The Aspiration to be a Catholic Social Scientist in the Eyes of Robert Coles: The Search for Wisdom in an Information Age

Randy Lee, Widener Law

Abstract

The Catholic social scientist seeks to understand his world so he can know his God. He is called by love to the questions that he addresses, and the answers he finds to those questions draw him to a call of service, a call to make a life other than his own at least a little better. One of the pre-eminent Catholic social scientists of our time is the psychiatrist, medical doctor, and “hard” scientist, Dr. Robert Coles. This article seeks to consider five pieces of advice that Dr. Coles offers to those aspiring to be Catholic social scientists. First, work with a sense of wonder and awe. Second, be a troublemaker. Third, never be content to observe life but place yourself in the midst of life even if that means being in the midst of trouble. Fourth, learn not only from the brilliant but also from the broken. Finally, do not just evaluate, but seek to heal.