How Philosophy Begins

Foreword

Father Gerard Smith, S.J., who was chairman of the Marquette Philosophy Department for twenty-two years, used to say that the Aquinas Lectures helped to push back the frontiers of ignorance. And, indeed, many of the previous speakers in this series have done just that, with a clarity and brilliance of insight that have illumined the minds of other philosophers on specialized topics. My remarks will be a more modest attempt.

As a teacher who has tried to explain some difficult concepts, I have often been aware of some questions in the minds of my students, such questions, for example, as these: "To whom are you speaking, professor? Will you please speak to us? If you must talk philosophy, can you lead us into it gently? Can you show us how and why philosophy begins?"

It is these questions that I should like to address. For my professional colleagues this lecture may serve as a souvenir of a journey begun long ago. For students it may serve as a passport to a journey that they just now are beginning.