Philosophy Episodes

Feb. 5, 2025

Aquinas's Shortest Way to God’s Existence, and How Darwinism Fits Wit…

Fr. Stephen Brock explains Aquinas's Fifth Way, focusing on the governance of things and how natural bodies without cognition display goal-oriented activity, ultimately placing the Fifth Way into dialogue with Darwinism.

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Feb. 4, 2025

Is Atheism Rational? | Prof. John O'Callaghan

Professor John O'Callaghan argues that atheism is not inherently irrational, exploring its varied historical meanings and proposing that, while not necessarily true, it can be a rational pursuit driven by a desire for truth.

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Feb. 3, 2025

More than Spiritual: Proofs for the Existence of God | Prof. Joshua H…

Professor Joshua Hochschild argues that Aquinas' proofs for God's existence, specifically the first way, are simple, accessible, and not merely spiritual exercises, but rather starting points for a deeper understanding of God and the relationship b...

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Jan. 31, 2025

Divine Causality and Human Freedom | Prof. W. Matthews Grant

Professor Grant examines the traditional Christian doctrine of divine universal causality, exploring how God can be the cause of all things, including human free acts, and how this relates to our understanding of freedom and responsibility.

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Jan. 23, 2025

True Courage: On Facing Death with Fortitude | Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.

Fr. Gregory Pine discusses the virtue of courage, exploring its complexities, its relationship to the passions, and its importance in living a complete and virtuous life.

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Jan. 22, 2025

What is the Separated Human Soul? Incomplete Person, Survivalism or C…

Professor Daniel De Haan explores the Thomistic debate surrounding the nature of the separated human soul after death, contrasting survivalism, corruptionism, and incompletionism to understand whether the soul retains personhood after death.

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Jan. 21, 2025

What Happens After Death? | Prof. Jeffrey Brower

Professor Jeffrey Brower explores Aquinas's view of human nature, contrasting it with materialism and substance dualism, focusing on the relationship between body and soul and what happens at death.

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Jan. 20, 2025

Politics and the Modern State: Understanding the Common Good | Prof. …

Professor Brad Lewis discusses the concept of the common good in politics, contrasting contemporary Catholic social teaching with Aquinas's view and addressing criticisms of both.

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Jan. 17, 2025

Bored to Tears: Confronting the Taedium Vitae with Thomas Aquinas | F…

Fr. Stewart Clem examines the concept of boredom ("taedium vitae") through the lens of Thomistic moral theology, defining it, exploring its subjective and objective dimensions, and distinguishing it from related concepts like sloth (acedia).

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Jan. 15, 2025

Augustine and the Quest for Self-Knowledge | Prof. Michael Foley

Prof. Michael Foley explores Saint Augustine's lifelong pursuit of self-knowledge, dividing it into intellectual, moral, and religious dimensions, each achieved through conversion and hindered by specific obstacles.

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Jan. 13, 2025

The Moral Life | Prof. Michael Krom

Professor Michael Krom discusses Aquinas's approach to the moral life, emphasizing the pursuit of the good and the integration of faith, hope, and charity, while also addressing moral relativism and the importance of objective moral principles.

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Jan. 10, 2025

Christianity as True Philosophy: The Theology of St. Justin Martyr | …

Professor Matthew Thomas examines the theology of St. Justin Martyr, arguing that Justin viewed Christianity as the culmination of both Greek philosophy and Jewish scripture, with Christ as the fulfillment of both.

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Jan. 7, 2025

Analogy and the Semantics of Simplicity: Learning form the Limits of …

Professor Joshua Hochschild explores Aquinas's understanding of analogy in relation to divine simplicity, distinguishing between analogy as a likeness between things and analogy as a relation between the significations of terms, and argues that the...

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Jan. 6, 2025

Is Belief in God Rational? | Prof. Joseph Trabbic

Professor Joseph Trabbic explores the rationality of belief in God by first defining belief, distinguishing it from knowledge, and then examining what makes belief rational both subjectively and objectively, before finally addressing the nature of ...

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Jan. 3, 2025

What is Beauty? Aquinas and Contemporary Culture | Prof. Thomas Hibbs

Professor Thomas Hibbs discusses the importance of beauty in contemporary culture, drawing upon Emily Dickinson, Charles Taylor, Iris Murdoch, and Jacques Maritain to explore how beauty can unself us, enhance our understanding of truth, and connect...

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