APRIL 13, 2016
The department would like to congratulate John Haldane, who serves as our J. Newton Rayzor, Sr., Distinguished Professor in Philosophy, for receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Notre Dame Australia. Haldane was recognized at the 2016 graduation ceremonies this week at the campus in Sydney, Australia, where he has spent this semester teaching a course.
An excerpt from his acceptance speech:
“We come into a world not of our own making, in circumstances we did not choose, and live subject to conditions over which we have little control. Our existence is frail and vulnerable to contingencies, some predictable others unanticipated. Philosophy, theology and ethics cannot insulate us from these forces but there is a sense in which they can enable us to rise above our circumstances by understanding them, and seeing in them opportunities to re-commit oneself to living well as a human being. This is not to say that philosophy, theology and ethics will ensure sunshine and happiness but they can enable us to proceed in inner freedom and hope.”
