Teaching and catholic identity: Wisdom and sound critical thinking

This article aims to reflect on the teaching practices in universities of Catholic inspiration. Our study argues that the university should be a place for cultivating wisdom, not merely for transmitting specialized knowledge. This thesis is grounded in the idea that universities are engaged in a systematic pursuit of truth in its various forms. While primarily theoretical, our research is also informed by recent studies on the development of critical thinking within the academic environment. The connection between truth and wisdom suggests that ongoing engagement with reality deepens our understanding of the relationships among things, enabling us to distinguish between means and ends, and what is appropriate from what is not. Wisdom involves understanding the meaning of things and placing them in their proper context—an outlook that universities should foster in students. Although phronesis, the practical dimension of wisdom, cannot be directly taught, a high-quality university education can bridge the gap between theory and daily life. This connection is reflected in the promotion of a sound critical mindset, where the professor’s primary goal is to stimulate active learning. This can be achieved through diverse methods and creative teaching approaches. In a Catholic university, the search for truth is intrinsically linked to intellectual development and community service, guiding individuals closer to God, the source of all wisdom.