A comprehensible universe : the interplay of science and theology / George V. Coyne, Michael Heller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Coyne, George V., 1933-2020.

Contributor:

Heller, Micha.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rationalism.

Religion and science.

Science--Methodology.

Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (173 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Springer, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Why is our world comprehensible? This question seems so trivial that few people have dared to ask it. In this book we explore the deep roots of the mystery of rationality. The inquiry into the rationality of the world began over two-and-a-half-thousand years ago, when a few courageous people tried to understand the world with the help of reason alone, rejecting the comforting fabric of myth and legend. After many philosophical and theological adventures the Greek concept of rationality laid the foundations of a revolutionary way of thinking: the scientific method, which transformed the world. But looking at the newest fruits of the world's rationality - relativity theory, quantum mechanics, the unification of physics, quantum gravity - the question arises: what are the limits of the scientific method? The principal tenet of rationality is that you should never stop asking questions until everything has been answered ... "The Comprehensible Universe is a thoughtful book by two authors who have professional expertise in physics and astronomy and also in theology. They are exceptionally well informed about the history of the relation between science and theology, and they maintain throughout their discussion a respect for empirical evidence and a dedication to rationality. Even though I do not agree with all of their conclusions on matters of great complexity I am impressed by the fairness of their argumentation." Abner Shimony, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Physics, Boston University.

Contents:

The Drama of Rationality

Discovery that the World is Rational

Should the Astronomer Look into the Sky?

Seven Fighters against Thebes

How to Count the Grains of Sand

Is the World Rational?

The Input of Christianity

Christianity on the Scene

Theology and Science in the Epoch of the Church Fathers

The Medieval Contribution

Discovery of the Method

Achilles and the Arrow

The Dynamics of Aristotle

Three Generations: From Tartaglia to Galileo

Birth of the Method

Is the World Mathematical?

Mathematics at Work

Afterthoughts

Afterthoughts.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-151) and index.

ISBN:

1-281-51315-6

9786611513153

3-540-77626-5

OCLC:

272298716