How theories are born out between science, philosophy and theology

History of scientific thought Seminars Series 2017/2018
Final workshop

November 26, 2018
Papa Francesco Room
Pontifical Lateran University

A new  scientific theory does not take shape without a shift in the concepts that are used. These concepts can be new and the words to express them are often novel. They have to be validated, and older images can still be retained. Theology has often offered suggestions that were, sometimes unconscientiously, borrowed by scientist. This happened in the past, but it also occurs today. In this workshop the philosophical and theological backgrounds of some scientific theories are explored, explained and assessed.

h. 15.00 | Workshop introduction
Flavia Marcacci (IRAFS, Pontifical Lateran University)

h. 15.15 | Newton: The Relativity of Motion and the Metaphysics of Absolute Space
Robert DiSalle (Western University London, Ontario)

h. 16.00 | Einstein theologian
Don Howard (Notre Dame University, Indiana)

h. 16.45 | Coffee break

h. 17.00 | The Universe was an Atom. Georges Lemaître and the birth of Big bang theory
Dominique Lambert (Universite’ Namur, Belgium)

h. 17.45 | Panel discussion

h. 18.15 | Workshop Ends

Contacts
Pontifical Lateran University
Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano, 4
00120 Vatican City