LutheranPhilosopher

Identity Statement

 

My question as a professor: What can philosophy do for confessional Lutheran thinking and what can confessional Lutheran thinking do for philosophy?

The central concept for me is that of the human being. I am in the process of articulating an existential and phenomenological understanding of human being (see my recent book Wednesday's Child) that further develops Luther's theological understanding, for example, in his 1536 Disputation Concerning Man.

This concept of the human being has significant impact on the teaching of ethics and on our conduct of life together, as indicated in the Forward to Wednesday's Child by Professor Andrew Tallon. My book is searchable online at Amazon.com, Wednesday's Child: From Heidegger to Affective Neuroscience, A Field Theory of Angst. This concern with human being is especially crucial just now for my thinking and teaching ethics and bioethics, but it has wide-ranging application.

As a person, my aspiration is to live and lead with genuine INTEGRITY -- integrity as I have learned to know it in my professional life, teaching ethics while being a friend and outspoken advocate for my colleagues; and from my volunteer service, teaching and cultivating the USAF core values in cadets and senior officers as a Lt Colonel in the Air Force's Civil Air Patrol. (Previously I served as an officer in the Mitchell Composite Squadron #9, a unit founded as a gateway for minority students in particular to contribute to community and national service through the CAP.) In these core values we articulate an understanding of leadership as, first and foremost, caring for your people. This is bedrock.

Motto: "Dare to think well; we cannot afford mediocrity!"

Gregory P. Schulz, PhD

 

Specialties

Graduate and undergraduate courses in Philosophy and Theology

Philosophy: phenomenology and existential thought (AOS), particularly interested in Kierkegaard (including his "second authorship") and the early Heidegger and Wittgenstein (AOI)

Theology: Lutheran doctrine and practice of church and ministry (AOS), with special interest in Bonhoeffer, apologetics and the problem of evil (AOI)

Professor of Philosophy

Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1996-present)

The Philosophy curriculum at my college is a program which I designed according to my academics-plus model (vetted and accredited academics PLUS attentiveness to the Truth of Christ and the Gospel) for three core purposes: First, to enable our undergraduates to think and speak with grace and precision while conversing and writing apologetically. Second, to equip our philosophy majors and other intellectually gifted students for significant work in academe and society. Third, to "rescue" at-risk students as a capable and inspiring professor teaching a vibrant, liberating discipline. I am presently developing Philosophy as Jazz, an online introduction to philosophy for high school age students, as well as The Martin Galstad Institute for Lutheran Philosophy.

Nota bene, this website and blog are intended for students, potential students and graduates of my philosophy and theology courses over the years -- young thinkers, young professionals, young minds who are still in their formative years. Like-minded academics are also most welcome!

Nota bene minor, the thoughts expressed in my writing are my own and do not necessarily reflect the thinking and practice of the college where I presently teach, and vice versa, as the college is after all a diverse institution.