Christopher  Kaczor profile photo

Christopher Kaczor

Chair, Department of Philosophy

Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

Media

Publications

Image for publication on The Gospel of Happiness: Rediscover Your Faith Through Spiritual Practice and Positive PsychologyImage for publication on The Seven Big Myths about Marriage: Wisdom from Faith, Philosophy, and Science about Happiness and LoveImage for publication on The Ethics of Abortion: Women's Rights, Human Life, and the Question of Justice (Routledge Annals of Bioethics)Image for publication on Life Issues, Medical Choices: Questions and Answers for Catholics

Documents

Photos

Audio/Podcasts

Video

Image for vimeo videos on How children help their parents flourish: Christopher Kaczor at TEDxLoyolaMarymountU

Biography

Dr. Christopher Kaczor (rhymes with razor) graduated from the Honors Program of Boston College and earned a Ph.D. four years later from the University of Notre Dame. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Kaczor is a former Federal Chancellor Fellow at the University of Cologne and William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. His twelve books include The Gospel of Happiness, The Seven Big Myths about Marriage, A Defense of Dignity, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church, The Ethics of Abortion, O Rare Ralph McInerny: Stories and Reflections on a Legendary Notre Dame Professor, Thomas Aquinas on the Cardinal Virtues; Life Issues-Medical Choices; Thomas Aquinas on Faith, Hope, and Love; The Edge of Life, and Proportionalism and the Natural Law Tradition. Dr. Kaczor’s views have been in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, National Re view, NPR, BBC, EWTN, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, MSNBC, TEDx, and The Today Show.

Education

University of Notre Dame

Ph.D., 1996

University of Notre Dame

M.M.S., 1994

Boston College

A.B., 1992

Areas of Expertise

BioethicsEthicsPositive Psychology & SpiritualityCatholic Church

Accomplishments

William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life | professional

James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University, 2014-2015

2nd Place, Best Book on Faith and Science | professional

A Defense of Dignity: Creating Life, Destroying Life, and Protecting the Rights of Conscience, Catholic Press Association 2014

Research Fellowship | professional

Biola University, Center for Christian Thought, Fall 2013

Fulbright Scholar | professional

University of Cologne, Germany, 2002-2003

Federal Chancellor Fellowship | professional

Alexander von Humbolt Foundation, Germany, 1996-1997

Affiliations

  • James Madison Society
  • Princeton University

Languages

  • German
  • Latin
  • French

Research Grants

William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life

James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University

2014-2015

Research Fellowship

Biola University, Center for Christian Thought

Fall 2013

Fulbright Scholar

University of Cologne, Germany

2002-2003

Federal Chancellor Fellowship

Alexander von Humbolt Foundation, Germany

1996-1997

Courses

Ethics

Ethics

Thomas Aquinas on God and the Virtues [graduate course]

Thomas Aquinas on God and the Virtues [graduate course]

Critical Thinking and Logic

Critical Thinking and Logic

The Development of the Natural Law Tradition [graduate course]

The Development of the Natural Law Tradition [graduate course]

Ethics of Love and Marriage

Ethics of Love and Marriage

Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics [graduate course]

Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics [graduate course]

Bio-Ethics

Bio-Ethics

Ethical Theories [graduate course]

Ethical Theories [graduate course]

Philosophy and Christianity

Philosophy and Christianity

Medieval Philosophy

Medieval Philosophy

Ancient Philosophy

Ancient Philosophy

Philosophy of Law

Philosophy of Law

Philosophy and Literature: Dante and Aquinas

Philosophy and Literature: Dante and Aquinas

Major Thinkers: Thomas Aquinas

Major Thinkers: Thomas Aquinas

Articles

Against Euthanasia for Children: A Response to Bovens

Journal of Medical Ethics

“Against Euthanasia for Children: A Response to Bovens” forthcoming in Journal of Medical Ethics.

"Philosophy and Theology" Separating Conjoined Twins

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology" Separating Conjoined Twins forthcoming in National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly.

Philosophical Anthropology and Positive Emotion

Christian Psychology

“Philosophical Anthropology and Positive Emotion” Christian Psychology Vol.8, no.1 (2014) 20-22.

