University PhilosophyPhilosophy DepartmentDepartment University Alumni Newsletter of Dallas Alumni Newsletter IssueIssue 11 Fall,Fall, 20112011

Dear Alumni and Alumnae, Inside this issue:

You are holding in your hands (or reading on your screen) the first issue of a newslet- ter that, henceforth, the Department of the University of Dallas intends to The 2011 Aquinas 2 publish once every semester. The purpose of the newsletter is to extend the reach of Lecture our Department at least a little bit outside the proverbial “ivory tower.” Academics— including, of course, philosophy professors—are often in dialogue only with each A Royal Visit at UD 2 other (in conferences, publications, and so forth) and with their students. Once the students leave, the interaction ends, and this happens although both sides might well profit from and enjoy a continuing exchange. An Interview with 3 Robert P. George Thus, we plan to keep you “in the loop” through this newsletter. It will update you on developments in our undergraduate and graduate programs, share the names of our The Graduating Class 4 recent graduates, inform you of their plans and current activities, feature stories of 2011 about visiting speakers who have come to UD, and occasionally let you know of our own work. News from the 4 In turn, we would like to know what our majors have done with their degrees. Some Graduate Program have gone on to study philosophy in grad school, but many others have chosen differ- ent paths. How has your philosophy education at UD impacted your life and profes- Notable Publications 5 sional career? Has reading Aristotle, Aquinas & Co. helped you in the decisions that you have had to take in your personal and professional life? But also: now that you are able to look back at your UD education, are there aspects of our philosophy pro- What We are Reading 5 gram that you wish had been different? Let us hear from you! Please write to [email protected] and we will make sure to include your information and sugges- tions in our future newsletters. The Philosophy Wall Back Cover From all of us here in the Philosophy Department: we wish you a happy new year!

Philipp W. Rosemann Upcoming Events:

Chair • Spring 2012 Semester Philosophy Colloquium Fridays, 3:30 pm–4:30 pm UD Braniff Building, B201 Open to the Public Philosophy Department Faculty and Staff • February 2, 2012 William A. Frank, Professor Dennis L. Sepper, Professor 2012 Aquinas Lecture Eleonore Stump Fr. James Lehrberger, O. Cist., Assoc. Professor Lance Simmons, Assoc. Professor 7:30 pm Christopher V. Mirus, Asst. Professor John Tutuska, Visiting Asst. Professor UD Lynch Auditorium Griffin T. Nelson, Visiting Asst. Professor Matthew D. Walz, Asst. Professor Open to the Public

Joshua S. Parens, Professor Robert E. Wood, Professor • May 11, 2012 (tentative) Handmaiden Bowl Philipp W. Rosemann, Professor Marie Azcona, Administrative Asst. Philosophy vs. Theology Open to the Public

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The 2011 Aquinas Lecture

Our 2011 Aquinas Lecture had originally been scheduled for February 3 rd , close to the feast of St. Thomas on January 28 th . However, it had to be canceled due to inclement weather. (Do you know that UD had three snow days in the winter of 2010–2011?) Rescheduled for September 29 th , the lecture this year featured Professor Robert George, the well-known natural-law expert and Catholic public intellec- tual from Princeton. Professor George not only delivered the Aquinas Lecture (“Natural Law, God, and Human Dig- nity”), but also led a seminar on John Rawls. In the seminar George argued, contra Rawls, that even in the age of highly fragmented societies composed of people with a wide range of different opinions, rational debate in the public place must invoke fundamental principles. Professor George was also kind enough to grant two interviews, one to the University News and the other to Peter Antich, a Philosophy senior who is currently president of the UD Philosophy Club. An abridged version of Mr. Antich’s interview appears in this newsletter.

By the way, our 2012 Aquinas Lecturer—the thirtieth in a series of distinguished speakers that started in 1982—will be Eleonore Stump, a Thomist from Saint Louis University. More about Professor Stump in the next newsletter! Dr. Rosemann presenting the Aquinas Medal to Professor Robert P. George

A Royal Visit at UD

From November 14 to 16, 2011, the University of Dallas had the honor and pleasure to welcome His Serene High- ness Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaretha. The royal couple stayed on our campus in connection with an award that the Thanks-Giving Foundation of Dallas bestowed on Prince Nikolaus for his charitable work. In order to give our royal visitors an impression not only of our physical campus, but also—and more importantly—of the intellectual atmosphere of the University of Dallas, the Philosophy Department or- ganized an academic seminar in the morning of November 15. Both Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha were in attendance. The topic of the seminar was chosen in consul- tation with the Prince, who expressed interest in Pope Benedict’s recent address to the German Bundestag . In its English translation, it is entitled, “The Listening Heart: Re- flections on the Foundations of Law.” In this address, the Holy Father offers reflections on the need to ground law in fundamental metaphysical and anthropological truths that are accessible to reason; the role of Christianity in European political life, he argues, has historically been to strengthen such rational inquiry, rather than to impose biblically based laws on the political order. UD professors Bainard Cowan, Richard Dougherty, William Frank, Taylor Marshall, and Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein commented on the papal address, before the Prince himself concluded with remarks on the role of the Catholic faith in contemporary European public life. A lively question-and-answer session followed.

