Best Univ. for PhD in Thomistic Philo. &/or Theo.?

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What are the best Catholic colleges or universities to get a PhD in Thomistic philosophy and/or theology? Thanks
 
The philosophy program at the University of St. Thomas in Houston is focused on Thomas. The program is called “The Center for Thomistic Studies” and is very good.
 
If you want a serious answer to this question I would contact different Thomists of today, and different non-Thomists, who are still Ph D’s in theology. Contact them by email.
 
Not to throw damp water on your dreams, but please investigate job possibilities in regards to academia further. The job situation is poor and will be for many more years after this recession is over. Most faculty are now poorly paid adjuncts in colleges. I would advise you to examine if the field is actually having job possibilities or not.
 
The_Exodus said:
If you want a serious answer to this question I would contact different Thomists of today, and different non-Thomists, who are still Ph D’s in theology. Contact them by email.
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Because of a writing project, I am interested in contacting Thomists. Who would you suggest?
 
Blessed_Karl said:
Not to throw damp water on your dreams, but please investigate job possibilities in regards to academia further. The job situation is poor and will be for many more years after this recession is over. Most faculty are now poorly paid adjuncts in colleges. I would advise you to examine if the field is actually having job possibilities or not.
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Of course. I am currently studying for a PhD in physics, but Thomistic philosophy is still an interest of mine I would like to pursue in the future, God willing.
 
Years ago I wrote my thesis on “Democratic Elements in the Political Thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.” I visited many Catholic colleges (I was in a secular college) to unearth material (well before computers) and often found books ‘caged’. This meant that I had to have a priest sign a statement allowing me to read the book in question. Frankly, that troubled me and probably had a lot to do with early questions/doubts about the church. Probably this wort of restriction has disappeared since Vatican II. I hope so.
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Those doubts weren't helped any, and Aquinas lost some of his lure with me, when one day I ran across his proposal that the church should not kill heretics. No, instead the church should turn them over to the civil authorities to be executed!

 I completed my thesis and actually received a good grade, but my enthusiasm for Aquinas never has returned. He was brilliant well-organized, and prolific. But his comment re heretics lost my forever. Sorry.
 
Roy5 said:
Years ago I wrote my thesis on “Democratic Elements in the Political Thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.” I visited many Catholic colleges (I was in a secular college) to unearth material (well before computers) and often found books ‘caged’. This meant that I had to have a priest sign a statement allowing me to read the book in question. Frankly, that troubled me and probably had a lot to do with early questions/doubts about the church. Probably this wort of restriction has disappeared since Vatican II. I hope so.

Those doubts weren’t helped any, and Aquinas lost some of his lure with me, when one day I ran across his proposal that the church should not kill heretics. No, instead the church should turn them over to the civil authorities to be executed!

I completed my thesis and actually received a good grade, but my enthusiasm for Aquinas never has returned. He was brilliant well-organized, and prolific. But his comment re heretics lost my forever. Sorry.
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I’m sorry too. Even the big guys fall into sin.

You probably are referring to the restrictions regarding material on the famous “Index”. As a student at a Catholic University, one of my professors announced on the first day of class that some texts happened to be on the Index; however, there was some kind of general permission which allowed us to read whatever we wanted including those nasty novels. The “Index” was being phased out probably because its original purpose to protect faith and morals was not feasible in modern times. I am not sure when it was officially closed.
 
Geremia said:
Of course. I am currently studying for a PhD in physics, but Thomistic philosophy is still an interest of mine I would like to pursue in the future, God willing.
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I don’t know what the market for physics Ph.D’s is currently, but 10/20 years ago it was not good. Suggestion if you’re at an early stage in your career: think about aiming to medical physics; career opportunities are good (or were, 10/20 years ago–I’m retired so out of touch now.) Good luck! (PS–if you’re really sharp, you might think of a career in philosophy of science; Fr. Stanley Jaki earned his Ph.D. in cosmic ray physics and was an eminent philosopher and historian of science.)
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Geremia said:
What are the best Catholic colleges or universities to get a PhD in Thomistic philosophy and/or theology? Thanks
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Well, I don’t know of any that specifically offer degrees in “Thomistic” philosophy. However, there are many with largely (traditional) Thomistic bents. As someone else, said the Center for Thomistic Studies would be a good place. They have Dr. Christopher Martin who is real good. Also, really check out some of those Catholic liberal arts colleges. Christendom College is one, as well as University of Dallas.

