Ph.D. University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas.
R. Mary Hayden Lemmons
Co-Founder and Former Co-Director; Associate Professor, Philosophy
Degree
Office
JRC 237
Phone
(651) 962-5357
Toll Free
(800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-5357
Fax
651) 962-5340
Email
Mail
University of St. Thomas, JRC 241
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
Academic History
Ph.D. University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas.
Dissertation: "Love and the First Principles of St. Thomas's Natural Law." Degree awarded, 1988.
M.A. Niagara University, New York.
Thesis: "Degrees of Immateriality in Sense Knowledge: An Exegesis of the Texts of Thomas Aquinas." Degree awarded, 1982.
B.S. State University of New York at Binghamton.
Majors: Biochemistry and Political Science. Research in Immunology: "An Assay for Hemoglobin's Antibodies." Degree awarded, 1979.
Expertise
Ethics
Political and Legal Philosophy
Philosophy of Person and Love
Personalist Feminism
Awards & Honors
American Catholic Philosophical Association Machette Award for Young Scholars, "Natural Inclinations and Moral Absolutes" (1990).
Plenary Address for American Catholic Philosophical Association (1992).
Selected Publications
“Prophetic Femininity in the Bible, the Church, and Nature: Reflections on John Paul II’s Prophetism of Femininity and Marian Ecclesiology.” In Woman as Prophet in the Home and the World: Interdisciplinary Investigations, edited by R. Mary Hayden Lemmons. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2016.
"Love and the Metaphysics of Being: Aquinas, Clarke, and Wojtyla," Questiones Disputatae, Vol. 6 # 1 (Fall 2015): 58-72.
"Aquinas as Teacher of Humanity: Lessons of Truth and Love." Pp. 360-379 in Thomas Aquinas: Teacher of Humanity, eds. John P. Hittinger, Daniel C. Wagner. Cambridge Scholars Publications, 2015.
"The Indeterminacy Thesis and the Normativity of Practical Reason," Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, Vol. 85 (2012): 265-282.
Ultimate Normative Foundations: The Case for Personalist Natural Law and Global Jurisprudence. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Rowman and Littlefield, 2011.
"Compassion and the Personalism of American Jurisprudence: Bioethical Entailments," inBioethics with Liberty and Justice: Themes in the Work of Joseph M. Boyle, ed. Christopher Tollefson. New York: Springer (2010): 59-74.
"Does Suffering Defeat Eudaimonic Practical Reasoning?" Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, Vol. 83 (2010): 155-172.
"Terrorism, Defensive Torture and the Crisis in International Rights Law," UST Journal of Law and Public Policy 3:1 (2009): 71-79.
"Juridical Prudence and the Toleration of Evil: Aquinas and John Paul II," UST Law Journal. 4:1 (2006) 25-46.
"Tolerance, Society, and the First Amendment: Reconsiderations," UST Law Journal. 3:1 (2005): 75-91.
"Priesthood and the Masculinity of Christ," in the Internet newsletter Godspy (10.15.03) http://www.godspy.com
"Equality, Gender and John Paul II," Logos 5:3 (2002): 111-130.
"Are the Love Precepts Really Natural Law's Primary Precepts?" ACPA Proc. LXVI (1992): 45-71. Also a plenary presentation.
"Rediscovering Eudaimonistic Teleology," The Monist 75, 1 (Jan. 1992): 71-83.
"The 'Feminism' of Aquinas' Natural Law: Relationships, Love and New Life," in Abortion: A New Generation of Catholic Responses. Ed. Stephen Heaney. Braintree, MA: Pope John XXIII Center, 1992, pp. 237-242.
"Aquinas and Natural Human Fulfillment: Inconsistencies?" ACPA Proc. LXV (1991): 215-233.
"Natural Inclinations and Moral Absolutes: A Mediated Correspondence for Aquinas," ACPA Proc. LXIV (1990): 130-50. (The 1990 ACPA Machette Award)
"Love: The Heart of Christian Life," Proceedings of the Wethersfield Institute, Vol. 3 (1990): 101-124.
"The Paradox of Aquinas' Altruism: From Self-Love to Love of Others," ACPA Proc. LXIII (1989): 72-84.
Book Review of Hugo Meynell's Freud, Marx, and Morals, The Canadian Catholic Review, 3 (1985), 31.
"A Philosophical Critique of the Brain Death Movement," Linacre Quarterly, 49 (1982): 240-247.