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An Interview with our 2011 Aquinas Medalist, Robert P. George

Robert P. George, 2011 Aqui- started thinking about funda- pher must already carry him George said that New Natural nas Medalist, granted the Phi- mental moral theory.” out into society as a whole if he Law Theory “is a faithfully losophy Newsletter an exclu- is going to have a say in the Thomistic brand of Natural Following his interest in moral sive interview, during his Sep- debate. Law Theory. … We’re the theory, George became in- tember 29–30 visit to the Uni- ones—not those neo- volved in more hot-button George described his mission in versity of Dallas. The interview scholastics that claim they’ve issues, such as abortion, stem- the following terms: “What I’ve was conducted by philosophy got the authentic Thomism— cell research, and marriage. Far tried to do is equip ordinary senior Peter Antich. we’re the ones who are more from simply writing obscure people, especially Catholics and faithful to what Thomas himself George, a prominent academic articles on these issues, George Evangelicals and other believ- actually says about it.” and political thinker, explained argues his stances actively and ers, to think about questions his interest in philosophy. publicly. Somewhat uniquely, philosophically and to present Clarifying the issue, George George is active in both the philosophical arguments in the said, “It is important to remem- “Even as a high school student,” academic and the political public square. I think that’s ber that there are two different George said, “I was interested sphere. good for democracy and I think disputes here. One is ‘What is in ideas. I probably wouldn’t it serves the cause of justice Thomas’ view?’ And the other have stuck the label philosophy “I never wanted to stay in the and truth.” is, well, ‘What is the correct on that, but I was interested in library or in the arm chair,” view?’ We think Thomas’ view ideas, and especially political said George. George, however, made it clear happens to be the correct view, ideas.” but not because it’s Thomas’ George reached a turning point view. He just gets it right. And when he read Plato’s Gorgias in we’re prepared to defend that college. Explaining the impact of on textual and contextual the dialogue on him, George grounds. And as for the defense said that Plato used the dia- of the view in its own right, logue “as an opportunity to we’ve got philosophical argu- reflect on the whole point of ments by which we defend dialectic, the whole point of them.” argument, the whole point of Asked about , George intellectual discourse, debate. said, “That there is any such Which of course he tries to thing as ethics presupposes that show us in the end is truth. The there is a human nature, be- real goal—the telos , of debate, cause it presupposes that there discourse, discussion—is truth, is a human good. And the hu- which is something desirable man good is not just arbitrary not merely as a means to other or shifting or changing …” ends but as something that’s a treasure in itself, something The question, according to worth having in itself.” George, for Natural Law Theo- rists is, “how do you identify George explained that Plato’s the goods of human nature that dialogue set him on “the path will be the first principles of of becoming a scholar, and a that not every philosopher has George views the relationship practical reason, the goods teacher, and someone who was to be a “public intellectual.” between philosophy and poli- whose integral directiveness in the truth pursuing-business Indeed, he advised caution tics as intrinsic. when specified will be the professionally.” against entering the public moral norms that we try to live “Political debates are largely George’s academic career be- realm unprepared. by and teach our children to debates about philosophy,” gan with the examination of the “My advice to young people live by?” George said. “So are we going relationship between law and who want to be politically ac- to conduct them in a philoso- morality. This question, said tive or culturally engaged schol- phically sophisticated and astute George, “ended up being my ars is to be a scholar first,” way or are we going to conduct book titled Making Men Moral , George said. The full text of the interview them in a kind of … philosophi- which is subtitled ‘Civil Liber- can be found online at http:// cally haphazard way?” George is perhaps most noted ties and Public Morality.’ And of www.udallas.edu/academics/ for his work in New Natural course to do that work I For George, these debates undergrad/academics/majors/ Law Theory, which stems from needed to have a foundation in aren’t simply to be controlled philosophy/philosophynews. a tradition of thought about fundamental moral theory—at by professional philosophers. natural law that runs back to least to do it the way I was Especially in a democracy, de- the work of Aquinas and Aris- persuaded it needed to be bate involves society as a totle. done. And so that’s how I whole. The role of the philoso-

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The Graduating Class of 2011

Eleven students graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy this past May. They are:

Deborah B. Cerda Justin J. Grove Nathaniel R. Helms Jonathan R. Ricklis Logan S. Chism William P. Hannegan Michael A. LoCoco John W. Teresi Joshua P. Cole Steven M. Harrill Andrew D. Natali

These students are pursuing a range of different paths with their Philosophy degrees. Deborah Cerda applied for a Master’s pro- gram in Conflict Resolution at Southern Methodist University; William Hannegan is enrolled in a Master’s program in Philosophy at Northern Illinois; Steven Harrill applied for a Master’s program at St. John’s College (their graduate-level Great Books pro- gram); Nathaniel Helms expressed interest in service work in India with the Missionaries of Charity; Michael LoCoco is attend- ing SMU’s law school; and Andrew Natali was planning to enter seminary for the diocese of Green Bay.

