Joseph J. Godfrey, SJ
Department of PhilosophyArea of Specialization: Philosophy of Religion
Areas of Interest and Competence:Teaching
Visiting Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago, Fall 2009
Francis C. Wade SJ Chair, Philosophy, Marquette University, 2004-2005
Bannan Professor (visiting), Philosophy, Santa Clara University, Spring 1992.
Saint Joseph's University: Philosophy of Religion, Ethics, Philosophical Anthropo-
logy/Philosophy of Mind, Logic, Hegel, Greek and Medieval.
Merit Awards for Excellence in Teaching, 1986, 1992.
Canisius College, Buffalo: Instructor in Philosophy, 1963-66.
Taught courses at: St. Peter's College; St. Michael's College
(University
of Toronto); Woodstock College.
Education
Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Toronto, 1977.Scholarly Publications
"The Future of Pieper’s Hope and History." In A Cosmopolitan Hermit: Modernity and Tradition in the Philosophy of Josef Pieper. Edited by Bernard N. Schumacher. Washington DC: Catholic University Press, 2009
"Hope." Encyclopedia of Ethics, Second Edition. New York: Routledge, 2001.
"The Phenomena of Trusting and Relational Ontologies." Bulletin de la Société Américaine de Philosophie de Langue Francaise 7:1-2 (Spring 1995), 104-121.
"Trust, the Heart of Religion: A Sketch." Religions and the Virtue of Religion. Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association [1991], American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 65 (1991 Annual Supplement), 157-167.
"Appraising Marcel on Hope." Philosophy Today, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Fall 1987), 234-40. Also in Contributions of Gabriel Marcel to Philosophy, edited by William Cooney, Problems in Contemporary Philosophy 18 (Lewiston NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989), 153-162.
A Philosophy of Human Hope. Studies in Philosophy and Religion 9. Dordrecht/Boston/Lancaster: Martinus Nijhoff, 1987.
"Taking Hope Seriously." Proceedings of the Jesuit Philosophical Association, 1986, 23-58.
Scholarly Reviews:
Review of Experience And God, by John E. Smith, American Philosophy Series, no. 3 (New York: Fordham University Press, 1995). In Theological Studies 58:2 (June 1997), 394.
Review of An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Introducing Philosophy 1), by B. R. Tilghman (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994). In The Heythrop Journal 37:4 (October 1996), 489-490.
Review of Reasoned Faith: Essays in Philosophical Theology in Honor of Norman Kretzmann, edited by Eleonore Stump (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1993). In International Philosophical Quarterly 35:2 (June 1995), 239-241.
Review of Community: the Tie that Binds, by Mary F. Rousseau (Lanham MD: University Press of America, 1991). In American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 67:2 (Spring 1993), 269-272.
Review of Hope and its Hieroglyph: a Critical Decipherment of Ernst Bloch's "Principle of Hope", by Richard H. Roberts, American Academy of Religion Studies in Religion 57 (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1990). In Theological Studies 51:4 (March 1991), 160-162.
Review of Struggle and Fulfillment: the Inner Dynamics of Religion and Morality by Donald Evans (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981). In Review for Religious, 43:1 (Jan.-Feb. 1984), 149-150.
Review of The Sufficiency of Hope: The Conceptual Foundations of Religion by James Leroy Muyskens (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1979). In International Philosophical Quarterly 20:3 (September 1980), 368-370.
Other Publications:
"To the Base of the Ivory Tower: UCA's Challenges to Jesuit Higher Education in North America." In Discovery: Jesuit International Ministries, No. 2 (December 1992), 25-29.
"What, If Anything, Is Special About Philosophy Now: Jesuit Perspectives." In Undergraduate Learning I: The Waning of Philosophy and Theology in the Modern "Jesuit Curriculum"; Undergraduate Learning II: The Jesuit Curriculum and American Culture, pp. 10-16. Assembly 1989: Jesuit Ministry in Higher Education. Washington: Jesuit Conference, 1990.
