Max Scheler and the Pope

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Hola! Soy un estudiante, tercero ano, de filisofia en un universidad en Manila, Filipinas y tengo una pregunta sobre Max Scheler y nuestro Papa.

I don't speak spanish very well, sorry. Just trying out whether I still knew how to. Anyway, I am preparing to write a senior's thesis on Max Scheler's The Meaning of Suffering, and I was wondering how he, and perhaps his views on suffering, affected the Pope's thought, if ever it did. (I understand that the Pope's dissertation was on Scheler.) Perhaps also you could point to some leads regarding this topic, On the Meaning of Suffering, a starting point perhaps of metaphysics?

Puedes ayudarme? Muchas gracias.

-- PJ Bernardo (peej@i-manila.com.ph), February 18, 2000

Answers

Hello, Mr. Bernardo.

In 1954, Father Karol Wojtyla received his second doctorate (this time in Philosophy) centered on the work of Max Scheler, an early German proponent of phenomenology.

If you are very familiar with Scheler's thoughts on suffering, you may be able to find an echo of them in Pope John Paul II's "Salvifici Doloris" -- an Apostolic Letter On the Christian Meaning of Suffering, issued on February 11, 1984. Though there are no citations credited to Scheler, you can read the text fo the letter at http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2SALVI.HTM

A philosophy professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) has written a paper called "Max Scheler's Principle of Moral Solidarity and its Implications for the Pro-Life Movement." Perhaps Dr. John F. Crosby would be willing to correspond with you. I have seen him on TV and I know that he is a very kind man. His e-mail address is jcrosby@franuniv.edu

Another philosophy professor (emeritus) has an Internet site. After reading his home page, you can click on a link and go to his page dedicated to Max Scheler. Start at http://members.aol.com/fringsmk/

Finally, there is at least one big essay on Scheler buried in the huge "page" at this site: http://philosophy.cua.edu/rvp/book/series04/IVA-07.htm

Best wishes for your research.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 18, 2000.

8-16-02

Greetings,

I found your query and response, and noticed it's been over two years. Why don't you update us all on what you have found in your investigation? Perhaps post a paper on such, and put a link on this one. Nota had good thoughts on Max, whom I've studied for a while. Frings is the sole archivist for all Max material, and Nota was perhaps upset with him for not getting the material translated and out. Nota might have more info on a Catholic response to your Pope question. I was unaware, and request to know where to find the Pope's paper on Scheler if it's around. Maybe the Holy See might have it for me to perceive, eh? Professor Eiichi Shimommisse is well versed in Scheler, and might assist in other questions, as he would be more interested in Sartre then the Pope (?) in a fashion. His comments though on any thing Scheler would be of assistance. You can find him at the website of California State University Dominguez Hills. I'll go read that other answer's further guidance and check back for your response. Good luck, or values, or perception, reduction, or whatever....

-- Karl Calhoun (calhounaz@hotmail.com), August 17, 2002.


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