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Without Philosophy, You Can’t Understand the Human Person | Dr. John G. Brungardt
Published July 29
In this episode of the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology podcast, Dr. John Brungardt discusses his formation as a Catholic philosopher and his contribution to the series with Natural Philosophy: An Introduction. He reflects on his education at Thomas Aquinas College and the Catholic University of America, the influence of thinkers like Charles De Koninck, and his current work teaching seminarians in the Diocese of Wichita. The conversation explores how natural philosophy supports theology, especially in understanding the human person and engaging modern science.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
00:35 - Why Natural Philosophy in a Theology Encyclopedia?
01:45 - Philosophy as Handmaiden to Theology
03:00 - Dr. Brungardt’s Catholic Upbringing in Wichita
04:30 - Teaching Seminarians at Newman University
05:55 - Formative Influence: His Father’s Shroud Talk
07:20 - Undergraduate at Thomas Aquinas College
08:30 - Interest in Great Books & Natural Sciences
09:50 - Graduate Studies at Catholic University of America
11:00 - Influences: De Koninck, Hassing, Sokolowski
13:30 - Becoming a Third Order Dominican
15:20 - Dissertation on Charles De Koninck’s Philosophy of Nature
18:00 - De Koninck on Biology & the “Lifeless World”
21:10 - The Problem of Scientific Reductionism
23:00 - Postdoc in Chile: Philosophy of Cosmology
25:00 - Thomism in Latin America & Scholarly Exchange
26:30 - Love of Nature, the Andes, and Stargazing
28:00 - Teaching Natural Philosophy to Seminarians
30:30 - Joys & Challenges of Teaching Philosophy
32:20 - Influence on Seminarians at Newman
33:20 - The Catholic Handbook on Natural Philosophy
34:30 - Natural Philosophy & the Human Person
36:00 - Breaking Out of Materialism in Science
38:00 - Final Thoughts & Reading Recommendations
40:00 - Conclusion & What’s Next
