Words of Wisdom

A Philosophical Dictionary for the Perennial Tradition

John W. Carlson

Publication Year: 2012

Like their predecessors throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have emphasized the importance of philosophy in the Catholic intellectual tradition. In his encyclical Fides et ratio (1998), John Paul II called on philosophers “to have the courage to recover, in the flow of an enduringly valid philosophical tradition, the range of authentic wisdom and truth.” Where the late pope spoke of an “enduringly valid tradition,” Jacques Maritain and other Thomists often have referred to the “perennial tradition” or to “perennial philosophy.” Words of Wisdom responds to John Paul's call for the development of this tradition with a much-needed dictionary of terms.

As a resource for students in colleges, universities, and seminaries, as well as for teachers of the perennial tradition and interested general readers, Words of Wisdom occupies a unique place. It offers precise, yet clear and understandable accounts of well over a thousand key philosophical terms, richly cross-referenced. It also explains significant terms from other philosophical movements with which Thomism (and the Catholic intellectual tradition more generally) has engaged—either through debate or through judicious and creative incorporation. Moreover, it identifies a number of theological and doctrinal expressions to which perennial philosophy has contributed. Finally, it provides a comprehensive bibliography of works by Aquinas in English, expositions and discussions of perennial themes, and representative examples from the writings of all philosophers and theologians mentioned in dictionary entries.

“A good dictionary is a great thing. In over 1,000 entries, Words of Wisdom manages to be concise, as it must be, and complete where it should be. Its notes on usage by contemporary scholars I find particularly helpful. Students and teachers alike will be grateful to Dr. Carlson for taking up the challenge of John Paul II to appreciate and illuminate the ‘great tradition of philosophy.’” —David Ruel Foster, Athenaeum of Ohio

Published by: University of Notre Dame Press

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pp. ix-

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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pp. xi-xii

The idea for this philosophical dictionary grew out of efforts, over a period of years, to give my students accurate and nuanced accounts of the terminology of the perennial tradition. Thus, many young people contributed to the project—more so than most of them realized—through their...

INTRODUCTION

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pp. 1-19

The present volume offers students and other interested readers a dictionary of philosophical terms. Its distinctiveness lies, in part, in its being shaped by the understanding of rational reflection—and of wisdom—expressed in John Paul II’s Fides et ratio.¹ This dictionary focuses on terms central to...

E-ISBN-13: 9780268076931
E-ISBN-10: 0268076936
Print-ISBN-13: 9780268023706
Print-ISBN-10: 0268023700

Page Count: 320
Illustrations: NA
Publication Year: 2012

Words of Wisdom

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF ENTRIES

Research Areas

Welcome to Project MUSE

Connect with Project MUSE

Cover 1

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Cover 3

Words of Wisdom

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF ENTRIES

Research Areas

Recommend

Related Content

Welcome to Project MUSE

Connect with Project MUSE

Cover 1

Cover 2

Cover 3