Theology and Science in the Thought of Ian Barbour: A Thomistic Evaluation for the Catholic Doctrine of Creation

This book is a significant new study on the thought of the late Professor Ian Graeme Barbour, a prominent American theologian and physicist who explored the relationship between theology and science. Joseph R. Laracy analyzes Barbour's approach, largely unexplored in the Catholic tradition, using fundamental theological criteria. He investigates the possibility of enriching the dialogue and integration of the Catholic doctrine of creation with the natural sciences, referencing Saint Thomas Aquinas. The book will interest graduate students and scholars in theology, religion and science, philosophy of science, and history of science.

Format: Hardback
Length: 326 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2021
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

This book is a significant and groundbreaking contribution to the thought of the late Professor Ian Graeme Barbour (1923-2013), a prominent American theologian and physicist who served on the faculty of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, USA, for many years. Barbour's extensive research on the relationship between theology and science earned him an invitation to deliver the esteemed Gifford Lectures in Scotland (1989-1991), and in 1999, he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize. In this monograph, Joseph R. Laracy delves into Ian Barbour's distinctive approach to the relationship between theology and science, which has largely been unexplored in the Catholic tradition, using fundamental theological criteria. Laracy investigates the potential for Barbour's epistemic, metaphysical, and theological principles to enrich the dialogue and integration (as coined by Barbour) of the Catholic doctrine of creation with the natural sciences. Throughout the monograph, substantial reference is made to Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic monument to the doctrine of creation, particularly, and the beneficial interaction of natural philosophy, metaphysics, and revealed theology more broadly.

This book is of interest to graduate students and scholars in the fields of fundamental and systematic theology, religion and science, the philosophy of science, and the history of science. It offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the interplay between theology and science, shedding light on the potential for dialogue and integration between these two disciplines. Barbour's work is a testament to his profound understanding of the complex relationship between faith and science, and his contributions will continue to inspire and influence scholars for years to come.

Weight: 557g
Dimension: 225 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433190056
Edition number: New ed