Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

War As Morally Unintelligible: Sovereign Agency And The Limits Of Kantian Autonomy, Philip J. Rossi

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

Kant’s treatment of war is usually discussed as part of his political philosophy or philosophy of history. In contrast, this essay locates these discussions in direct reference to major elements of his moral philosophy: autonomy, the categorical imperative, and the moral relationality of the kingdom of ends. Within this context, Kant’s account of war, particularly in writings from the 1790s, can be read as affirming war as morally unintelligible: It is the expression of a collective withdrawal from the constitutive relationality of moral community. This results in a radical disparity in the exercise of moral autonomy by the sovereign agency …

The Conceptual Priority Of The Perfect, Matthew Peter Zdon

Dissertations (1934 -)

The doctrine of the conceptual priority of the perfect (CPP) is the claim that the concept of the perfect is prior to that of the imperfect insofar as possessing the latter presupposes a grasp of the former, but not vice versa. The goals of this study are to provide an account and defense of the Cartesian argument for CPP, to determine the consequences of this priority for the relationship between our concepts of human and divine properties, and to explore its implications for bottom-up accounts of theological concept formation. I argue that the predicates “perfect” or “infinite” in Descartes’ version …

Kant's Apophaticism Of Finitude: A Grammar Of Hope For Speaking Humanly Of God, Philip J. Rossi

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Transcending Subjects: Hegel After Augustine, An Essay On Political Theology, Geoffrey J.D. Holsclaw

Dissertations (1934 -)

From where do political reformers and radicals come who are willing and prepared to challenge the status quo? Where are people formed who are capable of initiating change within a political system? Some worry belief in transcendence closes off authentic political engagement and processes of transformation. Others think that a transcendent orientation is the only means to protect and promote a more free and just society. Some see a positive commitment to transcendence as inimical to democratic practices, while others see such a commitment as indispensable for such a project. These general issues concern transcendence, immanence, and subjectivity as they …

Beyond Stewardship: Toward An Agapeic Environmental Ethic, Christopher J. Vena

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation is a work in theological anthropology and environmental philosophy. It seeks to provide a conceptual framework for a Christian environmental ethic rooted in love.

The heart of the crisis of ecological degradation is found in human attitudes and behaviors. In the late 1960's it was suggested that Christianity was a key source of the problem because it promoted the idea of human "dominion" over creation. This spurred a variety of responses designed to show that Christian faith was compatible with environmental care. A key theme emerging from this debate was the image of humans as Stewards of God's …

Augustine's Inversion Of 1 John 4:8, Roland Teske

Philosophy Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

A Translation Of St. Augustine's Dissertation On The Happy Life, Max L. Adamski

Bachelors’ Theses

It is the tendency of the present generation to be constantly striving for happiness and it would profit many to study the views of one, who for more than thirty years was striving in vain to find a perfectly satisfying happiness. The views of Augustine on a happy life after his conversion should be carefully analyzed by all who desire to reach their ultimate end in life -- the possession of God. In submitting a translation of this work of the Father of the est it has been the author's purpose to present the views of this interesting character on …