David Kovacs, PhD

Senior Lecturer of Philosophy | Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

Biography

I was born in Cleveland, OH to Michael and Karen. Baptized at St. Rose of Lima. Attended high school at Archbishop Hoban, in Akron. From 2007 - 2010 I worked in industrial boilers in factories around NEOhio for the D.B. Johnsen Co. 2010-2012 I spent earning an MA in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, then earned my PhD from Fordham University, where I studied under Brian Davies, OP.

Areas of Expertise (2)

Medieval Philosophy

Philosophy of Religion

Affiliations (1)

American Catholic Philosophical Association (Lifetime Membership)

Languages (2)

English (Primary)
Latin (translation)

Availability

Keynote
Moderator
Panelist

Research Focus (1)

The Language of God

My current research focuses on the language of theism. While much effort has been spent debating the truth or falsity of the statement "God exists," dangerously little has been said about what that statement might mean. I am also developing an introductory textbook for adults.

Courses (9)

Philosophy of Human Nature

Introductory Philosophy Class at Fordham University.

Philosophical Inquiry

Introductory Philosophy Class at Loyola Marymount University.

Religion and Morality

Senior Values Seminar

Philosophical Issues of Life and Death

Upper-level bioethics class.

Faith and Reason

Undergraduate seminar.

Philosophy of Religion

Undergraduate Seminar

Theology and Science

Upper division Theology course.

Philosophy and Christianity in Herbert McCabe

The first undergraduate course devoted to the thought of the Dominican theologian Herbert McCabe.

In Search of a Way

Freshman course designed to help students explore contemplative and mystical traditions. Taught through LMU's Department of Theological Studies.

Articles (1)

"Aquinas and Overall of Miracles"

Dialogue

Christine Overall has argued that miracles, if they exist, would be an evil committed by God and therefore disprove the existence of God. However, her notion of a miracle as an intervention presupposes a view about the relation between God and creation that posits God as an ‘outsider.’ Such a view has not been held by all theists. It was not held by Thomas Aquinas. I show that Aquinas’s conception is not susceptible to Overall’s criticisms. The upshot is that theists should avoid any view of God as an ‘outsider,’ if they wish to avoid Overall’s criticisms.