Philosophy and Theology Research
Philosophy and Theology Research
May 2023 - May 2024
Nature, Philosophy, Greek and Latin Aristotle’s Physics and St. Thomas Aquinas’ De
Principiis Naturae
Matthew Stace
This project involves an intensive study of Ancient Greek forms, grammar, syntax,
and vocabulary in order to acquire a basic understanding necessary for producing philosophical
translations of the work of Aristotle. The student and faculty mentor will collaborate
to produce a philosophical translation of important selections from Aristotle’s Physics
I-II, which are correlated with St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae in terms
of content. The goal will be to produce a philosophical translation of the text of
the Physics that is eloquently intelligible for contemporary English speakers and
consonant with the translation of De principiis naturae that is in development.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner, Philosophy
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program
May 2022 - May 2023
Vaccine Mandates and COVID-19: An Analysis on Political Polarization of The Pandemic
Emily Green
This research was conducted in an attempt to gain an understanding of the polarization brought about by the pandemic/recent events and attempt to understand factors that have gone into that. Data from this research provides an look into personal decision making as it pertains to the pandemic, and provides implications for future political and governmental actions.
Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas’ De Principiis Naturae
Margo Ardelean
The primary goal of this project is twofold. First, the student will acquire basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor will collaborate to produce a philosophical translation of an important selection of text from St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, continuing the tradition of philosophically engaging the Angelic Doctor in his own language of composition. We will complete a translation of De principiis naturae by translating chapters 3-6 (it is six chapters, total). This project is a continuation of previous studies done on the first and second chapters of the De principiis naturae. This work, in turn, constitutes the second stage of a larger project to publish a new translation of the De principiis naturae as a whole, with philosophical commentary, for use by scholars and students.
May 2019 - May 2020
Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas' De Principiis Naturae
Noah Hall
The primary goal of this project was twofold. First, the student acquired basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor collaborated to produce a philosophical translation of the second chapter of St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, which contributed to the living tradition of treating the thought of the Angelic Doctor. This project is a continuation of a previous study done with another student on the opening chapter of the De principiis naturae.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program
May 2018 - May 2019
Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae
Annie Newton
The primary goal of this project is twofold. First, the student will acquire basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor will collaborate to produce a philosophical translation of an important text from St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, which contributes to the living tradition of treating the thought of the Angelic Doctor.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funding Source: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program
Spirituality and Justice: The Life and Witness of Françis-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận
Sr. Kayla Nguyen
An examination of the life and writing of Françis-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận and his spirituality borne out of suffering as a prisoner for 13 years in Vietnam and then exile in Rome as Head of the Pontifical Council of Peace and Justice. In the tradition of Catholic social teaching he provides an alternative vision for Vietnam to classical liberalism with its radical individualism and atheistic Communism with its history of religious oppression.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Marko
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program
May 2017 - May 2018
Light from the East: Implications of Orthodox and Greco-Roman Tradition on Belief,
Ritual and Morality
Jillian Langford
This project sought to explore the implications of the Orthodox and Greco-Roman Tradition in the lives of Greek Catholics in Ukraine. From a linguistic point of view of how the word "orthodoxy" is used for just right teaching while in Ukrainian two different words describe Orthodoxy --- правовірний (right belief) and православний (right praise or right glory). In short, there is no separation of belief orthodoxy, and spirituality or right praise in this tradition. Because of the lack of separation between belief and practice, this experience sought to explore how this affected the lives and culture of people in Ukraine.
Faculty Advisor: Robert Marko
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program