Background
Fields, Stephen Michael was born on June 19, 1952 in Baltimore. Son of Elmer Milton Junior and Jane Frances (Branning) Fields.
(One of the most important theologians of the modern era, ...)
One of the most important theologians of the modern era, Karl Rahner is best known for his efforts to make Christianity credible in light of the intellectual questions of modern culture. Stephen M. Fields, SJ, now explains how Rahner developed his metaphysics as a creative synthesis of Thomism and the modern philosophical tradition. Focusing on Rahner's core concept of the Realsymbol, which posits all beings as symbolic, Fields establishes the place of the Realsymbol in philosophical theories of the symbol. He particularly concentrates on those key aspects of Rahner's metaphysics-his theories of finite realities and language―that have received insufficient attention. By examining a wide range of Rahner's works in the context of twelve medieval, modern, and contemporary thinkers, Fields locates the origins of this seminal thinker's metaphysics to an extent never before attempted. He notes the correlations that exist between the Realsymbol and such work as Aquinas's theory of the sacraments, Goethe's and Hegel's dialectics, Moehler's view of religious language, and Heidegger's aesthetics. Through this analysis, Fields reveals the structural core of Rahner's metaphysics and shows how art, language, knowledge, religious truth, and reality in general are all symbolic. Being as Symbol opens new perspectives on this important thinker and positions him in the broader spectrum of philosophical thought.
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priest theology studies educator
Fields, Stephen Michael was born on June 19, 1952 in Baltimore. Son of Elmer Milton Junior and Jane Frances (Branning) Fields.
Bachelor, Oxford University, England, 1977. Master of Arts, Oxford University, 1983. Master of Arts, Fordham University, Bronx, 1981.
Master of Divinity, Weston School Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1986. Licentiate of Sacred Theology, Weston School Theology, 1987. Master of Arts, Yale University, 1988.
Master of Philosophy, Yale University, 1990. Doctor of Philosophy, Yale University, 1993.
English faculty St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Philadelphia, 1979. Visiting instructor St. Joseph's University, 1981—1983. Assistant professor Georgetown University, Washington, 1993—2000, associate professor theology, since 2000.
Board trustees Theological Studies, Milwaukee, since 2000. Board directors Jesuit Community at Georgetown University, Washington, since 1999.
(One of the most important theologians of the modern era, ...)
Member of Jesuit Philosophical Association (vice president 1995-1996, president 1996-1997), Chemists' Club (New York City), Oxford and Cambridge Club (London).