Essays on the Life and Work of Étienne Gilson: Christian Humanist and Global Peacemaker

by Dr. Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath

The book of essays offers a comprehensive exploration of the intellectual life of Étienne Gilson, generally considered to be the leading historian of Western philosophy. Gilson’s founding the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS) revolutionized the study of medieval philosophy in universities worldwide and the history of Western philosophy leading up to it.

Gilson, born in 1884 in Paris, received his early education in philosophy at the Lycée Henri IV and the Sorbonne. His philosophical career took him through various teaching roles and scholarly work, with notable contributions in the study of medieval philosophy, particularly the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. His works, such as Le Thomisme and The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy, are foundational in the integration of Christian philosophy with modern thought. Gilson’s intellectual evolution shifted from a focus on Descartes to a deep engagement with medieval thinkers like St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure, shaping his views on metaphysics and the relationship between faith and reason.

Gilson’s involvement in World War I, where he served as a soldier and a prisoner of war, influenced his philosophical inquiries, especially his reflections on humanism, freedom, and truth. Throughout his life, he engaged in intellectual debates on Christian philosophy, particularly defending the notion of “Christian philosophy” as an authentic intellectual tradition. After World War II, Gilson became involved in international educational and political efforts, contributing to UNESCO and advocating for a Catholic order in education. His later years were marked by an increased focus on existential themes, particularly through his writings on St. Augustine and Duns Scotus.

The book explores both his philosophical contributions and his role as a global intellectual peacemaker, emphasizing his belief in the integration of Christian philosophy within modern intellectual life​.

Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

TBA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter A. Redpath (retired Full Professor of Philosophy at St. John’s University, New York) is author, editor, co-editor of 22 books and many dozens of articles and book reviews. An internationally recognized scholar, since 1980 he has given over 200 invited guest lectures nationally and internationally. Among his many accomplishments, he is CEO of the Aquinas School of Leadership, LLC; former Founder and Chair of the Thomistic Studies Graduate Concentration in Christian Wisdom for Holy Apostles College and Seminary (USA); an Affiliate Scholar with the University Abat Oliba Graduate program (Barcelona, Spain). Peter is also co-founder of the Gilson Society (USA) and the International Etienne Gilson Society, the Adler-Aquinas Institute, and the Angelicum Academy and Great Books Academy homeschool programs (both founded with the help of Mortimer J. Adler); former executive editor of the Value Inquiry Book Series (VIBS) for the Dutch publisher Editions Rodopi, B.V., and special series editor for Rodopi and Brill/Rodopi. Presently, he is a member of the editorial board of Brill Publishing’s Philosophy and Religion (PAR) series, a member of the Advisory Board of the Lyceum Institute, and Officer in Charge of Medieval Christian Philosophy and Academic Liaison to the Holy See for Global Scholarly Publications. For a list of articles published on the Catholic World Report, see http://www.catholicworldreport.com/author/redpath-peter/

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