Theology and Philosophy

The SMC Theology and Philosophy Departments contribute to fulfilling the College’s mission of assisting students to pursue truth by presenting to them the disciplines which elucidate truth in its highest expressions. While studying reality through measurable laws of material phenomena in math and science, as well as the expression of human experience in literature, history, music, and rhetoric, the students are introduced to the metaphysical and teleological underpinnings of the whole created order through a systematic investigation of the highest causes of all being as perceived by the classical philosophers—especially Aristotle—and the supernatural truths revealed by God and presented in the monuments of Catholic dogma—especially under the guidance of St. Thomas Aquinas. 

The SMC Philosophy curriculum cultivates intellectual virtues in our students with a rigorous grounding in the principles of the philosophia perennis, “moderate realism.” In accordance with the College’s overarching goal of nurturing the minds and souls of our students in a Catholic liberal arts environment, the philosophy professors’ fundamental objective is the development of students’ critical and logical thinking abilities, enabling them to assess accurately the complexities of contemporary life. Over the course of four years students will acquire a thorough understanding of fundamental philosophical concepts, particularly within the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition, which will prepare them for further academic pursuits and inform their personal and professional lives with a well-rounded perspective. They will gain experience in critical analysis, enabling them to identify logical fallacies and biases and engage intelligently and thoughtfully with diverse perspectives. Our curriculum emphasizes ethical reasoning and communication skills, teaching students to make principled decisions and articulate complex ideas clearly both in speech and in writing thereby preparing them for effective communication on any future path. Students will develop their skill in philosophical thought by their participation in lectures and by primary and secondary source readings of increasing complexity as they advance year to year. They will undertake written projects of increasing length and breadth to demonstrate their grasp of a significant text’s fundamental concept or a particular author’s thought. These projects will challenge them to apply philosophical theories to modern-day issues, reflecting their ability to synthesize and integrate their knowledge. Regular assessments including reading comprehension quizzes and examinations will monitor their retention and application of philosophical knowledge. Regular group discussions provide frequent opportunities for students to refine their ideas and enhance their analytical skills within the context of a learning community.

The SMC Theology curriculum contributes to the college’s mission through a systematic presentation of the principal revealed truths comprising Catholic doctrine and of their interconnectedness by drawing upon the teachings of Sacred Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas, the Fathers of the Church, and the great Councils, with a special view to the Modernist crisis currently ravaging the Catholic Church. The theology professors thus endeavor to help our students, under the guidance of St. Thomas Aquinas, to synthesize the scientific and humanistic principles learned elsewhere in the curriculum and to locate these in the broader conspectus of the truths revealed by God about his own divine nature and inner life and about his ultimate plan for mankind. Over the course of four years students will form the deepest and broadest foundation possible for their ongoing investigation of all reality—historical, actual, and eschatological—and for perceiving the relative value of each branch of liberal learning in relationship to God himself, the necessary being and cause of all other realities. Students will practice the unique method of theological discourse by their participation in lectures and by responding to select readings in periodic assessments and essays as they acquire insight into Catholic dogma, and creatively apply orthodox definitions and theses to solve perennial heterodox difficulties.