The Expanded Reason Institute, of the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), is a center for reflection, study, discussion and dissemination of research and teaching programs that, from the perspective of different sciences, raise fundamental questions and seek answers of expanded reason, always based on truth, of the person and of the Christian transformation of society.

By expanded reason, following Benedict XVI, we understand that which seeks to know with truth what surrounds it, embracing all aspects of reality from a harmonious synthesis of knowledge that integrates the development of each specific science and the teaching of these with theology and philosophy.

The Institute promotes a university open to the knowledge of reality and free of ideological restrictions, whether those of the reductionism of instrumental reason or those of a humanism disconnected from reality and scientific research. It is founded on the same conviction that gave rise to the European universities: that faith and reason are destined to cooperate in the search for truth, each respecting the nature and legitimate autonomy of the other, but working together harmoniously and creatively in the service of the realization of the human person and the common good in truth and love.

The Expanded Reason Institute is created at Francisco de Vitoria University (hereinafter UFV) as an independent center (in accordance with Articles 8.1.k and 10.h of the UFV Organization and Operating Regulations) for reflection, study, discussion, and dissemination of research and teaching programs that, from the various particular sciences, raise fundamental questions and seek open-minded answers, always in the service of truth, the person, and the Christian transformation of society.

By expanded reason, following Benedict XVI, we understand that which seeks to know with truth what surrounds it, embracing all aspects of reality from a harmonious synthesis of knowledge that integrates the development of each specific science and the teaching of these with theology and philosophy.

The Institute promotes a university open to the knowledge of reality and free of ideological restrictions, whether those of the reductionism of instrumental reason or those of a humanism disconnected from reality and scientific research. It is founded on the same conviction that gave rise to the European universities: that faith and reason are destined to cooperate in the search for truth, each respecting the nature and legitimate autonomy of the other, but working together harmoniously and creatively in the service of the realization of the human person and the common good in truth and love.

The general objectives of the Expanded Reason Institute are:

These general objectives are implemented in the following specific objectives:

The use of reason, the so-called “expanded reason,” and the search for truth in Ratzinger are found not so much in the academic articles that the emeritus pontiff has devoted to the question, but rather in its effective use, that is, in how he himself has used reason to grasp reality. It is therefore a matter of seeing how reason is used and seeing it in action. In short, it is about a use of reason that is challenged by reality, which leads him to marvel and to know the truth.

The concept of reason must be broadened to encompass and explore aspects of reality that go beyond the purely empirical and achieve a harmonious synthesis of knowledge that integrates theology and philosophy in order to understand reality while respecting its metaphysical dimension. Fundamental questions about humanity, such as how to live and how to die, cannot be excluded from the realm of rationality.

Expanded reason is, therefore, that which is open to truly knowing what surrounds it, escaping the ideological and subjective restrictions that often permeate the realm of knowledge.

It is about seeking broad knowledge, not only in terms of the quantity of knowledge, but also in terms of the fullness and depth of what is known, giving each science the authority that corresponds to it in its field and category, but without neglecting the ultimate meaning that gives meaning and unity to the specificity of each one.

In the positivist view, anything that is not verifiable or “falsifiable” does not fall within the realm of reason in the strict sense. This concept of reason is not a culture that corresponds to and is sufficient in its entirety to human beings in all their breadth.

The concept of reason, on the other hand, must be “expanded” in order to explore and encompass aspects of reality that go beyond the purely empirical. This expanded reason approach to reason allows for a more fruitful and complementary approach to the relationship between faith and reason. The birth of European universities was fostered by the conviction that faith and reason are destined to cooperate in the search for truth, each respecting the nature and legitimate autonomy of the other, but working together harmoniously and creatively in the service of the fulfillment of the human person in truth and love.

From this perspective of expanded reason, the university must never lose sight of its particular vocation to be a “universitas,” in which the various disciplines, each in its own way, are seen as part of a larger whole. There is an urgent need to rediscover the unity of knowledge and to oppose the tendency toward fragmentation and lack of communicability. The effort to reconcile the drive toward specialization with the need to preserve the unity of knowledge.

Source: Speech by Monsignor Federico Lombardi at the presentation of the Expanded Reason Awards in September 2016.