The Search for Wisdom in an Information
Age
By Randy Lee
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.