THOMAS MORE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Faith & Reason Scholarship Contest

In E Sancti Thomae Mori, John Paul II’s motu proprio declaring St. Thomas More “Patron of Statesmen and Politicians,” the saintly Pope observes:

Whenever men or women heed the call of truth, their conscience then guides their actions reliably towards good. Precisely because of the witness which he bore, even at the price of his life, to the primacy of truth over power, Saint Thomas More is venerated as an imperishable example of moral integrity.

To a student of the Catholic intellectual tradition, embodied in so many of the Great Books of Western civilization, the martyrdom of St. Thomas More ought to recall the condemnation and death of Socrates, a pre-Christian witness to “the primacy of truth over power.”

Like More, Socrates fulfilled his civic duties. Like More, Socrates combined public service with an even greater dedication to reflection, conversation, and philosophy. And like More, Socrates was eventually condemned by fellow citizens for apparently failing in his duties to the common good. In making his defense, as presented by Plato in the Apology, Socrates argues that, far from being a threat to the city, the very sort of life that he led—a life of self-examination combined with ongoing dialogue with others—was his greatest service to the city.

In proclaiming Thomas More “Patron of Statesmen and Politicians,” John Paul II responded to “the need felt by the world of politics and public administration for credible role models able to indicate the path of truth at a time in history when difficult challenges and crucial responsibilities are increasing.” In that same spirit, I am pleased to announce the Faith & Reason Scholarship Essay Contest. Applicants are invited to consider Plato’s Apology and to submit an essay of 3–4 pages in answer to this question: Was Socrates a good citizen? If so, how and why? If not, how and why not?

Essays must be submitted by November 1. We look forward to hearing your reflections on Socrates and the enduring questions that his life dedicated to truth brings to the fore.

In Corde Christi,

Matthew Walz

President and Fellow