Tower Topics ~ Summer 2001

Back to Table of Contents

Bro. Justin Hernandez earns Ph.D.

An agnostic philosopher’s theories on religious belief were the topic of the doctoral thesis successfully defended by Brother Justin Hernandez.

Brother Justin received his doctorate during commencement exercises May 20 at the University of Kansas.

Titled “John Stuart Mill and the Epistemic Status of Theism,” Brother Justin’s dissertation focused on Theism, a little-known work by the 19th century British philosopher.

“Mill, a known agnostic in his own day, was unable to reach a point of acceptance regarding certain key elements in theism, whereas I have been able to do so as a Christian thinker,” Brother Justin said. “But I was interested in looking at why this well-known philosopher was unable to personally embrace religious belief even though his theory of belief seems to allow for and justify it.”

Brother Justin said Theism was written at the time of an intellectual movement known as the Ethics of Belief debate.

“At this time,” Brother Justin explained, “religious belief as well as scientific belief were considered to be attractive test cases for examining the relationship between pragmatic reasons for believing, on the one hand, and reasons based on evidence, on the other hand.”

Brother Justin, who teaches philosophy for Conception Seminary College, serves as director of financial aid and manages the seminary book store, began research on the project in 1995. He recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his religious profession.

“I enjoyed the work I did in this study and learned a great deal along the way,” he said, “though I am still left with many questions about Mill and religious belief.”

Back to Table of Contents