If you are an alumnus or alumna of the Philosophy Department, we would love to hear of your current activities! If you send an email to [email protected], we will make sure to incorporate your information into the next issue of our newsletter.

William P. Hannegan was the recipient of the 2011 Michael A. LoCoco was Father Thomas Cain chosen to give the Senior Aquinas Medal, which the Convocation speech and Department awards to the Valedictory Address the most outstanding at Commencement. senior.

Congratulations to our Philosophy students!

News from the Graduate Program

Several of our graduate students completed Master’s or Ph.D. theses in the course of the academic year 2010–2011. Michael Bolin defended his doctoral dissertation on “Making Peace and Creating Evil,” a Thomistic inquiry into the problem of evil. Dr. Bolin now teaches at Wyoming Catholic College. Joshua Brotherton wrote an MA thesis on “A Solution to the Problem of Universal Causality and Divine Foreknowledge Founded Upon the Proposals of Jacques Maritain and William Most,” while Brian Garcia devoted his Master’s thesis to the topic, “Turning Towards Phantasms: Aquinas on Perception and the Inner Sense Powers.” 2011 was capped with another doctoral disserta- tion, by Cynthia Nielsen , who wrote on “Constructed Subjectivities and a ‘Thick’ Account of Agency: A Fou- Dr. Michael Bolin cauldian Dialogue with Douglass, Fanon, and the Augustin- Dr. Cynthia Nielsen ian-Franciscan Tradition”—a bold attempt to bring the Christian tradition into dialogue with several postmodern authors.

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Notable Publications

Dr. William Frank , Philosophy Depart- Dr. Joshua Parens , Philosophy Depart- It is also worth noting that Notre Dame ment faculty member, published The Anti- ment faculty member, co-edited Medieval University Press recently published a re- Emile: Reflections on the Theory and Practice : A Sourcebook (Ithaca, vised version of Dr. Jeffrey P. Bishop ’s of Education against the Principles of Rous- N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2011). doctoral dissertation, which he defended at seau , by H. S. Gerdil. Translation and Intro- UD in August of 2009: The Anticipatory Since 1963 the first edition of Medieval ductory Essay by William A. Frank (South Corpse: Medicine, Power, and the Care of the Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook , co-edited Bend, Ind.: St. Augustine Press, 2011). Dying (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of by Ralph Lerner and Muhsin Mahdi, has Notre Dame Press, 2011). Dr. Bishop, who This book offers an original translation of a been the only anthology of primary sources also holds an MD from the University of critique of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Émile from all three of the monotheistic faiths. Texas Southwestern Medical Center, cur- and the disenchantment that it promotes Together with his colleague Joseph C. rently serves as Director of the Albert with respect to religious and social institu- Macfarland, of St. John’s College, Annapolis, Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics and tions. In his introductory essay, Dr. Frank Dr. Parens has substantially revised this Tenet Chair of Health Care Ethics at Saint introduces the eighteenth-century Catholic volume for a second edition, which con- Louis University. philosopher H. S. Gerdil to the English- tains a new general introduction, introduc- speaking world and emphasizes elements of tions to each part, new historical introduc- Gerdil’s own practical wisdom. The book tions to each author, new selections, new recovers an interesting moment in the translations, new bibliographies, and an history of the philosophy of education and extensive index. defends essential elements in the classical view of education.

Recent “Off-Duty” Reading Enjoyed by Philosophy Faculty

Dr. Christopher Mirus : The recent Dr. Philipp Rosemann : Gary Shteyn- Dr. Lance Simmons : Christopher Kac- “extended mind” theory attempts to fur- gart’s novel, Super Sad True Love Story (New zor, The Ethics of Abortion: Women's Rights, ther undermine Cartesian accounts of the York: Random House, 2010), imagines the Human Life, and the Question of Justice mind by arguing that our mental processes state of the American society sometime in (London and New York: Routledge, 2011). literally extend into our material surround- the unspecified future. The dystopian pic- This book is a comprehensive treatment of ings, including such things as notebook ture that Shteyngart paints is of course recent philosophical arguments about the entries and computers. Whether or not fictional, but nonetheless may reveal the morality of abortion. It does justice to a one agrees with all the results, the thesis is direction in which we are going: the US is wide range of arguments, and has been provocative and its development often in a state of civil war, human interaction is praised for its fairness by philosophers on intriguing. For an explanation and defense well-nigh impossible because everyone is all sides of the debate. The author argues that draws on the phenomenological tradi- constantly communicating or ordering against the morality of abortion, but takes tion as well, see Mark Rowlands, The New goods on cell phone-like devices, lamp seriously arguments on all sides. It is a good Science of the Mind: From Extended Mind to posts have been transformed into “credit example of civil discourse about a contro- Embodied Phenomenology (Cambridge, Mass.: poles” that indicate the credit scores of versial topic. MIT Press, 2010). passers-by for all to see, and so forth. Pro- vocative reading not for the faint of heart.

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