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Título: Faith and wisdom in science

Local: Colibri – Zoom: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/84055669817

Orador: Tom McLeish (Department of Physics and Centre for Medieval Studies - University of York, United Kingdom)

Abstract:
Soft matter theoretical physicist Tom McLeish takes a scientist's reading of the ancient Book of Job as a centrepiece to make the case for science as a deeply human, social and ancient activity, embedded in some of the oldest stories told about human desire to understand the natural world.  Drawing on stories from the modern science of chaos and uncertainty alongside medieval, patristic, classical and Biblical sources, 'Faith and Wisdom in Science' challenges much of the current 'science and religion' debate as operating with the wrong assumptions and in the wrong space. Its narrative approach develops a natural critique of the cultural separation of sciences and humanities, suggesting an approach to science, or in its more ancient form natural philosophy - the 'love of wisdom of natural things' - that can draw on theological and cultural roots.

He suggests that deriving a human narrative for science in this way can transform the way political discussions of 'troubled technologies' are framed, the way we approach science in education and the media, and reframe the modes in which faith traditions engage with science. We move from an unnecessary task to reconcile theology and science to a mutually beneficial programme to develop a theology of science.