"The Owl, the Ostrich, and the Dove: Remarks On What Philosophy Should Be." Reflections [The Philosopher's Press, St. Joseph's University] 2:1 (December 1983), 1, 5-6.
Lectures
"Better to Receive Than to Give: The Meaning of Trust in Religious and Catholic Thought." October 2009. The Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage, Loyola University Chicago.
"Better to Receive Than to Give? An Exercise in Thinking About Trust, Religion, and God.", November 17, 2006. New York City. In the Conference on the Psychology of Trust and Feeling. Templeton Research Lectures, SUNY Stony Brook, Manhattan.
"Conceiving Trust." October 12, 2006. Stony Brook NY. In series "Trust: Prospects for Science and Religion," Metanexus Institute, Templeton Research Lectures, SUNY Stony Brook.
"Conceiving Trust." October 2005. Notre Dame, IN. October 2005, Gabriel Marcel Society, meeting with the American Catholic Philosophical Association.
"Better to Receive Than to Give? New Perspectives on Trust and God." Milwaukee, WI. May 2005, Wade Chair Lecture, Marquette University.
"Some Ethics for Fiducial Theism: What Ethics May Say About Whether and How to Trust God." Milwaukee, WI. November 2004, Philosophy Department Colloquium, Marquette University.
"Conceiving Trust for Philosophy of Religion." Washington, DC. January 2004, Philosophy Department, Georgetown University. Revised, to Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, February 2004.
"Trust and Suspicion in Christian Religion: What are the Issues?" Houston, TX, October 2003. Jesuit Philosophical Association, meeting with the American Catholic Philosophical Association.
"An Argument from Trust." St. Paul, Minnesota, November 1999. Jesuit Philosophical Association, meeting with the American Catholic Philosophical Association.
"Ethical Issues of Trust and Suspicion among the Poor and the Rich." New York, December 1995. Paper to meeting of Philosophers in Jesuit Education (with the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division).
"The Phenomena of Trusting and Relational Ontologies." December 1993. Paper to meeting of the Gabriel Marcel Society (with the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division).
"Trust, Suspicion, and Applied Ethics." Santa Clara University, April 1992. Meeting of the Fellows of the Center for Applied Ethics, SCU.
"Trust, the Heart of Religion: A Sketch." Boston, April 5, 1991. Annual Meeting of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.
"In God We Trust . . . Or Should We?: A Philosophical Reflection on an Ignatian Maxim." New Orleans LA, March 31, 1989. Presidential Address to the Annual Meeting of the Jesuit Philosophical Association.
"Hoping in Human Institutions." Brighton, UK, August 25, 1988. Gabriel Marcel Colloquium, XVIIIth World Congress of Philosophy.
"Four Dimensions of Trust." Los Angeles CA, March 11, 1988. Philosophy Department, Loyola Marymount University. Revised, to Philosophy Department, Santa Clara University, April 1992. Revised, in Philosophy Series, LaSalle University, October 1993.
"Taking Hope Seriously." Baltimore MD, April 4, 1986. Annual Meeting of the Jesuit Philosophical Association. Also the presidential address to the Philadelphia Chapter, American Catholic Philosophical Association, May 31, 1986.
"Appraising Marcel on Hope." New York, NY, March 22, 1986. Meeting of the New York Chapter, American Catholic Philosophical Association.
"Trust and Its Implications: A Fiducial Natural Theology?" Pittsburgh, PA, April 6, 1984. Annual Meeting of the Jesuit Philosophical Association.
"Trust and Its Implications: An Outline of a Natural Theology for Jesus." Notre Dame, Indiana, March 10, 1984. Eastern Regional Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers.
"Trust and Natural Theology," Philadelphia Area Catholic Philosophical Association, April 1983.
"Understanding Trust: Reflections on Küng and Evans." Houston, April 1982. Jesuit Philosophical Association.
"Models for Understanding Human Hope." October 1981. Philadelphia Area Catholic Philosophical Association.
