Summaries & Keywords

James D. Capehart, “Gilson’s Notion of Theologism in The Unity of Philosophical Experience and Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 11–44, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080101:

SUMMARY: The author examines Gilson’s development of the term “theologism” from his 1937 The Unity of Philosophical Experience and his 1938 Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages. This term is important for understanding Gilson’s developing doctrine on Christian philosophy. The treatment of it helps to show how Gilson’s understanding of Christian philosophy does not entail the formal conflation of philosophy with Christianity—as some have accused. In fact, the knowledge of what theologism is—referring primarily to the misuse of philosophy by the theologian—helps to set the stage for seeking an understanding of the proper relationship of Christianity to philosophy, a unity which maintains formal distinction. This knowledge also provides a hermeneutical tool for the proper interpretation of Gilson’s later writings on Christian philosophy.

KEYWORDS: Gilson, Bonaventure, Anselm, theologism, Christian theology, Christian philosophy, Christianity, faith, reason.

Michał Chaberek, “Classical Metaphysics and Theistic Evolution: Why Are They Incompatible?,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 47–81, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080102:

SUMMARY: This paper explores the arguments against the compatibility of classical metaphysics (Aristotelian-Thomistic) and theistic evolution. It begins with presenting the line of division between theists and atheistic evolutionists regarding the origin of the universe. Next, it moves to definitions of the terms evolution and species. The core of the paper consists of the five reasons why theistic evolution is excluded by Thomistic metaphysics. Among these are the problem of sufficient cause, accidental changes generating substantial changes, the reduction of causality in theistic evolution and the problem of the order in the universe. This is followed by a presentation of the positive teaching of Aquinas on the origin of species. Finally, the article responds to the three common arguments put forward by theistic evolutionists who seek to either accommodate or dismiss classical metaphysics.

KEYWORDS: Thomism, Darwinism, classical metaphysics, theistic evolution, creation, evolution.

Edward Macierowski, “Philosophical Considerations for Fruitful Dialogue between Christians and Muslims,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 83–112, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080103:

SUMMARY: The author attempts to go beyond the study of the history of Islamic philosophy to the larger theme of religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims. He explores first some of the conditions that are required for any successful Christian-Muslim conversation. Next, he turns to some of the central issues specific to dialogue between Christians and Muslims. In addressing these themes he points to resources that are particularly useful to those trying to teach introductory courses on this complex matter, and to give students an inkling of where they might look for further training to embark upon more advanced types of dialogue. In conclusion, the author returns to his starting point and considers various levels at which dialogue can be begun, even at an elementary stage.

KEYWORDS: Christians, Muslims, Christianity, Islam, religion, Christian-Muslim dialogue, interfaith dialogue, interreligious dialogue, philosophy of religion.

Claudio Marenghi, “El oscurecimiento del ser y su sustitución por la existencia [The Obscuring of Esse and Its Substitution by Existence],” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 113–146, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080104:

SUMMARY: The question of the real distinction between esse and essence in being constitutes the core of Thomistic ontology. While there is a primacy of esse over essence, such as that of the founding over the founded, one must neglect neither of these aspects in the analysis of the act-potency transcendental relationship that links them. Through a brief historical journey—from the years following the death of St. Thomas Aquinas to the present—the author tries to show the way in which the notion of esse has been gradually distorted and obscured by the notion of essence, and then replaced by the notion of existence.

KEYWORDS: being, essence, existence, entity, real distinction, essentialism, existentialism, Thomas Aquinas, Etienne Gilson, Martin Heidegger.

