to Eliza-

beth Rex,” appeared in the The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 16, no. 3

(Autumn 2016), 409-417.

§ John Skalko

Publications:

Skalko, J. “Why Did Aquinas Hold Killing is Sometimes Just, But Never Lying?” Pro-

ceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (forthcoming in 2017).

Skalko, J. “Catholics and Hugo Grotius’s Definition of Lying: A Critique.” Proceedings

of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (2016), Online First, February 3,

2017.

Skalko, J. and Cherry, M. “Bioethics and Moral Agency: On Autonomy and Moral Re-

sponsibility.” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, no. 41(5) (2016): 435-443.

Skalko, J. “Is Sodomy Against Nature? A Thomistic Appraisal.” The Heythrop Journal 56, no. 5 (July 27,

2015): 759-68. Heythrop College, University of London, UK.

Skalko, J. “If Food and Water Are Proportionate Means, Why Not Oxygen?” The National Catholic Bioeth-

ics Quarterly 13, no. 3 (Autumn 2013): 453-68.

Book Review:

Skalko, J. “Lying and Christian Ethics by Christopher O. Tollefsen (New York: Cambridge University

Press, 2014), Xii + 209 pp.” Review. Nova Et Vetera 14:3 (Summer 2016): 1045-1048.

Conference Papers:

“Aquinas and the Infertility Objection.” The American Maritain Association, 40th Annual Meeting. Notre Dame

Seminary. New Orleans, LA: March 4, 2017.

“Why Did Aquinas Hold Killing is Sometimes Just, But Never Lying?” Contributed Papers Session. American

Catholic Philosophical Association, 90th Annual Meeting. Justice: Then and Now. San Francisco, CA: No-

vember 5, 2016.

“Can One Tell a Lie or Sin Against Nature For the Common Good?” Center for Thomistic Studies Colloquium

Series. The University of St. Thomas. Houston, TX: September 23, 2016.

“Homosexual Practices and the Witness of the Philosophers.” 5th Annual Symposium on Advancing the New

Evangelization; Mercy and the Revolution: The Church’s Mission after the Sexual Revolution. Benedictine

College. Atchison, KS: April 9, 2016.

“Maritain and Aquinas on Same-Sex Attraction.” The American Maritain Association, 39th Annual International

Meeting. Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York City, NY: February 26, 2016.

§ Daniel Wagner

Presentations:

“What is ‘Better Known’ to Us? Albert the Great and Aquinas on the ‘better known quoad

nos’ Puzzle in Aristotle’s Posterior Analytics and Physics,” American Maritain Associa-

tion, New Orleans, Spring, 2017 (Co-Authored and presented by John Boyer).

“On the Elegance of APo, II.19 as Platonic Division,” Colloquium at The Center for Tho-

mistic Studies, Houston, TX, Feb 10, 2017.

“Albert and Aquinas on What is “Better Known” in Aristotle’s Posterior Analytics and

Physics,” ACPA Sponsored Satellite Session, National Meeting of the ACPA, San Francis-

co, 2016 (Co-Authored with John Boyer).

Mr. Wagner also gave a series of talks on "Dialogue, Nature, and the Teachings of the Catholic Church on Human

Life & Sexuality," for faith formation at St. Mathews Parish, Kalispell, MT, in Spring, 2017.

Appointment:

He was appointed to the tenure track position of Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Aquinas College (MI), begin-

ning in the fall, 2017.

§ Evan Williams

In May 2017, Mr. Williams presented his paper on "Job as Divine Bachelor: Scholastic Dis-

putatio in the Scriptum super Iob ad litteram of Thomas Aquinas," at the 52nd Annual Inter-

national Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.

This summer he will participate in the Lumen Christi Institute Summer Seminar on Catholic

Social Teaching at the University of California, Santa Barbara with Dr. F.

Russell Hittinger.

§ § ALUMNI NOTESALUMNI NOTES

§ Dr. Dominic D’Ettore ( Ph.D. 2012)

“Some Renaissance Thomists on analogy in demonstration,” Angelicum, vol. 93.4 (2016):

927-950.

