Philosophy Research


May 2023 - May 2024

Nature, Philosophy, Greek and Latin Aristotle’s Physics and St. Thomas Aquinas’ De  Principiis Naturae
Matthew Stace

Daniel Wagner and Matthew StaceThis project involves an intensive study of Ancient Greek forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in order to acquire a basic understanding necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of Aristotle. The student and faculty mentor will collaborate to produce a philosophical translation of important selections from Aristotle’s Physics I-II, which are correlated with St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae in terms of content. The goal will be to produce a philosophical translation of the text of the Physics that is eloquently intelligible for contemporary English speakers and consonant with the translation of De principiis naturae that is in development.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner, Philosophy
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program


May 2022 - May 2023

Vaccine Mandates and COVID-19: An Analysis on Political Polarization of The Pandemic

Emily Green

This research was conducted in an attempt to gain an understanding of the polarization brought about by the pandemic/recent events and attempt to understand factors that have gone into that. Data from this research provides an look into personal decision making as it pertains to the pandemic, and provides implications for future political and governmental actions. 

Dissecting the polarization that has been put at the forefront of this pandemic could provide valuable insight into the citizens’ point of view in regards to policy and prevention measures. A survey of ten questions given in an interview style meeting was used to collect responses. This study looks at correlations between perceptions of the pandemic/vaccine mandates and political affiliations in an attempt to dissect the polarization brought about from the pandemic. The data collected implies that it is much more complex than simply assigned preconceptions from either party. 
 
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funded by: None/Self-funded

Daniel Wagner and Margo Ardelean

Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas’ De Principiis Naturae 
Margo Ardelean
The primary goal of this project is twofold. First, the student will acquire basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor will collaborate to produce a philosophical translation of an important selection of text from St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, continuing the tradition of philosophically engaging the Angelic Doctor in his own language of composition. We will complete a translation of De principiis naturae by translating chapters 3-6 (it is six chapters, total). This project is a continuation of previous studies done on the first and second chapters of the De principiis naturae. This work, in turn, constitutes the second stage of a larger project to publish a new translation of the De principiis naturae as a whole, with philosophical commentary, for use by scholars and students.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program

May 2019 - May 2020

Wagner Hall

Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas' De Principiis Naturae
Noah Hall

The primary goal of this project was twofold. First, the student acquired basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor collaborated to produce a philosophical translation of the second chapter of St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, which contributed to the living tradition of treating the thought of the Angelic Doctor. This project is a continuation of a previous study done with another student on the opening chapter of the De principiis naturae.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program


May 2018 - May 2019

Nature, Philosophy, and Latin in St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae
Annie Newton

The primary goal of this project is twofold. First, the student will acquire basic understanding and habits of Latin forms, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for producing philosophical translations of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas. Second, the student and faculty mentor will collaborate to produce a philosophical translation of an important text from St. Thomas Aquinas’ De principiis naturae, which contributes to the living tradition of treating the thought of the Angelic Doctor.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Wagner
Funding Source: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program