Saving the Soul of Saving the Soul of ScienceScience

It’s Good to be CatholicIt’s Good to be Catholic

10/18/200710/18/2007

St. Thomas, pray for usSt. Thomas, pray for us

Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas before Reading and Studybefore Reading and Study

Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to thee,ardently all that is pleasing to thee,to examine it prudently,to examine it prudently,to acknowledge it truthfully,to acknowledge it truthfully,and to accomplish to perfectlyand to accomplish to perfectlyfor the praise and glory of thy name. Amenfor the praise and glory of thy name. Amen

Your presentersYour presenters

Breanne and Benjamin EspenBreanne and Benjamin Espen

The impetus for this talkThe impetus for this talk

The Science Before Science by Dr. The Science Before Science by Dr. Anthony RizziAnthony Rizzi

Can you be a good Catholic and a Can you be a good Catholic and a good scientist?good scientist?

……at the same time?at the same time? Why does this seem like a strange Why does this seem like a strange

question?question?

The seven deadly sins of scienceThe seven deadly sins of science

MathematicsMathematics MaterialismMaterialism PridePride Voodoo Sciences Voodoo Sciences Exalting size over spiritExalting size over spirit Blurring moral valuesBlurring moral values Science as a belief systemScience as a belief system

MathematicsMathematics

Mathematics is the essence of Mathematics is the essence of modern sciencemodern science

Why do we say this?Why do we say this?

What is science?What is science?

The whole point of science is to The whole point of science is to explain the universe without invoking explain the universe without invoking the supernatural –Eugene Wignerthe supernatural –Eugene Wigner

What is science?What is science? The scientific method, as defined by Dr. Frank The scientific method, as defined by Dr. Frank

WolfsWolfs• The scientific method has four stepsThe scientific method has four steps• 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or

group of phenomena. group of phenomena. • 2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the 2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the

phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation. form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.

• 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations. new observations.

• 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments.performed experiments.

What is science?What is science?

Science is the study of what can be Science is the study of what can be measuredmeasured

Number is everything?Number is everything?

Mathematical PythagoreansMathematical Pythagoreans Roger PenroseRoger Penrose

MaterialismMaterialism

One of the consequences of the One of the consequences of the success of science is the belief that success of science is the belief that only the objects that science studies only the objects that science studies are ultimately real. are ultimately real.

The problem that then arises is how The problem that then arises is how to explain the “unreasonable to explain the “unreasonable effectiveness” of mathematics.effectiveness” of mathematics.

Unreasonable effectivenessUnreasonable effectiveness

Mathematics is a difficult peg to hang Mathematics is a difficult peg to hang materialism on, because math is by nature materialism on, because math is by nature abstractabstract

Mathematics deals only with the Mathematics deals only with the quantitative aspects of reality, but to say quantitative aspects of reality, but to say that implies there are non-quantitative that implies there are non-quantitative aspects of realityaspects of reality

By it’s very nature, the success of science By it’s very nature, the success of science points to something beyond itselfpoints to something beyond itself

Reasonable ineffectivenessReasonable ineffectiveness

AI is impossible.AI is impossible. E.g. the stopping problem.E.g. the stopping problem. Clarke's Law states that if a Clarke's Law states that if a

venerable scientist tells you that venerable scientist tells you that something is possible, he's right, and something is possible, he's right, and if he says it's impossible he's most if he says it's impossible he's most likely wrong. likely wrong.

Modern scientific reason quite simply Modern scientific reason quite simply has to accept the rational structure of has to accept the rational structure of matter and the correspondence matter and the correspondence between our spirit and the prevailing between our spirit and the prevailing rational structures of nature as a rational structures of nature as a given, on which its methodology has to given, on which its methodology has to be based. Yet the question why this be based. Yet the question why this has to be so is a real question, and one has to be so is a real question, and one which has to be remanded by the which has to be remanded by the natural sciences to other modes and natural sciences to other modes and planes of thought - to philosophy and planes of thought - to philosophy and theology.theology.-Pope Benedict XVI-Pope Benedict XVI

PridePride

Science can rightly lay claim to be Science can rightly lay claim to be the preeminent discipline today.the preeminent discipline today.

In fact, it can be fairly said that In fact, it can be fairly said that science has the entire universe as science has the entire universe as it’s rightful domain.it’s rightful domain.

The limits of a limitless scienceThe limits of a limitless science

The range of science is not limited either The range of science is not limited either by the dimensions of quarks or by theby the dimensions of quarks or by thedistance to the farthest galaxies. Science distance to the farthest galaxies. Science touches on all matter-whether solid, liquid, touches on all matter-whether solid, liquid, gas, plasma, or a mere flow of energy gas, plasma, or a mere flow of energy waves--insofar as matter is extended and waves--insofar as matter is extended and therefore measurable. therefore measurable.

-Fr. Stanley Jaki-Fr. Stanley Jaki

Quantity vs. QualityQuantity vs. Quality

WeightWeight TemperatureTemperature

What is electricity?What is electricity?

An answer to that question evades An answer to that question evades the physicist. the physicist.

