God, Philosophy, Universities : A Selective History of the Catholic Philosophical Tradition

"What does it mean to be a human being?" Given this perennial question, Alasdair MacIntyre, one of America's preeminent philosophers, presents a compelling argument on the necessity and importance of philosophy. Because of a need to better understand Catholic philosophical thought, especially in the context of its historical development and realizing that philosophers interact within particular social and cultural situations, MacIntyre offers this brief history of Catholic philosophy. Tracing the idea of God through different philosophers' engagement of God and how this engagement has played out in universities, MacIntyre provides a valuable, lively, and insightful study of the disintegration of academic disciplines with knowledge. MacIntyre then demonstrates the dangerous implications of this happening and how universities can and ought to renew a shared understanding of knowledge in their mission. This engaging work will be a benefit and a delight to all readers. Contents Introduction GOD, PHILOSOPHY, UNIVERSITIES Ch01. God Ch02. Philosophy Ch03. God and philosophy Ch04. God, philosophy, universities PROLOGUES TO THE CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION Ch05. Augustine Ch06. Boethius, the Pseudo-Dionysius, and Anselm Ch07. The Islamic and Jewish Prologue to Catholic Philosophy Ch08. The Genesis of the Catholic Philosophical Tradition AQUINAS AND AFTER Ch09. Aquinas: Philosophy and Our Knowledge of God Ch10. Aquinas: Philosophy and the Life of Practice Ch11. Aquinas: God, philosopy, universities Ch12. After Aquinas: Scotus and Ockham THE THRESHOLD OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY Ch13. From Scholasticism to Skepticism Ch14. Descartes, Pascal, and Arnauld MODERNITY Ch15. The Catholic Absence From and Return to Philosophy, 1700–1850 Ch16. Newman: God, philosophy, universities Ch17. From Aeterni Patris to Fides et Ratio Ch18. Fides et Ratio: The Catholic Philosophical Tradition Redefined Ch19. Now: universities, philosophy, God Index About the Author

Alasdair MacIntyre has written a selective history of the Catholic philosophical tradition, designed to show how belief in God informed and informs philosophical enquiry in different historical and social settings.