Illustrating the contribution of the Roman Catholic tradition to political philosophy, this work includes the discussion of the brilliant errors that have arisen in the history of political philosophy. A discussion of the death of Socrates and the death of Christ is also included here.

Journalist, essayist, biographer, writer, philosopher and debater, Gilbert Keith Chesterton is regarded by many as one of the most gifted thinkers of the 20th century. In this book Father James V. Schall showcases a witty series of reflective essays prompted by the work of Chesterton.

Acquaintance with the Absolute is the first collected volume of essays devoted to the thought of Yves r. Simon, a thinker widely regarded as one of the great teachers and philosophers of our time. Each piece in this collection of essays thoughtfully complements the others to offer a qualifiedly panoramic look at the work and thought of philosopher Yves R. Simon. The six essays presented not only treat some major areas of Simon's thought, pointing out their lucidity and originality, but also his underpinning metaphysics, so central to his thought. Rather than attempt to present all aspects of...

The engaging and inquiring mind of French philosopher Jacques Maritain reflected on subjects as varied as art and ethics, theology and psychology, and history and metaphysics. Maritain's work on the theoretical groundings of politics arose from his diverse studies. In this book, distinguished theologian and political scientist James V. Schall explores Maritain's political philosophy, demonstrating that Maritain understood society, state, and government in the tradition of Aristotle and Aquinas, of natural law and human rights and duties. Schall pays particular attention to the ways in which...

This is a retrospective collection of Schall's academic and literary essays written in the past 50 years. In each essay, Schall exemplifies the Catholic mind at its best - seeing the whole, leaving nothing out.

In Roman Catholic Political Philosophy author James V. Schall tries to demonstrate that Roman Catholicism and political philosophy--revelation and reason-are not contradictory. It is his contention that political philosophy, the primary focus of the book, asks certain questions about human purpose and destiny that it cannot, by itself, answer. Revelation is the natural complement to these important questions about God, human being, and the world. Schall manages to avoid polemicism or triumphalism as he shows that revelation and political thought contribute to a fuller understanding of each...

Echoing philosophers such as Josef Pieper, this book explains how the modern world has inverted the rational order of human affairs, devaluing the activities of leisure and placing an exaggerated emphasis on utilitarian concerns.