Author

Author

Background

I am not really Socrates returned from the dead, but I am a lifelong lover and seeker of wisdom. “Philosophy” means “lover of wisdom” and anyone pursuing wisdom can be considered a philosopher.  Yet there is a more technical definition of philosophy “the study of first principles and causes of all knowable reality.” If this is the case, the philosophy has something to tell us about literally everything. It have a scope that is entirely universal. As an author, I believe that the study of philosophy should be an exciting and dynamic endeavor, not just a dry academic discipline. Unfortunately, much of contemporary academic philosophy has become just that. Consider the following quote:

“The only critique of philosophy that is possible and that proves anything, namely trying to see whether one can live in accordance with it, has never been taught at universities; all that has ever been taught is a critique of words by means of other words.”

– Nietzsche, Untimely Meditations, “Schopenhauer as Educator,” #8

The contemporary study of philosophy, more often than not, has become an end in itself rather than a means to an end. Ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle aimed to cultivate virtue and promote good governance for societal well-being. Much of today’s philosophy has become an esoteric echo chamber that has no bearing or practical application to real life. Because of all of this, many modern philosophers have walled themselves off from the people that they should be serving. As an author I hope to make the philosophical ideas that I discuss both interesting and relatable to life.

About me

I was born and raised in in Steubenville, Ohio, a community that, at the time, revolved around steel mills. It was a very ethnic community. As the child of Italian immigrants, I was raised in the Catholic Church, but I left when I was eighteen. For me growing up, Catholicism was mainly a cultural experience. However, in college, I left behind my Catholic faith. I journeyed through broader Evangelicalism and eventually settled in the Reformed faith. Even though I learned much and met many wonderful people in those settings, eventually I returned to the Catholic Church after extensively reading the Church Fathers. I’m grateful for how God has used my past experiences in other churches to help mature me as a Christian and to bring me to the point that I am today.

Through my blog, I explore the interaction of faith and reason, focusing on Catholicism and Greek philosophy. I realize that I am just one small voice, but as an author I believe that it is the coalescing of thousands of voices that makes a difference. There is only one truth, but, because of our experiences and education, each person sees that truth from a slightly different perspective. By putting all of our perspectives together, we start to shape the rich tapestry of what is called reality. I hope that you will also be inspired to add your voice to the conversation in whatever way works best for you.

Eye Friendly Visuals

You will notice that some of my fonts are a little larger than normal. That is because I am an optometrist and I don’t want some of my patients who read my blog to complain that the font is too small or think that I am trying to sell them glasses! So as an author I have tried to make my blog user friendly both intellectually and visually. As an eye doctor, I see a lot of people with digital eye strain. I have 6tried to alleviate that by having a cleaner, less cluttered, look to my blog.

Quite frankly, cluttered blogs with small fonts are difficult to read for any length of time, especially ones that have black letters on a dark brown background – really? Maybe this blog will start a new trend visually. Who knows? I have also included beautiful artwork as a representation Western Civilization as well as other cultures. Western Civilization is built upon the transcendentals of truth, beauty, and goodness which is why this blog will focus on not just philosophy, but art and ethics as well.

A Bit More About Me

Currently I am enrolled in Pontifex University and am working on a Master of Sacred Arts degree. I’ve a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) and currently practice optometry, along with my wife Leslie, in Delaware. Ohio where we enjoy being an integral part of a vibrant community. I enjoy hiking, especially in the mountains, and often take trips to the beautiful states of Montana and West Virginia.

As an author, I hope you enjoy my content. Please contact me for points of clarification or even disagreements on things that you may read so we can learn together. Enjoy, and thank you for taking the time to check this blog out!

Deo Gratias!

BTW: In case you are wondering, the cover photo, it is an image Sacagawea Peak (elev. 9.654 ft.) near Wilsall, Montana. I took that photo in 2020 after my son Daniel and I just finished climbing it.

And finally, this blog is dedicated to my dog Maxwell, without whose emotional support, constant companionship during my writing sessions, and occasional feedback concerning animal ethics, this blog would not be possible.