Science cannot answer questions Science cannot answer questions that do not involve numbers.that do not involve numbers.

The Voodoo SciencesThe Voodoo Sciences

……only the kind of certainty resulting from only the kind of certainty resulting from the interplay of mathematical and the interplay of mathematical and empirical elements can be considered empirical elements can be considered scientific. Anything that would claim to be scientific. Anything that would claim to be science must be measured against this science must be measured against this criterion. Hence the human sciences, such criterion. Hence the human sciences, such as history, psychology, sociology and as history, psychology, sociology and philosophy, attempt to conform philosophy, attempt to conform themselves to this canon of scientificity.themselves to this canon of scientificity.

- Pope Benedict XVI- Pope Benedict XVI

What are Voodoo Sciences?What are Voodoo Sciences?

Any field that claims the aura of Any field that claims the aura of science inappropriatelyscience inappropriately

This can include legitimate scientific This can include legitimate scientific fields when their practitioners abuse fields when their practitioners abuse their authority their authority

Low fat dietsLow fat diets

Diet and Fat: A Severe Case of Diet and Fat: A Severe Case of Mistaken Consensus, NY Times Oct 9, Mistaken Consensus, NY Times Oct 9, 20072007

Consensus run amokConsensus run amok

Exalting size over spiritExalting size over spirit

I do not believe in dwelling upon the I do not believe in dwelling upon the distances that are supposed to dwarf distances that are supposed to dwarf the world; I think there is even the world; I think there is even something a trifle vulgar about this something a trifle vulgar about this idea of trying to rebuke spirit by size. idea of trying to rebuke spirit by size. – G. K. Chesterton – G. K. Chesterton

Exalting size over spiritExalting size over spirit

Paul Dirac, a Nobel prize winner, was Paul Dirac, a Nobel prize winner, was discussing the Big Bang theory with discussing the Big Bang theory with Fr. Lemaître. Dirac was so excited by Fr. Lemaître. Dirac was so excited by this theory that he told Fr. Lemaître this theory that he told Fr. Lemaître that he thought cosmology was the that he thought cosmology was the branch of science closest to God. Fr. branch of science closest to God. Fr. Lemaître demurred, and replied that Lemaître demurred, and replied that he thought psychology lies closest to he thought psychology lies closest to religion.religion.

Blurring moral valuesBlurring moral values

Science, insofar as it deals with Science, insofar as it deals with quantities, is not limited by non quantities, is not limited by non quantitative considerations. No non-quantitative considerations. No non-quantitative set of considerations,quantitative set of considerations,be they metaphysical, theological, or be they metaphysical, theological, or aesthetic, can set a limit to' theaesthetic, can set a limit to' thecompetency of science. competency of science.

-Fr. Stanley Jaki-Fr. Stanley Jaki

Scientific independenceScientific independence

Given that science’s competence Given that science’s competence cannot be limited by non-quantitative cannot be limited by non-quantitative considerations, can science be considerations, can science be criticized from without?criticized from without?

Peter SingerPeter Singer

Australian philosopher currently at Australian philosopher currently at PrincetonPrinceton

Argues for the equality of people and Argues for the equality of people and animalsanimals

Attempts to place a numerical value Attempts to place a numerical value on lifeon life

Ethics by consensusEthics by consensus

What units do you measure right and What units do you measure right and wrong in?wrong in?

Science as a belief systemScience as a belief system

Carl Sagan tried to do something like Carl Sagan tried to do something like this with his books such as “The this with his books such as “The Demon Haunted World” and Demon Haunted World” and “Contact”“Contact”

Richard Dawkins coined the term Richard Dawkins coined the term “Brights” to describe atheists who “Brights” to describe atheists who replaced religion with sciencereplaced religion with science

What does science need?What does science need?

The world exists independently of us The world exists independently of us and is orderlyand is orderly

We can understand itWe can understand it We should have no aversion to We should have no aversion to

observing and working with natureobserving and working with nature The universe must be non-necessaryThe universe must be non-necessary

Can science get along without Can science get along without these things?these things?

Pierre Duhem argued that all a Pierre Duhem argued that all a scientist needs in practice is the scientist needs in practice is the willingness to believe that there is willingness to believe that there is something to study, and a something to study, and a reasonable dose of common sense.reasonable dose of common sense.

Does science need Christ?Does science need Christ?

Many prominent scientists are not Many prominent scientists are not ChristiansChristians

Yet science itself seems to require Yet science itself seems to require ChristianityChristianity

Science needs what Pope Benedict Science needs what Pope Benedict has called a healthy secularity.has called a healthy secularity.

However, Benedict’s notion does not However, Benedict’s notion does not exclude religion.exclude religion.

Be not afraidBe not afraid

““They (They (evolution and religionevolution and religion) are ) are presented as alternatives that presented as alternatives that exclude each other. This clash is an exclude each other. This clash is an absurdity because on one hand there absurdity because on one hand there is much scientific proof in favor of is much scientific proof in favor of evolution, which appears as a reality evolution, which appears as a reality that we must see and which enriches that we must see and which enriches our understanding of life and being our understanding of life and being as such.” -Benedict XVIas such.” -Benedict XVI