Ralph McInerny

Ralph McInerny (1929-2010) was an American philosopher and novelist who spent his entire academic career at the University of Notre Dame, where he directed the Jacques Maritain Center and Medieval Institute. A prominent Thomist philosopher, McInerny made significant contributions to natural theology and the philosophy of religion through his interpretations of Aquinas's arguments for God's existence. His works, including "St. Thomas Aquinas" (1977) and "A First Glance at St. Thomas Aquinas" (1990), made classical theistic arguments accessible to contemporary audiences. McInerny defended the rationality of theistic belief against modern skepticism while maintaining the distinction between philosophical reasoning and revealed theology. He argued for the continued relevance of Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics in addressing questions about God's existence and nature. His philosophical writings emphasized the compatibility of faith and reason, contributing to neo-Thomist responses to modern atheism and religious pluralism.