Catherine Peters, “Hylomorphic Teleology in Aristotle’s Physics II,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 147–168, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080105:

SUMMARY: This study draws attention to the ordering of matter and form argued for in Aristotle’s Physics II, 8 (199a30–32). This argument for hylomorphic teleology relies on the presentation of nature earlier in Physics II, 1. In this way, it highlights the connections between chapter one’s account of nature as matter and form and chapter eight’s defense of final causality. Grounding final causality in the principles of nature reveals its central importance for Aristotle’s view of nature. To clarify the meaning of hylomorphic teleology I contrast my interpretation of Aristotle with that of Wolfgang Wieland regarding the scope and foundation of the final cause, countering his claim that chance and universal final causality are mutually exclusive. I contend that the presentation of teleology in chapter eight supports a diverse interpretation of the final cause, one that admits chance events while not sacrificing the intrinsic ordering of matter to form.

KEYWORDS: Aristotle, nature, matter, form, hylomorphism, teleology, hylomorphic teleology, Wolfgang Wieland, chance, final causality.

Faustinus I. Ugwuanyi, “Krąpiec on the Specificity of Man,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 169–180, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080106:

SUMMARY: The author presents selected insights offered by Mieczysław A. Krąpiec, O.P., about the specificity of man. He starts with making a methodological remark about the correlation between Krąpiec’s anthropology and metaphysics. Then, he tries to grasp essentials in Krąpiec’s interpretation of attributes traditionally indicated as defining man alone, namely animal rationale, animal culturale, animal sociale, homo faber, and homo religiosus. Finally, he concludes that, although all these attributes aptly describe the specificity of man, they all are reducible to the fact that man is a person.

KEYWORDS: Mieczysław A. Krąpiec, man, human being, human person, specificity of man, anthropology, metaphysics, animal rationale, animal culturale, animal sociale, homo faber, homo religiosus.

Jude P. Dougherty, “Walter Kaufmann: Philosopher, Humanist, Heretic by Stanley Corngold,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 183–186, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080107:

SUMMARY: This paper is a review of the book: Stanley Corngold, Walter Kaufmann: Philosopher, Humanist, Heretic (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2018). The author concludes that Corngold’s book acquaints the reader not only with the thought of Walter Kaufmann, but also with the thought of a prominent, late twentieth century generation that in effect rejected the source of the very culture that nourished it.

KEYWORDS: Walter Kaufmann, humanism, religion, atheism.

Jason Morgan, “The Realist Guide to Religion and Science by Paul Robinson,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 187–194, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080108:

SUMMARY: This paper is a review of the book: Paul Robinson, The Realist Guide to Religion and Science (Leominster, Herefordshire, UK: Gracewing, 2018). According to the author, Robinson’s book is a double-hearted adventure. On the one hand, Robinson patiently and methodically rebuilds the reader’s capacity for knowing and loving truth by returning to Aristotelian and Thomistic principles and insights, showing how realism is the approach needed for the human mind to look for, know, and delight in what is objectively true. On the other hand, The Realist Guide is a ruthless dismantling of the various false edifices and untenable ideologies that thicket the modern academy.

KEYWORDS: Paul Robinson, religion, Christianity, science, philosophy, Aristotle, Aquinas, Stanley Jaki, realism, truth, ideology, modern academy.

Brian Welter, “The Realist Guide to Religion and Science by Paul Robinson,” Studia Gilsoniana 8, no. 1 (January–March 2019): 195–202, DOI: 10.26385/SG.080109:

SUMMARY: This paper is a review of the book: Paul Robinson, The Realist Guide to Religion and Science (Leominster, Herefordshire, UK: Gracewing, 2018). According to the author, what makes the book both accessible and sensible is Robinson’s illustration of Thomist philosophy’s coherence, starting from a basis in philosophy of being. Robinson presents the philosophy of being as being appropriate to cooperate with science. This helps readers comprehend modern science’s wrong turns and possible corrections. This also makes Robinson’s book a work of apologetics, as it addresses why the Catholic faith provides the most logical belief system, and why seemingly sophisticated attacks on the Church and its beliefs by seemingly rational philosophers and scientists are not only erroneous, but actually irrational.

KEYWORDS: Paul Robinson, religion, Catholicism, science, Thomism, realism, scientism, secularism, idealism, empiricism.