“Philosophy and Theology” Artificial Gametes

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Artificial Gametes National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 15 no. 1 (Spring 2015) 169-174.

Happiness According to Aristotle, Aquinas, and Seligman

Journal of Psychology and Christianity

“Happiness According to Aristotle, Aquinas, and Seligman” Journal of Psychology and Christianity Vol. 34, No.3 (2015) 194-202.

Reading St. Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics

Theology Needs Philosophy: Essays in Honor of Ralph McInerny

“Reading St. Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics” forthcoming in Theology Needs Philosophy: Essays in Honor of Ralph McInerny, ed. Matthew Lamb, The Catholic University of America Press.

“Philosophy and Theology” Duties to Children

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Duties to Children National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 14 no. 4 (Winter 2014) 753-758.

“Philosophy and Theology” Is Giving Birth More Dangerous than Aborting?

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Is Giving Birth More Dangerous than Aborting? National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 14 no. 3 (Autumn 2014) 561-566.

“Philosophy and Theology” End of Life Questions

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” End of Life Questions National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 14 no. 2 (Summer 2014) 365-370.

“Philosophy and Theology” Insurance Coverage for Elective Abortion

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Insurance Coverage for Elective Abortion National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 14 no. 1 (Spring 2014) 163-169.

“Philosophy and Theology” The Time-Relative Interest Account

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” The Time-Relative Interest Account National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 13 no. 4 (Winter 2013) 753-758.

“Philosophy and Theology” Responses to ‘After-Birth Abortion’

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Responses to ‘After-Birth Abortion’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 13 no. 3 (Fall 2013) 539-544.

The Parts of Prudence and Scientific Solutions for Weakness of Will

Diametros

“The Parts of Prudence and Scientific Solutions for Weakness of Will” Diametros 38 (December 2013) 127-132.

John Paul II on the Development of Doctrine

Nova et Vetera

“John Paul II on the Development of Doctrine” Nova et Vetera 11.4 (2013) 1173-1192.

“Philosophy and Theology” Reductio Arguments

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Reductio Arguments National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 13 no. 2 (Summer 2013) 351-357.

“Double Effect Reasoning” and “Choice”

New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy

“Double Effect Reasoning” and “Choice” in the New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy. Ed. Robert L. Fastiggi. 4 vols. Detroit: Gale, 2013.

“Philosophy and Theology” Reproductive Rights

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Reproductive Rights National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 13 no. 1 (Spring 2013) 197-203.

Review of David DeGrazia, Creation Ethics: Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life

Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy

Review of David DeGrazia, Creation Ethics: Reproduction, Genetics, and Quality of Life appearing in Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy Vol.123, no.2 (January 2013) pgs.357-361.

“Philosophy and Theology” After-Birth Abortion

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” After-Birth Abortion National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 12 no. 4 (Winter 2012) 739-745.

“Philosophy and Theology” Disability

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Disability National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 12 no. 3 (Autumn 2012) 533-539.

“Conscientious Objection and Health Care: A Reply to Bernard Dickens”

Christian Bioethics

“Conscientious Objection and Health Care: A Reply to Bernard Dickens” Christian Bioethics 18, no. 1 (2012) 59-71.

“Philosophy and Theology” Contemporary Discussions of Parenthood

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Contemporary Discussions of Parenthood National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 12 no. 2 (Summer 2012) 349-358.

“Can it be Morally Permissible to Assert a Falsehood for a Good Cause?”

American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly

“Can it be Morally Permissible to Assert a Falsehood for a Good Cause?” American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly vol. 86, no. 1, (2012) 97-109.

“Philosophy and Theology” What Justifies the Right to Live?

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” What Justifies the Right to Live? National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 12 no. 1 (Spring 2012) 173-178.

Infanticide

Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy

“Infanticide” in the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy. Edited by Richard S. Myers et al. Volume Three. Scarecrow Press of Rowman & Littlefield (2012) 152-153.

“Philosophy and Theology” Notes on Fetal Interventions

National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly

“Philosophy and Theology” Notes on Fetal Interventions, National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 11 no. 4 (Winter 2011) 789-794.