"Make Your Own Man (Possibilities in Genetic Manipulation)," SUNY-Binghamton's Science Journal 1 (1978): 4-5.
Selected Presentations
"Selected Themes in John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio," Siena Symposium Summer Workshop 2015.
"Fides et Ratio: Towards a Philosophy of Gender," UST Catholic Studies Workshop, Summer 2005.
"Pro-life Feminism: A Contradiction in Terms?" Human Life Alliance Conference, Fall 2004.
"Controversial Issues in Politics, Sex and Death: A three talk series, St. Joseph's Parish, 2004.
"Reflections on Centesimus Annus and the Juridical/Political Parameters of Vocation and Feminism." John Paul II and the Vocation of the Professional Woman. Spring 2004.
"Modern Biology Meets Aquinas and Vice Versa," 2003 Summer Workshop: Philosophy in a New Key.
"Pro-Life Feminism," Midwest Collegiate Pro-life Conference, 2002.
"Aquinas on the Obligations of Love in Charity and Natural Law," Society of Christian Philosophy, 2002.
"Love and Rights: A Medieval Reconciliation," International Congress of Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, 2001.
"Against the Impossibility and Implausibility of Thomistic Natural Law," Minnesota Philosophical Society, 2000.
"Fides et Ratio: Recovery of Natural Law," Diocese of Portland, Oregon, Dec. 1999.
"Discovering Moral Values," University of St. Thomas' Philosophy Colloquium, March 1999.
"On the Vocation of Woman in the Church," Engaging Truth Discussion Forum, Center for Catholic Studies, Dec. 1998.
"Against MacIntyre's Metaethical Perspectivism," Minnesota Philosophical Society, Oct. 1998.
"The Love of God as the Primary Principle of Eudaimonic Happiness," Second Annual Aquinas Lecture, West Liberty State College, April 1998.
"Natural Law and Love: Transcendent Self-Love and Justice," American Maritain Society. March 1994.
"Self-evidence and the Good," International Medieval and Renaissance Congress. Kalamazoo, May 1994.
"The Logic of Aquinas's Natural Law," Society of Christian Philosophers. California, January 1993.
Plenary Keynote Paper for the 1992 Annual Convention of the American Catholic Philosophical Association: "Are the Love Precepts Really Natural Law's Primary Precepts?" Also published inACPA Proc. LXVI (1992): 45-71.
"Sailing with Aquinas Between the Syclla and Charybdis of Christian Love," International Thomist Society. Boston, Spring 1991.
"The Just War Theory," Keynote Address for "Christian Perspectives on the Middle East." Sponsored by Flagstaff Ministerial Association, Spring 1991.
"Love: The Heart of Christian Life." Wethersfield Conference. New York, September 1990. Also published in Proceedings of the Wethersfield Institute, Vol. 3 (1990): 101-124.
"Personal Identity and the Metaphysics of Death," University of Northern Arizona Colloquium. Flagstaff, Spring 1989.
"Natural Inclinations and Moral Absolutes," University of St. Thomas Colloquium. St. Paul, 1988.
"The Catholic Challenge in a Sex Oriented Society," St. Helena's Church, Minneapolis, 1987.
"Thomistic Truths Substantiating Empirical Science," Center for Thomistic Studies Colloquium. Houston, 1984.
