OBITUARY OF PETER A. REDPATH

By Curtis L. Hancock

Peter A. Redpath

Peter A. Redpath entered eternal life on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025. In Heaven, Dr. Redpath will pursue a friendship with Saint Thomas Aquinas since he dedicated decades of his life to working in Saint Thomas’ philosophical vineyard. Peter believed that Saint Thomas’ philosophy was no museum piece but a living philosophy that contained the principles to remedy many of the world’s ills. Peter believed that the best way to study philosophy was in the laboratory of history. In that laboratory, Peter became convinced that Western philosophy divides between the centuries that antedate Saint Thomas, who died in 1274, and the centuries that come afterward. Dr. Redpath devoted 50 years of his life to understanding what philosophy looked like before Saint Thomas and what it has looked like since. Peter’s own work has rendered a verdict that the Western world has drifted into crisis from neglect of the wisdom of Saint Thomas. The rationale for this verdict is elaborated in his magisterial trilogy, Cartesian Nightmare (1997), Wisdom’s Odyssey (1997), and Masquerade of the Dream Walkers (1998). These books are nothing short of a definitive interpretive history of philosophy, from ancient times to the present.

While the power of his intellect shone brightly, Peter was not loved just for his academic acumen and achievement. Those who knew him well were struck by his humanity. He was a man in full, one measure of which was pride in his family. He loved Lorraine deeply and was devoted to his marriage of 54 years and to his children, Peter, Paul, and Korri, and in turn to his grandchildren. The Redpath family will have lives permanently warmed by memories of Peter. His charisma as pater familias also touched other people’s lives. People were attracted to him because his heart was available as a potential friend. He was generous with his time. He personally took me on a tour of New York, a fascinating excursion as Peter was a walking encyclopedia of New York legend and lore. He regarded his friends as part of the Redpath extended family. He formed innumerable friendships and motivated his friends to organize in solidarity to bring to fruition Redpathian projects. Those close to Peter knew that he got up each day contemplating how to inspire his friends to pursue common goals. Peter had a remarkable gift for forming a community. He knew how to persuade people to become team players. For this reason, Peter’s good friend Tom Michaud called him “Chairman of the Board.”

Peter traveled extensively and along the way formed friendships. Peter described himself as a philosophical Paladin, one who travels to motivate others to advance wisdom. His work as a Paladin took him to Poland, where he made many friends and became immersed in the philosophical personalism of Saint John Paul the Great. Saint John Paul teaches that Christianity is about appreciating the immeasurable dignity of the human person. Peter’s Christian faith was deepened by the personalism of John Paul. Of course, his affection for John Paul was fortified by the many friendships he formed in Poland, which he visited innumerable times and where he found a spiritual home in its Catholic culture.

A tribute to Peter Redpath would not be complete without addressing another distinctive feature of his character. In addition to being an admirable intellect, organizational genius, and loyal friend, Peter was endowed with extraordinary willpower. He applied his powerful will to every undertaking. His daily rule of life is expressed in a short poem attributed to Goethe:

To this I hold with firm persistence,
The last report of wisdom says it’s true,
He only earns his freedom and existence
Who every day conquers them anew.

Peter engaged every day as something new to conquer. He filled “the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run.” He loved life intensely and fought mightily to foster and protect the things and the people he loved.

He conspicuously fought for his health. He developed his own naturopathic regimen, supported by the advice of his daughter, Korri. During a given week he might report that he is keeping his body alkaline, managing lymphatic drainage, scheduling red-light therapy, and undergoing some kind of ionization treatment. Through years of effort, he became a self-taught naturopathic expert. Some people were bemused by his health program, dismissing it as eccentric. He was indifferent to their judgment. “If you have the determination to learn, why not become your own doctor. And when the day arrives that you need professional doctors, they should appreciate your experience and invite your voice into the conversation.” It turns out that Peter’s doctors were open-minded and encouraged his observations and recommendations about his own healthcare.  I dare say that his regular personal health measures and autonomous treatments extended his life by a decade.

Because of his strength of will, Peter was exceedingly patient, and as a rule, tolerant of people who were annoying. But on occasion, his patience could be tested. I was witness, up close and personal, to one such episode. Peter and I arranged a session at a meeting of the National Association of Scholars in New Orleans. I was the chair and moderator of the session. Peter was on the program as principal speaker. There was also a professor (unnamed here) seated next to me, assigned the task of reacting to and commenting on Peter’s presentation. Even before Peter spoke, this professor conveyed hostility, which he compounded after Peter’s talk. Many issues were discussed in the session, but the subject of Descartes generated a heated exchange. Peter demonstrated, using clear and distinct ideas, that the contentious professor’s understanding of Descartes was wrong. The professor became unhinged, and in a fit of emotion overturned the table at which he and I sat, scattering books, papers, and briefcases. Peter stood by remaining calm in the storm. No doubt, his Bouncer’s Persona came in handy. Once the commotion settled so that he could be heard, he concisely refuted both the professor and Descartes. I called the session to a close. Later, reflecting on the day’s episode, I asked whether we should have any regrets concerning how we handled the event.  We agreed that we had no regrets. We put the episode behind us, recalling Henry Kissinger’s quip that academics can be violent because the stakes are so small.

Peter Redpath left an impression in this world, a legacy of Christian love, wisdom, and team building. We will always remember how he made us feel by loving us.