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Gracia kicks off spring philosophy lecture series
February 15, 2007
Jorge J.E. Gracia, Ph.D. visited Ave Maria University recently to deliver the first in a series of lectures sponsored by the AMU philosophy department dedicated to exploring Christian philosophy.
Gracia, who is Samuel P. Capen Chair and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at State University of New York at Buffalo, gave a presentation titled "A Christian Metaphysics? Aquinas' Point of View" to AMU students, faculty and staff on Feb. 9. His lecture delineated the basic differences between philosophy and theology, and made the argument that while there is no "Christian" philosophy, there are philosophers who are Christians whose philosophizing has recourse to divine revelation and the work of other Christian thinkers.
"Dr. Gracia gave a very engaging and provocative lecture," said Dr. Barry David, associate professor and chair of the AMU philosophy department. "Taking his cue from Aquinas, he examined the differences between the scope of the philosopher and that of the theologian, while also considering the mutual aid and help that each can provide for the other. Both the lecture and question and answer period that followed were fruitful."
Gracia was the first in a series of distinguished lecturers the philosophy department will be hosting this spring. The series, titled "Christian Philosophy and Metaphysics," will explore some of the distinctive contributions that Christian philosophers have made to the study of metaphysics in the wake of Pope John Paul II's 1998 encyclical Fides et Ratio.
"The series will cover a wide variety of themes, and our speakers have all written and talked extensively on these subjects both before and after the release of Fides et Ratio," David explained. "We're especially interested in considering how Christian philosophers have attempted to recapture the sapiential dimension of metaphysics by engaging philosophically divine revelation, answer the challenges to classical metaphysics posed by several notable modern philosophers, and engage profitably various schools of modern philosophy."
The remaining lectures in the series include John J. Haldane from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (Feb. 22), whose lectured is titled "The End of Metaphysics?", Robert E. Wood from the University of Dallas (March 16), and Oliva Blanchette from Boston College (March 30). All these lectures are open to the public. For more information on the series, contact Barry David at barry.david@avemaria.edu.