Gregory Gronbacher is a social philosopher and cultural theorist exploring the complex interplay between religion, society, and human nature in the current metamodern cultural paradigm emerging from the postmodern, post-Christian, post-secular period.
His research and writing is marked by a deep commitment to interdisciplinary studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, an M.Phil. in Philosophy and Political Economy from the International Academy of Philosophy, and a BA in Theology, Philosophy, and Politics from Franciscan University.
He's taught at The Milltown Institute, Maynooth University, and All Hallows College, all in Dublin, Ireland. He was a visiting lecturer at the Summer Philosophy Program in Gaming, Austria. He served for two years as a professor of philosophy at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Gregory has lectured on four continents on a wide array of philosophical and cultural topics.
As an independent research scholar, Gregory's primary areas of focus include the Meaning Crisis in Western Culture, contemporary Irish culture, late-stage Capitalism and consumerism, the philosophy of human sexuality, and the ethical and cultural aspects of emerging AI technologies.
In terms of religious and theological research, Gregory explores themes in Catholic Humanism, Christianity and culture, theological anthropology, historical Jesus scholarship, spiritual ecology, and the rapprochement of religion and science in the post-Christian, post-secular age.
He explores these and other themes through the lenses of metamodernism, emergent evolutionary theory, and liberal naturalism.
His earlier work focused on themes in political economy, ethics, economics, and Catholic social teaching.
Overall, Gregory's intellectual approach and outlook have been informed by personalism, phenomenological realism, the thought of John Paul II, and the work of Alasdair MacIntyre.
The Oran Mor Institute, established in 2020, is engaged in independent scholarship focused on the interplay of Catholic and Christian Humanism within the context of the contemporary Western cultural landscape.
In particular, it explores the meaning crisis that has gripped modern societies and seeks solutions from a diverse set of perspectives influenced by metamodernism, emergent theory, and the Christian tradition.
A niche publishing cooperative, Lucky Clover primarily works with and advises first-time authors seeking limited print runs or digital and online book formats. We also help authors self-publish.
Lucky Clover is currently in formation and will begin offering services and accepting manuscripts for review by the middle of 2024.
Gregory is the founder and executive director.
20th-Century Continental Philosophy
Predominately phenomenological realism and personalism, as well as various existential philosophies.
Virtue & Natural Law Ethics
Approaching morality as practical action that promotes human flourishing as understood from a reasoned, teleological reflection on human nature informed by tradition(s).
Social Theory & Political Economy
Promoting cultural, social, political, and economic systems rooted in liberalism, with broad support for free markets, social and participatory democracy, and imbued by a moral vision colored by humanism and Catholic personalism.
The Intellectual History of Western Culture
Tracing the development of Western thought from antiquity to today, with particular emphasis on religion, cultural narratives, epistemology, and truth theories.
Liberal & Poetic Naturalism
Two rigorous forms of naturalism that admit to the validity of a broader range of human experience, including concerns of normativity, value perception, aesthetics, and the search for meaning.
Nouvelle Théologie
A 19th and 20th Century European Catholic and Anglican movement aimed at a ressourcement of Christian theology. It was a period of the revitalization of theology through the application of new philosophical methods.
Catholic Social Thought
The body of practical Catholic teaching focused on politics, economics, and culture as mostly found in the Social Encyclicals and characterized by themes of human dignity, freedom, and human rights.
The Thought of John Paul II
The philosophical and theological works of John Paul II and his unique blend of phenomenology, personalism, and nouvelle theologie.
Catholic Humanism
Exploring forms of Catholic spirituality influenced by metamodernism, humanism, emergent evolutionary theory, and liberal naturalism.
Historical Jesus Scholarship
Understanding Jesus of Nazareth through cultural and historical sources and approaches. The scholarship is controversial and diverse but central to any renewal of Christianity.
Spiritual Naturalist Society
~ Executive Director
Oran Mor Institute
~ Founder & Director
Westar Institute
~ Affiliated Scholar
Theos UK
~ Member
Sea of Faith Institute
~ Member
Ignatian Solidarity Network
~ Member
Reflections on Food Ethics
Spiritual Naturalist Society - 2023
The Rapprochement of Science & Religion in the Post-Secular World
Patheos - 2021
The Limits of Naturalism
Spiritual Naturalist Society - 2021
Can One Be Both a Naturalist and a Postmodernist?
Spiritual Naturalist Society - 2022
Theological Reasoning from a Naturalist Perspective
Spiritual Naturalist Society - 2020
Naturalism & Human Dignity
Spiritual Naturalist Society - 2020
The True Meaning of Catholic Action
Catholic Cultural Institute - 2000
Understanding Equality in Health Care - A Christian Free Market Approach
National Center for Health - 1999
The Need for Economic Personalism
Journal of Markets & Morality - 1998
The Humane Economy
Philadelphia Society - 1997