Infinity and Trinity: Where Faith and Reason Meet
Presented by Dr. Alex Plato, Professor of Philosophy, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Monday, June 29 | 6:30pm 
St. Mary, Help of Christians Church
1011 Church Ave, McKees Rocks, PA 15136-3609

Many of us have heard or have passing familiarity with the philosophical arguments for God's existence. But do these proofs point to the One Triune God? The only way to address this question is if reason can demonstrate there is a perfect, infinite Deity that's compatible with the Doctrine of the Trinity. This is where faith and reason meet.
 
To help us navigate the convergence of faith and reason, two of the greatest thinkers of the Franciscan Tradition will guide us: Blessed John Duns Scotus and St. Bonaventure. Scotus gave us perhaps the most comprehensive, intriguing Catholic argument for the existence of an infinite perfect being. Also dubbed the “Subtle Doctor” by philosophers, Scotus's argument shows us how reason can demonstrate there is a God. St. Bonaventure, on the other hand, shows us why we know of God even without knowing it's God. Yet, when we finally do understand it is God, the eyes of faith can see it is indeed the Triune God. God is the One Perfect Being, and He is this one God because He's Three perfect persons. 
 
While we as Catholics must know God through both faith and reason, we often don't think about how and why these two concepts interact. This talk begins that journey.

There is no charge to attend this event, but we ask that you register so we can plan appropriately.

About the Speaker
Throughout his undergraduate and graduate education, Dr. Plato has been actively involved in academic service, founding a philosophy club at Corban University, a philosophical society at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology, as well as planning, assisting, and directing multiple academic conferences in professional philosophy. Intermittently over the last decade, Dr. Plato has taught philosophy at Saint Louis University, Lindenwood University, and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, in St. Louis. He has also previously taught Great Books at Biola University’s Torrey Honor’s Program.

Dr. Plato works at the intersection of moral philosophy and the philosophy of action, especially on the “principle of double effect.” Additional research interests include the philosophy of religion (especially the problem of evil), epistemology, meta-philosophy, and the history of philosophy. Dr. Plato is also actively involved in integrative learning and is especially interested in the relationship between theology and philosophy, and, in particular, within the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition.