Anthony Abela
Encyclopedia
Anthony Abela was a Maltese sociologist and minor philosopher. He mostly specialised in social philosophy
.
, Malta
, in 1954. He began his studies at the University of Malta
, from where he acquired a Bachelor of Arts
in Philosophy
(1976), and then pursued further studies at the Gragorian University in Rome
, Italy
, from where he acquired a Bachelor degree in Theology
(1982). He also studied at the Centre Sèvres
in Paris
, France
, from where he acquired a Master’s degree in Theology
(1984), at the Loyola University
of Chicago
, U.S.A. (1987), and at the University of Oxford
, England
, from where he acquired a Doctorate
in Sociology
(1990). He began teaching at the University of Malta
in 1985, and later, in 1990, also taught at the Gregorian University in Rome
. He was principal investigator of the European Values Study in Malta
, Member of the European Values Steering Committee at Tilburg
in the Netherlands
, and served as Evaluator and Reviewer of social research projects for the European Commission
. He was also Non-Governmental Maltese Expert on Poverty and Social Inclusion for the European Commission
. For three years he was director of the Institute of Social Welfare at the University of Malta
. His research interests included comparative European Values Studies, sociology of the family, sociology of religion, youth, gender, poverty, and social policy. Until his premature death on April 4, 2006, at the relatively young age of 52, he was an associate Professor of Sociology
and Social Policy
.
Chapters in books
Other
Social philosophy
Social philosophy is the philosophical study of questions about social behavior . Social philosophy addresses a wide range of subjects, from individual meanings to legitimacy of laws, from the social contract to criteria for revolution, from the functions of everyday actions to the effects of...
.
Life
Abela was for at FlorianaFloriana
Floriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, in 1954. He began his studies at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
, from where he acquired a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
(1976), and then pursued further studies at the Gragorian University in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, from where he acquired a Bachelor degree in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
(1982). He also studied at the Centre Sèvres
Centre Sèvres
The Centre Sèvres - Facultés jésuites de Paris is a university-level institution established in 1974 in Paris that focuses on the study of theology and philosophy...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, from where he acquired a Master’s degree in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
(1984), at the Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, U.S.A. (1987), and at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, from where he acquired a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
(1990). He began teaching at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
in 1985, and later, in 1990, also taught at the Gregorian University in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was principal investigator of the European Values Study in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Member of the European Values Steering Committee at Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and served as Evaluator and Reviewer of social research projects for the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. He was also Non-Governmental Maltese Expert on Poverty and Social Inclusion for the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. For three years he was director of the Institute of Social Welfare at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
. His research interests included comparative European Values Studies, sociology of the family, sociology of religion, youth, gender, poverty, and social policy. Until his premature death on April 4, 2006, at the relatively young age of 52, he was an associate Professor of Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and Social Policy
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
.
Works
Books- 1991 - Transmitting Values in European Malta.
- 1992 - Changing Youth Culture in Malta.
- 1994 - Shifting Family Values in Malta.
- 1996 - Il-Harsien Socjali fis-Snin Disghin (Social Welfare in the 1990s) .
- 1998 - Women and Men in the Maltese Islands.
- 1998 - Gender Issues and Statistics (ed.) .
- 1998 - Secularised Sexuality: Youth Values in a City-island.
- 1999 – European Values Study.
- 2000 - Young Catholics at the New Millennium.
- 2001 - Values of Women and Men in the Maltese Islands: A comparative European Perspective, .
- 2001 - Youth Participation in Voluntary Organisations and Women's Welfare in Society.
Chapters in books
- 1994 - ‘Values for Malta’s Future’, in Maltese Society: A Sociological Inquiry, ed. by R.G. Sultana and G. Baldacchino.
- 1994 – ‘Drug Abuse Among School Children’, in Maltese Society: A Sociological Inquiry, ed. by R.G. Sultana and G. Baldacchino.
- 1994 – ‘Religjon u Identità’ (Religion and Identity), in Kungress dwar l-Identità Maltija (Congress on Maltese Identity).
- 1995 – ‘Family and Social Values in Europe and Malta’, in The Malta Year Book 1995, ed. by S.J.A. Clews.
- 1995 – ‘Fundamentalist Religious Values of Young People in Malta’, in Fundamentalism and Youth in Europe, ed. by L. Omasi.
- 1998 – ‘Feminizatiion of Poverty’, in Gender Issues and Statistics.
Other
- 1999 – ‘Values 2000’
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.