Sherif Girgis

Sherif Girgis is a legal scholar and philosopher who serves as an Associate Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School. His work focuses on moral and legal philosophy, with particular emphasis on constitutional interpretation, religious liberty, and bioethics. Girgis gained prominence as co-author of the influential book "What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense" (2012), written with Robert P. George and Ryan T. Anderson. The book presented philosophical arguments about the nature and definition of marriage, and was cited in Supreme Court debates and various legal proceedings. He holds degrees from Princeton University, Oxford University (where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar), and Yale Law School. After law school, Girgis served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. His subsequent publications and academic work have explored constitutional theory, religious freedom, and the intersection of law and morality. His 2021 book "It Is Right and Just: Why the Future of Civilization Depends on True Religion" examines the relationship between religion and civil society.

Readers appreciate Girgis's rigorous logical arguments and clear writing style in addressing complex philosophical and legal topics. Multiple Amazon reviewers note his ability to present challenging concepts in an accessible way, particularly in "What Is Marriage?" Positive reviews highlight: - Systematic breakdown of complex arguments - Detailed citations and references - Civil tone when discussing controversial topics Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing can be difficult to follow - Some arguments seen as too theoretical rather than practical - Limited engagement with opposing viewpoints Ratings: "What Is Marriage?" - Amazon: 4.2/5 (216 reviews) - Goodreads: 3.8/5 (89 ratings) "It Is Right and Just" - Amazon: 4.7/5 (47 reviews) - Goodreads: 4.3/5 (23 ratings) One frequent reader comment is that while they may disagree with Girgis's conclusions, they respect his methodical approach to building arguments through careful philosophical reasoning.

What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense (2012) Co-authored analysis of traditional marriage, addressing philosophical and legal arguments in the same-sex marriage debate.

Ryan T. Anderson, Robert P. George, and Sherif Girgis: Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination (2017) Point-counterpoint discussion examining conflicts between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws.

What Marriage Is--And What It Isn't (2020) Philosophical examination of marriage as an institution, exploring its definition and social significance.

Natural Law, God, and Human Dignity (2021) Academic exploration of natural law theory and its relationship to human dignity and religious thought.

Ryan T. Anderson writes about natural law theory, marriage, and religious liberty. He collaborates with Girgis on publications and shares similar philosophical frameworks regarding social issues.

Robert P. George focuses on constitutional law, moral philosophy, and marriage theory. He mentored both Girgis and Anderson at Princeton and approaches legal-philosophical questions through natural law reasoning.

John Finnis developed influential work in natural law theory and bioethics that informs Girgis's positions. His writings connect classical philosophical traditions to contemporary legal and moral debates.

Patrick Lee examines personhood, marriage, and human dignity through philosophical arguments. His work on the nature of marriage and human relationships parallels themes in Girgis's writing.

Francis J. Beckwith analyzes religious liberty, ethics, and legal philosophy from similar philosophical foundations. He engages with many of the same questions about law, morality, and public policy that Girgis addresses.