William C. Michael

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, philosophy is nothing other than the work of human reason seeking to understand the order of things. This definition, though simple, opens before us the whole scope of classical learning. For wisdom, as St. Thomas explains, is the perfection of the intellectual faculty, and the mark of the wise man is his ability to set things in order rightly. While the senses provide us with knowledge of individual, material things—this tree, that building, this action—it belongs to reason alone to perceive how these things relate to one another, how they depend upon one another, and … Continue

This is one of the most common questions asked by parents, and the answer depends less on the child’s age than on the level of support available to him. Parent/Tutor Support The proper time to begin Latin studies is determined largely by the support available to a student. A young child is quite capable of beginning Latin early—provided that someone is available to direct and assist him. Parents who already know Latin are in an excellent position to introduce their children to the language at a young age. Their familiarity allows them to guide lessons, answer questions, and ensure steady … Continue

In this essay, I wish to challenge certain assumptions that are commonly taken for granted in modern explanations of planetary motion. Terms like “inertia” and “tangential velocity” are frequently invoked as if they were true causes, yet upon closer examination, they appear to function more as convenient descriptions than as genuine explanations. By examining the logic behind these concepts and applying them consistently, I intend to show that they fail to account for the actual changes observed in the earth’s motion. Moreover, I will argue that the notion of space as a “vacuum,” often used to support these explanations, is … Continue

Modern science has been proven, over the past 400 years, to be incapable of accomplishing what the ancient philosophers explained it could never accomplish: providing a more accurate and certain knowledge of the world than philosophy. Plato explained this — and he wasn’t even smart enough to figure out the art of Reasoning. Aristotle also explained this, and there is a reason why Aristotelian philosophy guided western civilization for almost 2,000 years. That’s when Francis Bacon proposed the abandonment of Aristotle’s “method” and the Scientific Revolution was launched. Because of the massive amounts of money and manpower that has been … Continue

The tension within modern Catholic culture regarding “socialization” is not merely a practical concern, but a deeper confusion about the nature and purpose of human life. Parents are urged to immerse their children in constant activity—teams, clubs, peer groups—under the assumption that this produces well-formed, socially competent individuals. Yet the Church continues to hold up as the highest expressions of human life those vocations marked by silence, recollection, and even separation from the world. This apparent contradiction disappears once we recover a proper understanding of true social life. The Error of Modern Socialization Modern culture treats social activity as an … Continue

Questions concerning who should attend college, for what purpose, and by what means are of great importance, for many young adults are making decisions that require decades to recover from. It is necessary to begin by correcting a common and costly misunderstanding concerning the nature of modern higher education. Many today continue to speak of colleges and universities as though they were heirs of the medieval institutions of Christendom, ordered to the pursuit of wisdom and governed by philosophy and theology. This assumption is false, and it leads students and families into serious error. Decisions about education are not merely … Continue

It is necessary for Catholic parents to consider carefully what they mean when they speak of education. In many conversations today, one hears confident references to methods, programs, and well-known educational figures, as though these were sufficient guides for forming children. Parents compare curricula, adopt labels, and align themselves with prevailing trends, yet rarely pause to ask the more fundamental questions upon which all sound judgment depends. What is the purpose of education? What has the Church taught about it? What did those whom the Church calls saints actually study? Without clear answers to these questions, discussion remains superficial, however … Continue

In most places today, civics education languishes in a culture of ignorance and irrational feeling. It presents political life as an arena in which men and women battle for the control of public resources. It makes no effort to establish a clear view of the nature of man or the true purpose of society. Students are taught about branches of government, elections, and rights, yet are rarely led to ask the prior and more important questions: Without answers to these questions, civics becomes chaotic, an endless batlle of selfish opinions and emotions. It doesn’t produce wisdom, but confusion—citizens who may … Continue

In this debate, cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker and New York Times columnist Ross Douthat explore whether a secular society can truly sustain itself. For years, many intellectuals predicted that as religion declined, society would become calmer, more rational, and more scientific. Instead, modern politics often feels just as fervent—driven by new forms of moral conflict, tribalism, and ideological certainty. So where does morality come from without God? Are ideas like human dignity and human rights grounded in something transcendent—or can they stand on reason alone? In this conversation, Pinker and Douthat debate the role of faith in modern life and … Continue

In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we provide rigorous comprehension assessments that challenge students to thoroughly study lessons and demonstrate their understanding of important concepts. These assessments will be difficult for most students because they require careful study and thoughtful, well-written responses. Students may benefit from seeing a model for imitation. This morning, I completed and submitted the Comprehension Assessment for the first lesson in the Academy’s course on Aristotle’s Politics. The assignment probebly took me an hour to complete, while I managed other tasks in a comfortable way. This is how real academic work is normally done in real-life … Continue