"Hope and Hoping: Developing Notions of Hope That Are Individually and Socially Adequate for Philosophy." Chicago, April 1978. Jesuit Philosophical Association.
Other Scholarly Presentations:
Comments on paper by George Kovacs, "The Way to God as Absolute Transcendence," at meeting of American Catholic Philosophical Association, Toronto, March 1990.
Comments on paper by John Crosby, "Theonomy of Person: The Dialectic of Human Contingency and Autonomy," at meeting of American Catholic Philosophical Association, Toronto, March 1990.
Other Presentations:
"How to Think About Hope." St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, November, 1993.
"In God We Trust--Or Should We? A Discussion." First Presbyterian Church, Ambler, PA, September 1989.
"The Eyes of Hope." Investiture Address, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, September 1986. Published in Alumni Hawk of Saint Joseph's University.
Research
Francis C. Wade SJ Chair, Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Marquette University, 2004-2005
Visiting Researcher, Philosophy Department, Georgetown University, 2003-2004.
Visiting Fellow, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, 2003-2004. Bannan Scholar, Philosophy Department, Santa Clara University, January-June 1992.Visiting Scholar, Philosophy Department, University of California, Los Angeles, 1987-1988.
Merit Award for Research, Saint Joseph's University, 1988.
Current Projects
Book Projects:
"Opening Hands: Trust of People, Words, and God: An Exploration in Philosophy of Religion [working title]." The book takes a fiducial approach in philosophy of religion (complementing evidential approaches); it proposes an original theory of trust, in dialogue with recent thought on trust; it positions religion and theism questions in contexts of ethics, epistemology, ontology, and the original theory. Most recent publications and papers are drafts of part of this manuscript. Probable completion: spring 2008.
"Philosophy of Religion for Catholics and Other Atheists[working title]". A text in philosophy of religion for a university readership, focusing on topics relevant to Catholic matters but usually omitted from standard textbooks and anthologies; to these latter it is a complement. Parts are drafted and in classroom use, 2008- .
Professional Activities and Memberships:
Memberships: American Philosophical Association, Metaphysical Society of America, American Catholic Philosophical Association, Society of Christian Philosophers, Gabriel Marcel Society, Philosophers in Jesuit Education; Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honors); Eta Sigma Phi (Classics, Honorary); American Association of University Professors.
Chair, Philosophy, St. Joseph's University, 1992-97; acting chair 1989-90.
Founder, Philosophers in Jesuit Education, 1989. Secretary-Treasurer, 1993-
President, 1988-89, Jesuit Philosophical Association.
President, 1985-86, Philadelphia Area Chapter of American Catholic Philosophical Association. Previously, secretary-treasurer.
Executive Council, elected member, American Catholic Philosophical Association, 1995-1998; ACPA Executive Committee, elected member, 1997-1998.
Reader for International Philosophical Quarterly, spring 2000.
Convener of monthly meetings for the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium's Philosophy of Religion Discussion Group, 1990-
Member, Board of Directors, Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium, 1994-1997
Radio interviewee on Catholic and ethical matters, WWDB Philadelphia, irregularly 1999
Selected Recent Institutional Service at Saint Joseph's University:
SJU Council on Mission and Identity, 2000-2003
SJU Diversity Commission, 1997-2003
SJU subcommittee on Mission and Integrity in preparation for Middle-States Review, 1993.
Chair, Philosophy Department, 1992-1997
Board on Rank and Tenure, 1989-91
Board on Faculty Research and Development, 1989-91
Committee to review the undergraduate curricula, ("SEPO") ca. 1985-87
University Chapel, Presider and Homilist at Eucharist, monthly
Retreats (Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius): to students, staff, and faculty
Other Service
Rector, Jesuit Community at Saint Joseph's University, 1997-2003
Board of Trustees, Saint Joseph's University, 1997-2003--
Joined Society of Jesus, 1956.
Ordained Roman Catholic Priest, 1969.
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Revised September 2009