On the 29 January, Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of Philosophy at Boston College, came to the Wege Ballroom to deliver the 19th Annual Aquinas Lecture entitled “Seeking and Responding to Truth.”  Kreeft is America’s most prominent Catholic philosopher and apologist, with 55 books covering a multitude of topics of faith and reason.  The Ballroom was full of 280 attendees, attentive to the thought of this frank and concise Thomist.

Kreeft began his talk with the sentiment of William James’ that, “most philosophy isn’t worth doing because it doesn’t make a difference.”  This thought should come as a challenge to a liberal arts institution with a neglected philosophy department, and yet still declares that it “makes all the difference in the world.”

Kreeft believes that encountering truth and engaging in philosophy truly does make a difference and suggested that we begin our search for truth with honesty.  He uses the Aristotelian definition of truth being what is, and so our receptive contemplation of the truth is characterized by honest reflection upon our experience and ourselves.  He suggested the modern aversion to truth lies in how it forces us to be honest to ourselves, “They love truth when it reveals itself, but they hate it when it reveals them.”

Kreeft stressed that Jesus is a shift in philosophical understanding, as he is not a well-informed prophet who proclaims the truth, but says, “I am” the truth personified.  With this revelation, truth becomes not a thing to be known, but a person to be loved.  Dr. John Pinheiro, professor of History and director of the Catholic Studies program, saw the beauty of Kreeft’s philosophical exposition lies in his distinction, “between the simple pursuit of the truth and a passionate love of the truth.”

During the course of Kreeft’s lecture, one finds that philosophy and truth are accessible, simple, and enlightening.  With this talk, he met the charity of Thomas Aquinas who said, “The greatest gift you can give your neighbor is to lead them to the truth.”  With this talk he invited us all to be charitable with the truth we have been given.