Bernard Lonergan, S.J. (1904 - 1984) was a Canadian philosopher-theologian in the Thomist tradition, a Jesuit and economist from Buckingham, Quebec who taught at Loyola College (Montreal), the University of Toronto, the Pontifical Gregorian University and Boston College. He is the author of (1957) and (1973), which established what he called the Generalized Empirical Method (GEM).

Education

Entered the Society of Jesus, 1922B.A. Philosophy, Heythrop College, University of London, 1929Ordained a Roman Catholic Priest, 1933Ph.D., Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, 1940. Dissertation advised

Works

After his return from Rome, Lonergan wrote a series of four articles for Theological Studies on the inner word in Thomas Aquinas which became highly influential in the study of St. Thomas's accounts of knowledge and cognition. The articles were later collected and published under the title .

While teaching theology at the University of Toronto, Lonergan wrote Insight: A Study of Human Understanding, inaugurating the generalized empirical method (GEM). GEM belongs to the movement of "transcendental Thomism" inaugurated by Joseph Maréchal. This method begins with an analysis of human knowing as divided into three levels—experience, understanding, and judgment—and, by stressing the objectivity of judgment more than Kant had done, develops a Thomistic vision of Being as the goal of the dynamic openness of

In 1973, Lonergan published , which divides the discipline into eight 'functional specialties'. Method is a phenomenon which applies across the board in all disciplines and realms of consciousness. Through his work on method, Lonergan aimed, among other things, to establish a firm basis for agreement and progress in disciplines such as philosophy and theology. Lonergan believed that the lack of an agreed method among scholars in such fields has inhibited substantive agreement from being reached and progress from being made; whereas, in the natural sciences, for example, widespread agreement among scholars on the scientific method has enabled remarkable progress.

In later life while teaching at Boston College, Lonergan returned his attention to the economic interests of his younger days.

For more information, see a of Lonergan's works; view Lonergan's works ; or make contact with one of the centers of Lonergan studies, such as the Lonergan Institute for "the Good Under Construction" or the Lonergan Center.

Philosophy

Lonergan described GEM as critical realism. By realism, he affirmed that we make true judgments of fact and of value, and by critical, he based knowing and valuing in a critique of consciousness. GEM traces to their roots in consciousness the sources of all the meanings and values that make up personality, social orders, and historical developments. More information is available at the .

His ideas include Radical Unintelligibility and GEM.

Honours

In 1970 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.