Avant-propos - Studia Moralia

DIALOGICAL PERSONALISM REVISITED 235
tempted to analyze the merits of the various philosophies of recent
centuries. Rather, the goal has been the “recovery” of dialogical
personalist philosophy, particularly as found in the work
of the Catholic thinker, Ferdinand Ebner, as a helpful platform
for such a dialogue today.
Still, Ebner does not bring us all the way; his thought is not
a destination. Rather he provides a bridge to further reflection –
Ebner gives us the why of language, the underpinning of the
faculty of reason, that is, why man has the use of language and
why having the word is foundational to our identity as rational
beings, why we are founded in the word, in Jesus Christ, the
Word made flesh. But Ebner does not really provide the how of
language, for this we must turn to the philosophy of language –
how language operates and works as such – for language is needed
to discuss theology, including these very moral issues.
In this sense, Ebner clearly opens the way to fruitful dialogue
between the operation of language in language philosophy
and its efficacious use in sacramental theology, in which the reality
of man, as a speaking being created by God in Jesus Christ,
is made manifest in the intensive moments of sacramental celebrations.
Further reflection is needed on the application of dialogical
thought in the concrete relationship between language
philosophies and sacramental theologies and their further implications
for living out a moral life day to day, a topic to be taken
up in a subsequent article.
Immaculate Conception Seminary JOSEPH CHAPEL
School of Theology
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey 07079
USA.
chapeljo@shu.edu
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The author is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark and Assistant
Professor of Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary
School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey,
USA.