Augustine and Science

Edited by John Doody; Adam Goldstein and Kim Paffenroth - Contributions by Paul Allen; Andrew J. Brown; John C. Caiazza; Nicholas Campion; Rodney D. Holder; C. P. E. Nothaft; Lawrence H. Osborn; Alvin Plantinga; Patrick Richmond; James S. Spiegel and Davis Young

This collection addresses current controversies about the relationship between science and religion, in which Augustine is appealed to by opposing sides, showing his continuing relevance, as well as the subtlety and complexity of his views. Questions on evolution are especially focused on, and from a variety of perspectives, often with quite different conclusions between the essays. This is truly a conversation about Augustine, science, and religion.

Lexington Books

Pages: 240 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-0-7391-7434-0 • Hardback • December 2012 • $121.00 • (£93.00)

Series: Augustine in Conversation: Tradition and Innovation

Subjects: Religion / Religion & Science, Religion / Christianity / Catholic

Augustine and Science

Hardback

Summary

This collection addresses current controversies about the relationship between science and religion, in which Augustine is appealed to by opposing sides, showing his continuing relevance, as well as the subtlety and complexity of his views. Questions on evolution are especially focused on, and from a variety of perspectives, often with quite different conclusions between the essays. This is truly a conversation about Augustine, science, and religion.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 240 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-0-7391-7434-0 • Hardback • December 2012 • $121.00 • (£93.00)

Series: Augustine in Conversation: Tradition and Innovation

Subjects: Religion / Religion & Science, Religion / Christianity / Catholic

Author

John Doody is professor of philosophy at Villanova University.

Adam Goldstein is professor of philosophy at Iona College.

Kim Paffenroth is professor of religious studies at Iona College.

Table of Contents

Part 1: General Observations on Scientific Method and Biblical Interpretation
Chapter 1: Augustine and the Systematic Theology of Origins
Paul L. Allen
Chapter 2: Augustine’s View of Creation and Its Modern Reception
Andrew Brown
Chapter 3: The Doctrine of Creation and Modern Science
Wolfhart Pannenberg
Chapter 4: The Contemporary Relevance of Augustine’s View of Creation
Davis A. Young
Chapter 5: The Franciscans and Natural Philosophy in the Thirteenth Century
Lawrence Osborn
Part 2: Astronomy
Chapter 6: Augustine and Astronomy
Nicholas Campion
Chapter 7: Augustine and the Shape of the Earth
C. P. E. Nothaft
Part 3: Evolution
Chapter 8: Augustine on Evolution, Time and Memory
John Caizza
Chapter 9: An Augustinian Perspective on Creation and Evolution
Rodney D. Holder
Chapter 10: Science: Augustinian or Duhemian?
Alvin Plantinga
Chapter 11: Modern Science and Augustine’s Account of Evil and Suffering
Patrick Richmond
Chapter 12: Augustine, Evolution, and Scientific Methodology
James S. Spiegel

Reviews

Augustine and Science offers a valuable historical lesson about the reception of Augustine in the longue durée.
— Isis

This highly readable collection of essays covers a vast range of topics, as distinguished scholars from various fields bring Augustine's prescient and sometimes surprising views on nature into a dialogue with modern ideas in evolutionary biology, geography, astronomy, cosmogony, field theory, and more. The essays pay close attention to the relevant texts and succeed admirably in showing the enduring importance of Augustine's thought for modern science and for the debate regarding faith and reason. Reading this book deepened my admiration for Augustine's breadth and originality.
— Peter Kalkavage, St. John's College

Augustine and Science not only addresses challenging questions regarding Augustine’s views on issues in science or natural philosophy, but also shows how Augustinian ideas and principles are central to some of the key current debates of science and religion. This volume in the series is another testament to Augustine’s lasting legacy.
— Seung-Kee Lee, Drew University