However, in my opinion, it’s much better to learn analytic philosophy and study traditional Thomism on your own. Personally, after I get my philosophy BA from the secular university, I want to go somewhere that teaches analytic philosophy, but has some modern Thomists. For instance, I’m looking at Catholic University of America. I’m trying to find more. Athough they aren’t Catholic, Baylor and Notre Dame look good too. But really I think that analytic philosophy is the most historical, scientific, and rigorous out there, and if you were to learn that, all the Thomist stuff and liberal arts business would be a breeze. Best.
 
awatkins69 said:
Well, I don’t know of any that specifically offer degrees in “Thomistic” philosophy. However, there are many with largely (traditional) Thomistic bents. As someone else, said the Center for Thomistic Studies would be a good place. They have Dr. Christopher Martin who is real good. Also, really check out some of those Catholic liberal arts colleges. Christendom College is one, as well as University of Dallas.

However, in my opinion, it’s much better to learn analytic philosophy and study traditional Thomism on your own. Personally, after I get my philosophy BA from the secular university, I want to go somewhere that teaches analytic philosophy, but has some modern Thomists. For instance, I’m looking at Catholic University of America. I’m trying to find more. Athough they aren’t Catholic, Baylor and Notre Dame look good too. But really I think that analytic philosophy is the most historical, scientific, and rigorous out there, and if you were to learn that, all the Thomist stuff and liberal arts business would be a breeze. Best.
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Lol…last I checked Notre Dame was Catholic. Ha-Ha. Did you mean another school?
 
Blessed_Karl said:
Not to throw damp water on your dreams, but please investigate job possibilities in regards to academia further. The job situation is poor and will be for many more years after this recession is over. Most faculty are now poorly paid adjuncts in colleges. I would advise you to examine if the field is actually having job possibilities or not.
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It is indeed dismal. And most Catholic colleges (including mine) act just as unethically as secular institutions in the way they treat their adjuncts professors.
 
awatkins69 said:
Eh, Catholic schools don’t bring in pro-abortion politicians to hand them honorary degrees.
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I am assuming you are Pope Benedict since Notre Dame can only be declared “non-Catholic” by his holiness. Don’t throw your “opinions” around as fact. IT IS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND ALWAYS WILL BE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!

…walk humbly with God my friend.
 
Domer1997 said:
I am assuming you are Pope Benedict since Notre Dame can only be declared “non-Catholic” by his holiness. Don’t throw your “opinions” around as fact. IT IS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND ALWAYS WILL BE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!
…walk humbly with God my friend.
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Well said. I lectured there last year, along with Archbishop Zycinski of Lublin, Poland.
 
Domer1997 said:
I am assuming you are Pope Benedict since Notre Dame can only be declared “non-Catholic” by his holiness. Don’t throw your “opinions” around as fact. IT IS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND ALWAYS WILL BE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!

…walk humbly with God my friend.
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Not sure thats true.

Hitler was “Catholic”. No pope had to excommunicate him to become a “non-Catholic”. I would assume that was obvious.

Similarly, if U of Notre Dame acts contrary to Catholic teachings of the pope and the church it-self, and endorses those who promote such values, then it really isn’t Catholic anymore is it? 🤷

If you commit this mistake, just like they try to say Hitler was Catholic, 60 years from now, some atheist is going to bring up the fact that a Catholic University (thus the Catholic church) endorsed abortions which was the despicable act of killing human beings at their most vulnerable stage 😃

We wouldn’t want that now won’t we 👍

God Bless 🙂
 
Domer1997 said:
I am assuming you are Pope Benedict since Notre Dame can only be declared “non-Catholic” by his holiness. Don’t throw your “opinions” around as fact. IT IS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND ALWAYS WILL BE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!

…walk humbly with God my friend.
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Actually, it is not necessary for the Pope to declare a school not Catholic:

“Under canon law, bishops can revoke the right of a school to call itself Catholic, according to Edward Peters, a canon lawyer at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. However, that penalty is rarely applied.”

abcnews.go.com/US/wirestory?id=9116578&page=1

To the best of my knowledge, the local bishop has not taken the step of directly revoking the right of Notre Dame to call itself Catholic. However, the bishop did decide to boycott the ceremony because of Obama:

washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/25/notre-dame-bishop-to-boycott-obama/?page=1

Furthermore, it is simply incorrect to argue that Notre Dame “will always be” a Catholic university. There are clear mechanisms are in place by which Notre Dame could cease to be Catholic, such as disobedience to Church leadership and heresy. There is no way you can tell the future and declare that those events cannot or will not happen.

These sorts of threads always devolve into debates about Notre Dame. While Notre Dame is undoubtedly better than places like Georgetown (the #1 party school, as ranked by Playboy), it still seems obvious that there are deep issues in the school’s Catholic identity. The local bishop boycotted the graduation ceremony, for crying out loud.
 
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