Personal Catholicism: The Theological Epistemologies of John Henry Newman and Michael Polanyi
by Martin X. Moleski
Category: Philosophy

In Personal Catholicism, Father Martin Moleski argues that Catholic doctrine rests on the foundation of personal knowledge. The first part of the book maintains that there is a very striking similarity in the epistemologies of John Henry Newman, a convert to Catholicism from the nineteenth century, and Michael Polanyi, a scientist-turned-philosopher from the twentieth. By mapping each man's work in turn, the author shows that both men recognized the same key features of the life of the mind, although they used different terminology to develop similar insights. Newman spoke of the illative sense, by which the mind guides itself in all concrete reasoning, while Polanyi focused on the tacit dimension of personal knowledge. The second part of the book explores some of the theological implications of the epistemology of personal knowledge. Because "all knowledge is tacit or rooted in tacit knowledge" (Polanyi), all of Catholicism, to the extent that it may be construed as a body of knowledge, is "tacit or rooted in tacit knowledge." The book is intended to serve as a foundation for post-critical theology. Newman and Polanyi provide an antidote to the skepticism generated by empiricism, positivism, objectivism, and rationalism. The post-critical view offers relief from closed systems inspired by the Cartesian model of clear and distinct ideas, formal operations, propositional rigidity, and chains of argument. The ground which Newman and Polanyi have in common should prove a fruitful resource for doing systematic theology less systematically and for defending dogma non-dogmatically. This book takes up issues relevant to epistemology, philosophy of science, natural theology, apologetics, and systematic theology. Martin X. Moleski, S.J., is associate professor of religious studies at Canisius College. "Both Newman and Polanyi rank high among the pioneers in the history of the post-critical movement in epistemology. They pointed out the limitations of the methods that had become current since the time of Descartes and Spinoza. . . . The systems of these two authors are exceptionally useful for dealing with the major issues that trouble the theological climate today."--From the Foreword by Avery Dulles, S.J. "This engaging and lucid study brings into dialogue two thinkers whose methods share much in common despite their different purposes. . . . A principal contribution of Moleski's study is its cultivation of the common ground that religion shares with science."--Theological Studies "An important and utterly engaging study. . . . Those familiar with Newman's Grammar of Assent and Polanyi's Personal Knowledge will appreciate the ways in which Moleski makes sometimes unexpected connections between the two thinkers, despite Polanyi's critical disposition toward Catholicism. Personal Catholicism is a most welcome contribution to today's rethinking of the relationship between faith and reason."--First Things "There is a wealth of material here that could be applied to issues of faith and reason, science and faith, faith and the nature of reality as they are raised in contemporary society. . . ."--The Gospel and Our Culture