St Andrews philosopher in Catholic top 50

A prominent University of St Andrews academic has been named as one of the world’s most influential Catholics alongside Bruce Springsteen and Martin Scorsese.

John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy in the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies at the University of St Andrews, was included in the top 50 list, by the international Catholic weekly, The Tablet.

Alongside the current Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, Professor Haldane joins sculptor Antony Gormley, Scottish composer James MacMillan and writer Toni Morrison on the list published this week.

The article lists living Catholics who are “doing the most to change the way we imagine ourselves and understand the world”. It describes Professor Haldane as “a serious academic philosopher who is equally at home in the broadsheets”.

As well as his prestigious role at the University of St Andrews, Professor Haldane is also Chair of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and holds the J Newton Rayzor Sr Distinguished Chair in Philosophy at Baylor University in Texas.

In 2005 Professor Haldane was appointed by Pope Benedict as a Consultor to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture and continued in this role for ten years, serving also under the papacy of Pope Francis.

During the University’s 600 anniversary celebrations Professor Haldane commissioned and partly designed a mace presented to the University on behalf the Scottish Catholic Church, also arranging a letter of congratulations from Pope Francis to be sent to the staff and students of the University.