Brian Evan Anthony DaviesOP (born 7 July 1951) is a British philosopher,Roman Catholic priest,and friar. He is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy,Fordham University since 1995. His An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion is in its fourth English edition and has been translated into five languages.
He spent the period 1982–95 at the University of Oxford. Throughout those years he was a lecturer in theology and philosophy at Blackfriars,Oxford. Davies was also Tutor in Theology,St Benet's Hall and a member of the Faculty of Theology (1983–95);Regent of Studies of the English Dominican Province (1988–95);University Research Lecturer (1993–95);and member of the Sub-Faculty of Philosophy (1994–95).[4]
In 1994 Davies was appointed Regent of Blackfriars and,as a Head of House,received the degree of Master of Arts by Special Decree by the University of Oxford. In 1995 he took up his current appointment at Fordham University.[3] He held Visiting Professorships at the Beda College,Rome (Spring 1987 and Spring 1988),Fordham University (July–August 1987,July–August 1988,and Fall 1994),and Candler School of Theology,Emory University (Spring 1993).[4]
Problem of evil
Davies takes influence from Thomas Aquinas and is a proponent of classical theism. To solve the problem of evil,Davies has argued that God is not a created person or moral agent and is therefore not responsible for evil in the way that creatures are. God the creator and sustainer of the universe is not existent among others so cannot be expected to conform to moral standards external to himself.[5] In 2008,Davies stated:
I want to reject the theistic and nontheistic discussions of God and evil that start from the presupposition that God is the sort of thing I am, a moral agent subject to duties and obligations [...] If someone said, 'Oh well, the tsunamis prove that God isn’t doing what he ought to do,' I am going to describe that comment as very misguided since it does not make sense to suggest that God is subject to moral obligations.[6]
Notable writings and editorial work
As author
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1982; revised edition, 1993; 3rd edition 2003; 4th edition 2020; Korean translation, 1996; Romanian translation, 1996; Ukrainian translation, 1996; Hungarian translation, 1999; Polish translation 2006)
Thinking About God (Geoffrey Chapman: London, 1985)
The Thought of Thomas Aquinas (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1992)
Aquinas (Continuum: London and New York, 2002)
Aquinas: An Introduction (Continuum: London and New York, 2003)
The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil (Continuum: London and New York, 2006)
Thomas Aquinas on God and Evil (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2011)
Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae: A Guide and Commentary (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2014)
Thomas Aquinas's Summa Contra Gentiles: A Guide and Commentary (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2016)
book reviews in Anglican Theological Review, Faith and Philosophy, Journal of Theological Studies, The Philosophical Review, Theology Today, and The Thomist
Davies also edits the Outstanding Christian Thinkers series (Continuum: London and New York, 1989–2004), having overseen the publication of twenty-eight volumes, and of the Great Medieval Thinkers, published by Oxford University Press. He was Book Reviews Editor for New Blackfriars (1979–95) and a member of the editorial board for Religious Studies (2000–6). He is now Associate European Editor (since 1992) for the International Philosophical Quarterly.
As literary executor for the late Herbert McCabe (died 2001), Davies edited and published five volumes of work that McCabe left at the time of his death: God Still Matters (Continuum: London and New York, 2002); God, Christ and Us (Continuum: London and New York, 2003); The Good Life: Ethics and the Pursuit of Happiness (Continuum: London and New York, 2005); Faith Within Reason (Continuum: London and New York, 2007); and On Aquinas (Continuum: London and New York, 2008).
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