The Alumni Association gave Steven Cortright the
1992-93 St. John Baptist De La Salle Award. This high honor goes to a
faculty member for personal commitment to Saint Mary's students and
commitment to professional excellence.
Brother Mel Anderson, president, describes Cortright
as "a man of precise and incise logic, deeply devoted to the
intellectual life ... tenaciously devoted to the pursuit of truth,
both philosophical and religious."
Cortright has taught philosophy for 14 years. He
rarely uses texts except for the original works of philosophers: he
writes his own materials and logic problems. Philosophy is not a
spectator sport," says Cortright. "Students should do logic
problems, create arguments. I rarely lecture." Students say he is
always willing to spend time with them outside of class.
Teachers are not experts, he says. "The notion of
the isolated sage is utterly false." Instead, the teacher must
learn along with students. "High schools teach students to
display knowledge," he said, "but education is a cooperative
truth-seeking, always a communitarian enterprise."
The Cortright family also practices sharing inquiry.
Cortright and his wife, Belinda, teach their seven children at home.
"There are a lot of non-negotiable matters, but the children are
free complainers and arguers and they occasionally win," he said.
_____
_____. "Meeting the Challenge."
1992 - 1993 President's Annual Report.
Saint Mary's College of California - excerpts. (1993),
p. 7.
