Baylor Professor Named as One of “Fifty Minds that Matter” by Roman Catholic Periodical
Media Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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by Jessie Jilovec, student newswriter
WACO, Texas (Dec. 10, 2018) – John Haldane, Ph.D., The J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Distinguished Professor of Philosophy in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences, was named to “Fifty Minds that Matter: artists, scientists, philosophers, theologians, musicians and architects who are shaping the modern world,” a list published by The Tablet. This follows his being named one of “The Fifty Most Influential Living Philosophers” by TheBestSchools in 2016.
The Tablet is the oldest existing English-language Catholic periodical and is the oldest existing Christian periodical of any denomination in the world. Haldane is one of six philosophers named on the list. People in other categories include Bruce Springsteen and Martin Scorsese. The periodical was chartered in 1840 and has since provided religious news and commentary along with book, cinema, music and theater reviews.
Haldane said he has worked in various areas of philosophy, including the “Analytical Thomism” approach. He combines aspects of the thought of the medieval philosopher-theologian Thomas Aquinas and some of the methods and insights of 20th century “analytical” philosophy, which is the dominant tradition of philosophy in the English-speaking world.
He also has written for several papers and periodicals including The (London) Times, The Guardian, The Scotsman, Commonweal and First Things. He has broadcast extensively on radio and television, mostly with the BBC. In 2005, he was appointed by Pope Benedict to advise the Vatican’s Council for Culture and continued to do so until 2015.
Haldane earned a B.A. in fine art from the Wimbledon School of Art in London and then earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of London. He joined the Baylor community in 2015. He is also a Professor of Philosophy at St. Andrews University in Scotland and is chair of the Royal Institute of Philosophy in London.
“I appreciate the commitment of the University to excellence in teaching and scholarship and research in conjunction with an unapologetic commitment to traditional Christian belief and practice,” Haldane said. “It is this combination that brought me here.”
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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and seven academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit www.baylor.edu/artsandsciences.