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The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived
In 2019, Peter Kreeft published Socrates'' Children, a four-volume series on the hundred greatest philosophers of all time, spanning from ancient Greece to contemporary Germany. But he made a terrible he somehow left out women, and with this, he overlooked the greatest mind of them all. He forgot her—a mysterious housewife from a desert village—because he had forgotten what "philosophy" means. "Philosophy is not the cultivation of cleverness," Kreeft explains, "or the sophistications of scholarship, or the analysis of analysis, or the refutation of refutations, or the deconstruction of deconstructions." No, "philosophy is a romance, a love affair—the love of wisdom." This book is a one-of-a-kind study on Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus. If Jesus Christ is wisdom incarnate, and if Mary loved Him more than anyone else ever did, then it holds that Mary is the greatest philosopher, the greatest wisdom-lover. With precision and humor, Kreeft not only unpacks the thought and spirit of Mary as we know her through Scripture and Church doctrine, but offers a heartfelt crash course in the basics of philosophy—methodology, epistemology, logic, metaphysics, cosmology, ethics, politics, aesthetics, and more—all through the lens of the Mother of God. Fans of Kreeft will find here another fine example of his characteristic freshness, creativity, depth, and readability. But above all, those who are curious about the mother of Jesus, whether they are new to Christian faith or simply hoping to discover it anew, will likely find themselves swept up in the tide of Mary''s wise love for God.
- GenresPhilosophyFaithCatholic
285 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2021
44 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
197 books1,070 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 2, 2022
When I was last visiting with my dad, he picked up this book and looked at the title. "OK," he said, "So who is the greatest philosopher who ever lived? Jesus?"
"Nope," I replied. "Peter Kreeft's contention that it is the Blessed Mother."
"Mary?" My dad was incredulous. "But, she hardly even said anything at all in the Bible."
Ah, but if the purest definition of philosophy is "the love of wisdom," then Kreeft is right. No one loves the Divine Logos more than His Mother. Her whole earthly life was folded into the will of God and every word she speaks or action she completes - whether recorded in Scripture or known by faith through the Great Traditions of the Church - points others to her beloved Son, the Incarnate Word.
Like many converts from Protestantism, becoming friendly with Mary and the role in God's Redemption that she has been long understood by the Church to possess - which goes far beyond the Miraculous Virgin Birth and the scant other mentions of her presence in Scripture - has been the most difficult aspect of coming into the Faith - and one of the most rewarding. Mary is more than a good friend in the journey (though she is that); she is our Mother as believers, the Mother of the Church, our model of a holy wholly human life that lives by grace in complete concordance with God. Peter Kreeft, also a convert, has given us a rich study of what the pure love of Wisdom looks like under this paradigm. And he has expounded on his points with typical Kreeftian wry humor, sly asides, bold politically incorrect proclamations, and prose passages so touched by Polyhymnia as to bring unbidden tears to the reader. At least to this reader. (Yes, I was weeping and snotting over this book on a United flight all the way from Seattle to Denver.)
And how he does this is unique. Rather than writing a devotional book that is undergirded by philosophy, he has written a philosophy book undergirded by devotion. I was swept right back into an undergrad Philosophy course by the structure of this book: Looking a Mary's philosophy through the lens of 14 different sub-disciplines within the larger science. Yet, seemingly dissonant or hopelessly concealed chapter headings like "Mary's Political Philosophy" or "Mary's Anthropology" become illuminated and illuminating under Kreeft's deep knowledge and deft hand.
In the end analysis, it is her very quietness, her reserve, her thoughtful pondering, her willingness to be a vessel of receiving grace rather than an agent of self-assertion that make her our most powerful warrior of the faith. Because she is in love with the source of all Love and, as Kreeft notes, "in a fallen world, a love story is also a war story" (247). He later calls her "the Devil's most feared enemy," (249), echoing what Sr. Helena Burns shared at a women's retreat I attended about 5 years ago: the only name the Devil is afraid to profane in his raving possessions is Mary's. Do not mess with the Mother of God.
In our current age, where words are increasingly flung about with little care and less understanding, the Power of Silence grows. Mary's last recorded words in the Gospels were, "Do whatever He tells you," to the baffled servants at the Wedding at Cana. How many of us would be content to let that be our Scriptural mic drop? Yet, is there any wiser counsel for the world?
"To us who endlessly talk," Kreeft writes, "[God] replies, 'Shut up and dance with Me.'
"That is what Mary did," he concludes. "That is also why she did not talk much. She was too busy dancing" (256).
"Nope," I replied. "Peter Kreeft's contention that it is the Blessed Mother."
"Mary?" My dad was incredulous. "But, she hardly even said anything at all in the Bible."
Ah, but if the purest definition of philosophy is "the love of wisdom," then Kreeft is right. No one loves the Divine Logos more than His Mother. Her whole earthly life was folded into the will of God and every word she speaks or action she completes - whether recorded in Scripture or known by faith through the Great Traditions of the Church - points others to her beloved Son, the Incarnate Word.
Like many converts from Protestantism, becoming friendly with Mary and the role in God's Redemption that she has been long understood by the Church to possess - which goes far beyond the Miraculous Virgin Birth and the scant other mentions of her presence in Scripture - has been the most difficult aspect of coming into the Faith - and one of the most rewarding. Mary is more than a good friend in the journey (though she is that); she is our Mother as believers, the Mother of the Church, our model of a holy wholly human life that lives by grace in complete concordance with God. Peter Kreeft, also a convert, has given us a rich study of what the pure love of Wisdom looks like under this paradigm. And he has expounded on his points with typical Kreeftian wry humor, sly asides, bold politically incorrect proclamations, and prose passages so touched by Polyhymnia as to bring unbidden tears to the reader. At least to this reader. (Yes, I was weeping and snotting over this book on a United flight all the way from Seattle to Denver.)
