Greatest Catholic Philosophers today

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Who are some of the greatest Catholic Philosophers alive today?
 
Whether or not he is the greatest, the most popular and influential Catholic philosopher today is Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy at Boston College.

I am not Peter Kreeft! 😃
 
Charlemagne_II said:
Whether or not he is the greatest, the most popular and influential Catholic philosopher today is Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy at Boston College.

I am not Peter Kreeft! 😃
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We know, you are his long lost twin brother. 😃

Linus2nd
 
Edward Feser
Alexander Pruss
David Oderberg (I think he is Catholic, though may be wrong)
Peter Kreeft
Francis Beckwith
 
Personally I think that Benedict XVI is one of them. Can’t comment on any others as I haven’t read them. This is a good place though.🙂
 
Here are some I know by their reputation or by having read some of their work:
James Schall
Gianni Vattimo
Yves Conger
Francis Canavan
Robert George
Ralph McInery
John Courtney Murray
Alice von Hildebrand
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Alasdair MacIntyre
 
PoliSciProf said:
Here are some I know by their reputation or by having read some of their work:
James Schall
Gianni Vattimo
Yves Conger
Francis Canavan
Robert George
Ralph McInery
John Courtney Murray
Alice von Hildebrand
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Alasdair MacIntyre
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I like many of them mentioned in all of the above posts. Some, like Yves Congar (who I like a great deal) or Scott Hahn (who I don’t find particularly care for–matter of taste largely) are theologians not philosophers.

I would add Charles Taylor. One of his works Varieties of Religion Today: William James Revisited, 2002 is outstanding. Also worth reading The Ethics of Authenticity, 1991. He has delivered 2 Gifford Lectures.
 
Fr_of_Jazz said:
I like many of them mentioned in all of the above posts. Some, like Yves Congar (who I like a great deal) or Scott Hahn (who I don’t find particularly care for–matter of taste largely) are theologians not philosophers.

I would add Charles Taylor. One of his works Varieties of Religion Today: William James Revisited, 2002 is outstanding. Also worth reading The Ethics of Authenticity, 1991. He has delivered 2 Gifford Lectures.
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He is good … although I don’t think he is orthodox on all issues. A Secular Age was good.

God bless,
Ut
 
ccmnxc said:
Edward Feser
Alexander Pruss
David Oderberg (I think he is Catholic, though may be wrong)
Peter Kreeft
Francis Beckwith
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They are good.

But I am not sure what people on here think a great philosopher is.

There are people who are great commentators of other peoples work. And then there is people who add significant philosophical progress to a body of philosophy.

For example Aquinas was not simply a great commentator for Aristotle. He also added significant developments to Aristotle’s work such as the esse and essence distinction.

I see the above philosophers as great commentators for Aquinas’ work. I could be wrong however since I am not an expert on their work.
 
Linux said:
They are good.

But I am not sure what people on here think a great philosopher is.

There are people who are great commentators of other peoples work. And then there is people who add significant philosophical progress to a body of philosophy.

For example Aquinas was not simply a great commentator for Aristotle. He also added significant developments to Aristotle’s work such as the esse and essence distinction.

I see the above philosophers as great commentators for Aquinas’ work. I could be wrong however since I am not an expert on their work.
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True, but since it seems Aquinas is so often misunderstood (I share Feser’s lament), I think what they have is important. Beckwith, specifically, I like more for his views on abortion, as I’d say he is one of the best if not the best contemporary defender of the pro-life view.
 
Germain Grisez, whose work I first encountered in an Ethics class at the Protestant college I attended, if the question is limited to living individuals.

Among those not alive on earth but in Heaven, St. Teresa Benedicta, aka Edith Stein, who will most likely be named a Doctor of the Church in the next two decades.
 
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