Roger Burggraeve | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942 Passendale, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
| Doctoral advisor | Louis Janssens |
| Academic work | |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy and theology |
| School or tradition | Catholic moral theology;Levinasian ethics |
| Institutions | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Centre international Lumen Vitae (Bruxelles), Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (Bangalore) |
| Main interests | Moral theology,biblical philosophy,Jewish dialogical philosophy,Emmanuel Levinas |
| Notable works | From Self-Development to Solidarity (1985);An Ethics of Mercy (2016);Wombness (2025) |
Roger Burggraeve (born 1942,Passendale,Flanders,Belgium) is a Belgian Salesian priest,moral theologian,philosopher,and Emeritus Professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven). He is internationally recognised for his contributions to Catholic moral theology,biblical philosophy,and Jewish dialogical ethics,particularly in relation to the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas. [1]
Burggraeve was born in Passendale in 1942 and entered the Salesian Society of St Francis de Sales (SDB). He earned a licentiate in philosophy in Rome and later a doctorate in moral theology at KU Leuven in 1980,influenced by his mentor Louis Janssens. [1]
From 1980 to 1988,Burggraeve was Associate Professor in KU Leuven’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. He became Professor (Ordinarius) in 1988 and served until 2007,before being appointed Emeritus Professor. He continued teaching until around 2010,lecturing in biblical ethics,Christian sexual and conjugal ethics,and pastoral guidance. [1]
He also taught in the faculties of law,pharmacy,medicine,and philosophy. Internationally,he served as Visiting Professor at the Centre international Lumen Vitae (Bruxelles),Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (Bangalore),and in institutions in Congo,Kenya,and Canada. [1]
Burggraeve’s work engages with:
He co-founded the Centre for Peace Ethics at KU Leuven and serves as its Honorary Chair. He has also contributed to ethical committees in Flanders,including Caritas Catholica Flanders and the Flemish Welfare Union. [1]
Burggraeve has authored over 365 works,including books,articles,and essays in English,Dutch,French,Italian,and Japanese. [1]
Burggraeve received the Ritus &Tempelbouw Oeuvre Prize in the Netherlands for his philosophical and theological contributions,particularly his exploration of Levinasian themes such as freedom,responsibility,and the ethics of “the face”. [5]
He is regarded as a pioneer in integrating Levinas’s ethics into Catholic moral theology. His development of an “ethics of growth”and focus on mercy have shaped contemporary debates in moral theology,peace ethics,and interreligious dialogue. His teaching and publications have influenced students,theologians,and scholars worldwide. [1]
