Ten Philosophical Essays in the Christian Tradition

Frederick J. Crosson (1926–2009) was the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Professor Emeritus of Humanities in the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame.Michael J. Crowe is the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh Professor Emeritus in Humanities in the Program of Liberal Studies and Graduate Program in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Notre Dame. He has published a number of books, including The Extraterrestrial Life Debate, 1750–1900: The Idea of a Plurality of Worlds from Kant to Lowell.Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C., is professor emeritus in the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Ayo is an award-winning author of fourteen books and numerous articles on Catholic spirituality and theology, including Gloria Patri: The History and Theology of the Lesser Doxology (2007) and The Hail Mary: A Verbal Icon of Mary (1994) both published by the University of Notre Dame Press.

"The editors of this volume have carefully selected essays from the treasure of Frederick Crosson to illustrate Crosson's deep rhetorical expertise. . . . Crosson extracts the hidden, secondary, meanings from the authors, explicating their intent in conveying varying messages to varying audiences." —Religious Studies Review"Crosson draws out what he takes to be the primary purpose of the work: not simply to tell a story of journeying away from and returning to God, but to make clear God's subtle, saving work. . . . [T]his collection of essays has much to teach someone who desires to know." —Augustinian Studies"Crosson's work represents a major achievement at both distinguishing and integrating Christian faith and reason. It is an important contribution to philosophy and theology, enriched by his probing and fair-minded deliberateness and devotion to reading and education in the 'greats.' Crosson instantiates in his writing a broad and rich sense of the quest for wisdom." —Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"A popular professor at Notre Dame, Crosson brilliantly articulated complex philosophical ideas to be understood by and of interest to a typical undergraduate while engaging his professional peers in the academy." —Catholic Library World "Ten Philosophical Essays in the Christian Tradition presents to the scholarly world a volume of Frederick J. Crosson's most original and significant writings. The essays move through the history of philosophy from antiquity to the present and will appeal to readers with an interest in the history of philosophy, especially political philosophy and philosophy of religion." —Roland J. Teske, S.J., emeritus, Marquette University "Ten Philosophical Essays in the Christian Tradition unfastens many mysteries of Christian faith. As a master teacher, Frederick Crosson shows us how to find the way ourselves, to look for clues in the structure of works of scripture, theology, and philosophy revealing their hidden and more complex messages. To deepen one's faith by intellectual curiosity and reasoned exploration is not popular in our culture, but for those pricked by perennial questions of human existence and the paradoxes of theology there is balm and inspiration to be found in these essays and in the way of seeking they evince." —Susan O'Shaughnessy, Alwin C. Carus and M. Elisabeth Carus Professor of Philosophy, Concordia College "In these deeply insightful and original essays, Frederick Crosson explores the primary role of rhetoric—the art of persuasion—in teaching and learning about Truth. Crosson believes science cannot explain the full range of human experience. A brilliant rhetorician himself, he draws on thinkers from Cicero and Augustine to Hume and Alasdair MacIntyre to shed light on what we can know of Truth, and how rhetoric relates to 'phronesis'—the practical wisdom that most fully captures what it means to be human. Ten Philosophical Essays in the Christian Tradition is a unique and valuable contribution to the philosophy of mind." —Katherine Kersten, Center of the American Experiment"Frederick Crosson may be considered one of the most learned Catholic philosophers of his generation. An evercareful scholar, from the perspective of classical philosophy and, one may say, its medieval continuation, he has addressed some of the most pressing social and political issues of our day. Few possess his command of ancient and relevant modern texts in discussions of religion and its role in society. The depth of that learning is particularly evident in his review and assessment of Catholic social teaching since Leo XIII." —Jude P. Dougherty, emeritus, Catholic University of America