On the Principles of Taxing Beer…

… & Other Brief Philosophical Essays

This series of essays forms the concluding work of the long and illustrious career of Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. The late professor of political philosophy at Georgetown University, Fr. Schall authored over thirty books and hundreds of smaller works, articles, pamphlets, and the like. As a priest, teacher, writer, and philosopher of singular quality, Fr. Schall influenced many and his recent passing has left a noticeable void in the company of those who seek to instill sanity, perspective, and balance in this world of ours.  

As the Foreword indicates, Fr. Schall takes as his model and inspiration the work of Hilaire Belloc, particularly the latter’s stylistic approach as an essayist. Belloc authored numerous volumes of short essays, such as his On Everything, On Anything, On Something, On Nothing and Kindred Subjects, all of which covered a vast array of topics, and cultivated a simple and engaging style that appealed to the general reader as well as the scholar. Many who have taken the time to get to know Belloc well have found him to be quite humorous, witty, and surprisingly profound. The same could easily be said of the work of Fr. Schall in general, and this last volume of essays in particular. Some of the essays are quite dense theologically, while others treat of more light-hearted subjects like novels, beer, sports, comic strips, and P. G. Wodehouse. However, most focus on more metaphysical questions regarding the world at large, such as those dealing with the particulars of epistemology, justice, education, and history, as well as more generic topics of theological import such as the nature of truth, the meaning of life, happiness, virtue, and the problem of evil. The style throughout is whimsical and lightsome, yet deeply insightful and provocative at the same time. A warning to the reader in this regard: like Belloc, the essays are indeed aimed at the general public, yet unlike those of the Englishman from Sussex who lacked a formal clerical education in philosophy and theology, a number of Fr. Schall’s essays, particularly those dealing with the more metaphysical questions of life, presume something of a working knowledge of basic philosophical principles.

A particularly driving theme that runs like a thread throughout the essays is Fr. Schall’s continuous insistence on the importance of a positive ontology; in other words, a deep appreciation of the simple reality of what is. He notes in his Afterword that a formative teaching on his own thinking in this regard is that of St. Thomas, wherein the latter, in his Summa Contra Gentiles, taught that the universe, in order to be complete, requires a knowing subject from within who can comprehend it. As Fr. Schall goes on to note, this presupposes the further notion that the universe is not empty, but rather is full of things that are, and it is the business of the rational mind to come to a knowledge of these things and, through them, come to rest in the knowledge of their ultimate Cause. It is this pursuit that lies at the source of true happiness in the intellectual life of man, that is, to rest in the truth of things that are, recognizing through such an act, their essential nature as gifts. This means that the world outside of the mind is recognized as a distinct objective reality and not a mere mental construct, and hence, is able to convey very real truth about itself to the rational intellect. This metaphysical premise forms the foundation upon which to appreciate the rest of Fr. Schall’s essays, and indeed, his life’s work. The recognition of the world as an objective gift, one that is meant to be known and loved and which points, so to speak, towards a knowledge of its Maker, accounts for Fr. Schall’s fascination with all the varied aspects of humanity, the life of the mind, as well as the infectious humor and joy that characterize his writings. Put simply, Fr. Schall’s literary work is imbued with an unequivocal realist philosophy, and recognizing this enables the reader to appreciate the distinctive optimism as well as the various points of emphasis and insight found throughout his writings.

In terms of the essay format, given the ever-decreasing attention span of the wider reading public today, this form of writing would seem to be particularly apropos. For those who might only have a few moments here or there to read a quick essay of a page or more, such a book is to be highly recommended. Throughout, one is constantly made aware of the enormous learning of Fr. Schall, combined with his extraordinary powers of synthesis. Given the enormous range of topics covered, such an achievement of concision is no mean feat. For this very reason, some have argued that the essay, in some ways, presents difficulties that surpass the composition of the monograph, wherein great prolixity is allowed, often at the expense of precision and clarity. Should the reader find enjoyment in this work, I would suggest, and it would seem Fr. Schall would agree, that they go to Belloc. Much of the spirit and voice that animates the writings of the latter can be found in the pages of the former, and it would seem to be a particularly needed one in our times.

On the Principles of Taxing Beer & Other Brief Philosophical Essays

James V. Schall
St. Augustine’s Press, 2019
195 pp., $24.00
ISBN: 978-1-58731-615-9