The Catholic philosopher (Father Phelan) who guided McLuhan's conversion and, more consequentially, built his early career — securing his appointments at St. Louis, Assumption, and St. Michael's. Halifax-born and French-Canadian, trained in philosophical psychology at Louvain and brought to St. Michael's by Henry Carr as a leading Catholic philosopher, Phelan is a keystone of Cameron and Bob's Nova Scotia School — a talent-spotter who recognized both McLuhan and Hugh Kenner.
Across the dialogues
Enters as the career-maker among McLuhan's mentors — the Halifax priest who did far "more than" convert him, placing him in job after job
Beyond guiding the conversion, Phelan was the practical architect of McLuhan's academic career — St. Louis, Assumption, and St. Michael's all came through him, which is why McLuhan was "very, very indebted."
"He was the guy that got McLuhan his job at Assumption University."Cameron McEwen, The Resonant Interval, Dialogue 18 (18 Mar 2021), 2:03:19
Connections
Guided McLuhan's Catholic conversion and secured his posts at St. Louis, Assumption, and St. Michael's — leaving McLuhan "very, very indebted."
A Halifax-born, French-Canadian Catholic philosopher whose Nova Scotia roots feed the province's hold on McLuhan.