James V. Schall

James V. Schall, S.J. (born January 20, 1928 in Pocahontas, Iowa) is Professor of Political Philosophy in the Department of Government at Georgetown University.

Educated in public schools in Iowa, he graduated in 1945 from Knoxville, Iowa High, and then attended University of Santa Clara. He earned an MA in Philosophy from Gonzaga University in 1945.

After time in the U.S. Army (1946-47), he joined the Society of Jesus (California Province) in 1948. He received a Ph.D. in Political Theory from Georgetown University in 1960, and an MST from University of Santa Clara four years later in 1964. Fr. Schall was a member of the Faculty of Institute of Social Sciences, Gregorian University, Rome, from 1964-77, and a member of the Government Department, University of San Francisco, from 1968-77. He has been a member of the Government Department at Georgetown University since 1977.

Fr. Schall has written hundreds of essays on political, theological, literary, and philosophical issues in such journals as The Review of Politics, Social Survey (Melbourne), Studies (Dublin), The Thomist, Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Divinitas (Rome), The Commonweal, Thought, Modern Age, Faith and Reason, The Way (London), The New Oxford Review, University Bookman, Worldview, and many others. He contributes regularly to Crisis and Homiletic & Pastoral Review.

He is the author of numerous books on social issues, spirituality, culture, and literature including On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs: Teaching, Writing, Playing, Believing, Lecturing, Philosophizing, Singing, Dancing, Redeeming the Time, Human Dignity and Human Numbers, and A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning.

Books by Fr. Schall published by Ignatius Press include Another Sort of Learning, Idylls and Rambles, The Order of Things, Christianity and Life, Distinctiveness of Christianity, and Liberation Theology. Other recent books by Fr. Schall include A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning (ISI), The Life of the Mind (ISI), The Sum Total of Human Happiness (St. Augustine's Press), and The Regensburg Lecture (St. Augustine's Press).