Critical Thomism And Lonergan's Critical Realism

Critical Thomism and Lonergan’s Critical Realism By Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif © Copyright 2009 by Anthony J. Fejfar In my previous article, “Insight Into Lawyering, Bernard Lonergan’s Critical Realism Applied to Jurisprudence,” published in the Boston College Law Review (1986), I applied Lonergan’s Critical Realism to Jurisprudence. However, upon reflection, using Critical Thomism, some correction have to be made to the position set forth in that article. Lonergan states that the end of the Political Specialization of Common Sense is the Good of Order. I, on the other hand argue, that the end of the Political Specialization of Common Sense is the Liberal Good of Order. The Good of Order cannot be fascist, instead, it must be Liberal, supporting Constitutional Democracy and Individual Rights. Lonergan also states that the end of man is both Individual and Social. I argue that the end of the human person is the Individual Good, following Plato. Human Beings are individuals first, and then social. The Common Good is the aggregate of the Individual Good. Without individuation, authentic relationships are impossible and instead become abusive. With the above corrections, the position set forth in my original Boston College Law Review Article still makes sense.