On the Meaning of the “Catholic Intellectual Tradition”

Abstract

The phrase "Catholic intellectual tradition" appears in many self-descriptions of Catholic colleges and universities. It communicates the identity of these institutions to the broader Catholic community, to members of the particular college or university community, and to the broader academic world. The phrase "Catholic intellectual tradition" suggests a fundamental confidence in reason as evidenced in the long list of classics in the history of Catholicism. The Catholic intellectual tradition seeks integration among disciplines inviting convergence, dialogue, and transformation. The tradition is grounded in basic theological affirmations about God and human persons.