“Thomas Sutton’s doctrine of analogy: Revisiting a Continuator of Thomas Aquinas,” No-

va et Vetera: English Edition, vol. 14, No. 4 (2016): 831-852.

“Analogy Problems in Primitive Thomism: The Solutions of Hervaeus Natalis and Thomas

Sutton,” presented to Society of Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy at 51st International

Congress on Medieval Studies, May 2016.

Dr. D’Ettore’s book, The Defence of Analogy in Demonstration: Some Medieval and Re-

naissance Thomists, has been accepted for publication by the Catholic University of Amer-

ica Press.

§ Dr. John Macias ( Ph.D. 2016)

Dr. Macias recently accepted the position of Residence Life Scholar at University of

Mary in North Dakota.

§ Dr. R. Mary Lemmons ( Ph.D. 1999)

Served as President of University Faculty for Life and served as the local conference

organizer for the 2017 annual conference highlighting fundamental issues in bioethics

with keynotes focusing on genetic manipulation (Dr. David Prentice and Dr. Kevin Fitz-

Gerald), personhood (Dr. Pat Lee), and prolife convictions (Dr. Robert Spitzer, S.J.).

Next year at the University of Dallas, the conference will focus on Building Prolife Cul-

ture; details at www.uffl.org.

Served as President of the Society for Thomistic Personalism and organized the up-

coming 2017 ACPA satellite session with keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Philpott focusing

on restorative justice. STP’s website at http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/rmlemmons/STP-

home.htm.

Book Publications

Republished Ultimate Normative Foundations: The Case for Aquinas’s Personalist Natural Law as a paperback

with a revised index. Book argues that love is the foundation of natural law. Lexington Sales Discount availa-

ble on the website: http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/rmlemmons/

Edited and published a collection of essays in Woman as Prophet in the Home and the World: Interdisciplinary

Investigations (Lexington 2016). Book analyzes the nature and contributions of the feminine genius and ar-

gues women are called to be prophets of other-centered love and develop John Paul II’s vision of personalist

feminism.

Book Review: Review of Searching for a Universal Ethic: Multidisciplinary, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Re-

sponses to the Catholic Natural Law Tradition, edited by John Berkman and William C. Mattison III, Journal

of Church and State 58:4 (2016): 759-761. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jcs/csw084.) This article evaluates

whether a prominent book in the Catholic natural law tradition is able to serve as a universal ethic that unifies

the diverse cultures of the world.

Forthcoming article:

“Modes of Re-Enchantment: John Paul II and the Role of Familial Love.” Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

XXIX (2017) forthcoming. Article argues that although there are various modes of re-enchantment/

evangelization, familial love plays a crucial role.

§ Dr. Joseph Magee ( Ph.D. 1999)

Dr. Magee’s paper, “The Alleged Birthday Fallacy in Aquinas’ Third Way,” will be pub-

lished in Reflections on Medieval and Renaissance Thought, edited by Darci Hill, Cam-

bridge Scholars Publishing, 2017.

He delivered a paper, “Enchantment of Perception in Conformity with Aristotle,” at the

6th Annual Conference on Medicine and Religion in Houston on March 24, 2017.

§ Dr. Ben Smith ( Ph.D. 2008)

“Imago Dei: Nature, Grace, and Glory According to Saint Thomas Aquinas,” in Medieval

Christian Humanism, Edited by John Bequette (Brill Publishing) Published 2016.

“The Role of Conscience in the Public Square” Panel Discussion sponsored by the School

of Arts and Sciences: “An Informed Conscience: Catholic Social Teachings and Public

Policy” Aquinas College, Nashville, Tennessee (October 13, 2016).

“The Primacy of the Common Good” Inaugural Colloquium on the Thought of St. Thomas

Aquinas, School of Arts and Sciences, Aquinas College, Nashville, Tennessee (Jan. 27,

2015).