And how he does this is unique. Rather than writing a devotional book that is undergirded by philosophy, he has written a philosophy book undergirded by devotion. I was swept right back into an undergrad Philosophy course by the structure of this book: Looking a Mary's philosophy through the lens of 14 different sub-disciplines within the larger science. Yet, seemingly dissonant or hopelessly concealed chapter headings like "Mary's Political Philosophy" or "Mary's Anthropology" become illuminated and illuminating under Kreeft's deep knowledge and deft hand.
In the end analysis, it is her very quietness, her reserve, her thoughtful pondering, her willingness to be a vessel of receiving grace rather than an agent of self-assertion that make her our most powerful warrior of the faith. Because she is in love with the source of all Love and, as Kreeft notes, "in a fallen world, a love story is also a war story" (247). He later calls her "the Devil's most feared enemy," (249), echoing what Sr. Helena Burns shared at a women's retreat I attended about 5 years ago: the only name the Devil is afraid to profane in his raving possessions is Mary's. Do not mess with the Mother of God.
In our current age, where words are increasingly flung about with little care and less understanding, the Power of Silence grows. Mary's last recorded words in the Gospels were, "Do whatever He tells you," to the baffled servants at the Wedding at Cana. How many of us would be content to let that be our Scriptural mic drop? Yet, is there any wiser counsel for the world?
"To us who endlessly talk," Kreeft writes, "[God] replies, 'Shut up and dance with Me.'
"That is what Mary did," he concludes. "That is also why she did not talk much. She was too busy dancing" (256).
October 8, 2024
Mary, the mother of Jesus and hence the mother of wisdom (philosophy’s meaning), is the greatest philosopher despite never really saying anything. Her own silence in the Bible is a sign that she loved the precious wisdom of God! Or so Kreeft says.
Maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t say a lot in the Bible because the New Testament is not about her, it is about Christ.
This book only works if you’re coming from a Catholic, immaculate-conception-believing background. It is a LOT of supposition and inference, and almost nothing he says can be backed up from merely reading the Bible.
Don’t get me wrong. If you’re a Catholic you’ll like this book, but if you are not, you’ll think it gets extremely close to idol worship.
I’m glad I listened to it as I have a deep affinity for Catholicism and enjoy philosophy, but I disagree with almost every single point raised. Mary was a lover of wisdom (her son), yes, but she was no philosopher in the sense that we use the word in contemporary times. Thus discussing “Mary’s metaphysics” or “Mary’s political philosophy” when she doesn’t say a thing about any of it is ludicrous. But it totally makes sense if you’re Catholic.
Thus, I have very mixed feelings.
Maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t say a lot in the Bible because the New Testament is not about her, it is about Christ.
This book only works if you’re coming from a Catholic, immaculate-conception-believing background. It is a LOT of supposition and inference, and almost nothing he says can be backed up from merely reading the Bible.
Don’t get me wrong. If you’re a Catholic you’ll like this book, but if you are not, you’ll think it gets extremely close to idol worship.
I’m glad I listened to it as I have a deep affinity for Catholicism and enjoy philosophy, but I disagree with almost every single point raised. Mary was a lover of wisdom (her son), yes, but she was no philosopher in the sense that we use the word in contemporary times. Thus discussing “Mary’s metaphysics” or “Mary’s political philosophy” when she doesn’t say a thing about any of it is ludicrous. But it totally makes sense if you’re Catholic.
Thus, I have very mixed feelings.
April 16, 2025
“The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived” is another fantastic adventure into the Catholic Church by one of the preeminent Catholic scholars of our time. This is a book about the mother of God, “Mary” from a perspective that is different than any other book of “Mary” you may have read. This is a must read for Catholics. Peter Kreeft is a master at providing example, references, and thoughts that will add to your appreciation and love for our first apostle. The references cited throughout this exceptional work will provide the reader with follow-on reading exploration. Experienced as an AUDIO book
June 4, 2023
What a fantastic book! Dr. Peter Kreeft definitely delivered with this book. I spent quite a while working my way through this book, and it aged like a fine wine, getting better and better as I read and as time passed on.
I must say that my first reaction on first seeing this book’s title and first seeing the proposed answer of Mary, I was confused if not skeptical. Mary seemed so disconnected with what I knew of philosophy. Yet I was wrong!
If you too wonder at the title and the answer, there’s an easy solution: just read it. I’m positive it won’t disappoint.
I must say that my first reaction on first seeing this book’s title and first seeing the proposed answer of Mary, I was confused if not skeptical. Mary seemed so disconnected with what I knew of philosophy. Yet I was wrong!
If you too wonder at the title and the answer, there’s an easy solution: just read it. I’m positive it won’t disappoint.
May 18, 2022
This has been the most challenging of Kreeft's book I have read so far. In part because I still struggle with Mary's role in my life and the life of the Church, and I also struggled with the book because I am new to philosophy.
If you want an introduction to Marianism and philosophy, I recommend this. Of course it is filled with Kreeft's wisdom and wit. Overall, a challenging but enjoyable read.
If you want an introduction to Marianism and philosophy, I recommend this. Of course it is filled with Kreeft's wisdom and wit. Overall, a challenging but enjoyable read.
July 2, 2022
Lovely insights about what can learn about how to live a fully Christian life from the Seat of Wisdom
November 29, 2022
This is the best book I've read this year. Strongly recommend.
July 3, 2023
Dense. That's how I would describe this book. It's traditional Peter Kreeft insights but it's not an easy read. This book is like running in a pool. You can do it but it will be slow going.
December 2, 2024
It is an interesting book, but I felt there was too much repetition.
August 26, 2025
This book is the best that I have ever read on Catholic theology.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews