In a significant addition to the field of philosophy, Notre Dame faculty Gregory Robson (Mendoza College of Business) and Meghan Sullivan (Department of Philosophy, Institute for Ethics and the Common Good), alongside scholars from four other universities, have co-authored a new article titled "Advice to Christian Philosophers, Forty Years Later." Published in Faith and Philosophy, this work serves as a tribute to Alvin Plantinga’s seminal 1984 essay and offers a renewed framework for the next generation of scholars.
Professor Robson, a key voice in the Business Ethics and Society Program (BESP) within the Mendoza College of Business, views this publication as a vital step in "revivifying Christian thought". While philosophy faced challenges in the 20th century, Robson credits the "resurrection" of the field largely to the groundwork laid by Plantinga, which the new article expands upon.
For Robson, this intellectual pursuit is inextricably linked to BESP’s mission of exploring how business can contribute to integral human development. His ongoing research—which focuses substantially on the intersection of Christian thought and business—highlights BESP's commitment to "growing the good in business" by integrating deep philosophical and theological inquiry into the modern marketplace.
"This article is our attempt to honor and build on Plantinga's foundational scholarship," Robson noted. "I hope to do my part to revivify Christian thought, both within philosophy and in its applications to business, technology and beyond."
This latest work exemplifies BESP’s unique role in higher education: fostering a community of faculty and students who are courageous enough to ask "why" and dedicated to excellence in both scholarship and ethical leadership.