Journal of Law, Philosophy and Culture vol. I, no. 1

Today's post brought me the inaugural installment of the Journal of Law, Philosophy and Culture, and it looks to be superb.  It's a product of the new Center for Law, Philosophy and Culture at The Catholic University of America.  For both the Center and its Journal, we owe thanks to the investment, energies, and fidelity of President Father David O'Connell, Dean Veryl Miles, and Professor William Wagner, the director of the Center and the faculty editor of the Journal.  In the first installment you'll find papers on the topic "Idea of Public Reason: Achievement or Failure?" by such folks as William Galston, Kent Greenawalt, John Haldane, Michael McConnell, Jeremy Waldron, and William Wagner.  There's also a book review by Dick Helmholz.  I predict great success for the Journal: Taking its cue from Fides et ratio (sec. 56), it aims to "stir[] reason to move beyond all isolation and to run risks so that it may attain whatever is beautiful, good, and true."   (Statement of Purpose, iii).

Aptly, the volume begins with an article by Cardinal Dulles on "The Evangelization of Culture and the Catholic University."  Coming to the the question of the "interpenetration with faith" that must occur in professional studies, Dulles explains that "studies in fields such as medicine and law need not be taught with an exclusive view to success in a career.  Seen rather as a vocations to service, these fields should be studied with a distinctively Christian and Catholic emphasis.  Medicine will not ignore the serious ethical problems raised by biotechnology and genetic engineering.  Jurisprudence will situate itself in the tradition of Francisco de Vitoria, Francisco Suarez, and Juan de Lugo. Legal ethics will take cognizance of Catholic social teaching."

I recommend the entire essay, indeed as one focal point for our ongoing discussion here of the "mission" of Catholic law schools.  I'm not sure the students in my Jurisprudence course are ready for Suarez, but I know what the Cardinal is talking about, and I think he's right.  The project of normative jurisprudence that should occur today in Catholic circles has legs stronger than Ronald Dworkin's on which to stand.