Professional Memberships
American Catholic Philosophical Society
University Faculty for Life, President 2015-
Sieana Symposium for Women, Family and Culture, founding co-director 2003-2016
Fellowship of Catholic Scholars
International Natural Law Society
Spring 2024 Courses
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| PHIL 235 - O2 | Politics, Law, and Common Good | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:22250 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons Why have Americans, despite their polarizations and one civil war, been able to work together for most of their 250 year history? Does today’s polarization threaten the very existence of American democracy? What is American democracy? How does it function? Upon what view of justice and the common good does it depend? Is the rule of law important? Are unalienable rights important? Does it depend on a culture shaped on the values of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, the U.S. Supreme Court or religious beliefs? What are the principles that work best to alleviate social ills especially poverty, discrimination, and abortion? The course will consider both classical and contemporary reflection on such topics, including from authors within Catholic intellectual tradition in conversation with other traditions and perspectives. Prerequisite: PHIL 110, PHIL 115, or PHIL 197. Schedule Details
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| PHIL 301 - 05 | SigWk:PoliticsLaw & CommonGood | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:22251 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons Why have Americans, despite their polarizations and one civil war, been able to work together for most of their 250 year history? Does today’s polarization threaten the very existence of American democracy? What is American democracy? How does it function? Upon what view of justice and the common good does it depend? Is the rule of law important? Are unalienable rights important? Does it depend on a culture shaped on the values of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, the U.S. Supreme Court or religious beliefs? What are the principles that work best to alleviate social ills especially poverty, discrimination, and abortion? The course will consider both classical and contemporary reflection on such topics, including from authors within Catholic intellectual tradition in conversation with other traditions and perspectives. Prerequisites: PHIL 110 or PHIL 197; and at least 80 credits completed by the start of the course. Schedule Details
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| PHIL 303 - 01 | Medieval Philosophy | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:22260 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons Why study medieval philosophy? Three reasons. First, the parochial complacency of medieval Europe was shattered by the exotic ideas of returning Crusaders and by the rediscovery of ancient arguments due to the influx of texts newly translated into medieval Latin. The result: intellectual life was unmoored and everything seemed uncertain---even Christianity. Questions about having a soul, being immortal, the reliability of religious belief, the goodness of marriage, the morality of private property, the existence of God as Creator, and even the possibility of certitude were burning questions affecting how people lived and died. These questions and the medieval answers are still relevant today. Second, Thomas Aquinas, the great synthesizer, argued that these questions had answers by utilizing the insights of his Greco-Latin, Muslim and Jewish predecessors. Third, the philosophical principles used by those medieval scholars who opposed Aquinas provided the vectors for the development of modern philosophy and the European Enlightenment. In sum: seeing the medieval clash of key arguments in action is both illuminating and helpful in understanding not only basic philosophical issues but also our own world. Prerequisite: PHIL 110, PHIL 115, or PHIL 197. Schedule Details
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Summer 2024 Courses
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Fall 2024 Courses
| Course - Section | Title | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL 110 - 09 | The Person and the Good | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:40208 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons Using philosophical methodology, and with substantial attention to Catholic intellectual tradition, this course enquires into the foundations of ethics, including how our conception of the human person affects our understanding of the moral life. It considers also the question of the rationality of belief in God and the difference (if any) God makes to our understanding of the person and the good. In addressing these topics, the course develops and applies basic logic skills, introduced as an essential part of philosophical method and an indispensable tool of critical thinking. Schedule Details
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| PHIL 301 - L14 | Sig.Work: Political Philosophy | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:42487 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons This course does a deep dive into the competing philosophies that drive political polarization, generate clashing laws, and divide countries. Is there a way to heal these divisions? Our investigation proceeds historically so that we can evaluate those arguments that have shaped and continue to shape American and European societies. Particular attention will be paid to the philosophical tensions between communism, liberalism, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Key questions include whether contemporary social justice issues both within America and across the globe require the development of a new political philosophy and whether a healthy political philosophy necessarily embraces democracy, limitation of government power, belief in God, living wages, a participatory common good, and individual rights. Main texts: Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts since Plato, 2nd Edition, edited by Cohen and Fermon; Essential Works of Marxism edited by Arthur P. Mendel; The Social and Political Philosophy of Jacques Maritain and Reflections on America by Jacques Maritain; Multiculturalism and “The Politics of Recognition” by Charles Taylor; and a Course Packet. Prerequisites: PHIL 110 or PHIL 115; and at least 80 credits completed. Schedule Details
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| PHIL 357 - L01 | Political Philosophy | |||||||
| Description of course Genetics B/ Lab: |
Course Registration Number:42446 (View in ClassFinder) Credit Hours:4 Credit Hours Instructor:Rose M. Lemmons This course does a deep dive into the competing philosophies that drive political polarization, generate clashing laws, and divide countries. Is there a way to heal these divisions? Our investigation proceeds historically so that we can evaluate those arguments that have shaped and continue to shape American and European societies. Particular attention will be paid to the philosophical tensions between communism, liberalism, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Key questions include whether contemporary social justice issues both within America and across the globe require the development of a new political philosophy and whether a healthy political philosophy necessarily embraces democracy, limitation of government power, belief in God, living wages, a participatory common good, and individual rights. Main texts: Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts since Plato, 2nd Edition, edited by Cohen and Fermon; Essential Works of Marxism edited by Arthur P. Mendel; The Social and Political Philosophy of Jacques Maritain and Reflections on America by Jacques Maritain; Multiculturalism and “The Politics of Recognition” by Charles Taylor; and a Course Packet. Prerequisites: PHIL 110 or PHIL 115; and one other PHIL course. Schedule Details
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