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John Polkinghorne's Birth
John Polkinghorne was born on October 16, 1930 Weston-super-Mare, England to George and Dorothy Polkinghorne. As a child, he developed a passion for both science and theology, which shaped him into the mathematical physicist, philosopher and theologian he became. -
Critical Realism
Polkinghorne believed that science and theology have the same goal, to seek the truth. Polkinghorne examines the field of philosophy through the perspective of critical realism, he suggests that both science and religion are concerned with different aspects of the same reality. Polkinghorne argued that critical realism is the most suitable explanation for the success of science and the only philosophy that is adequate to scientific experience. -
Theistic Science
Polkinghorne proposed that theistic science asserts that the existence of God can be inferred from scientific evidence. While he acknowledged the limitations of scientific inquiry in addressing ultimate questions of meaning and purpose, he argued that science can provide clues to the existence and nature of a divine creator. -
Integration of Science and Theology
Polkinghorne recognized the value of integrating science and theology, as both offer unique perspectives on our world. His aim was to find common ground and facilitate collaboration between the two. -
Emergence in Science and Theology
Polkinghorne explored the concept of emergence in both scientific and theological contexts, examining how complex structures and phenomena can arise from simpler components through self-organization and emergent properties. He argued that emergence offers a framework for understanding the relationship between the physical world and higher-level realities, such as consciousness and morality. -
Philosophy of Time
https://youtu.be/tkHfWezUAak?si=AspAJtYqGX00zyik In the YouTube link above John Polkinghorne discusses what is time, higlighting some of his contributions to the philosophy of time and also discusses some of the philosophical questions regarding the nature of time, causality, and the arrow of time, drawing on scientific and theological perspectives. -
John Polkinghorne's Death
John Polkinghorne died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 90. John's contributions to the philosophy of science reflect his interdisciplinary approach to exploring the big questions of existence, purpose, and meaning. By bridging the domains of science and theology, he sought to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world and humanity's place within it, encouraging dialogue and collaboration between these complementary modes of inquiry. -
Works Cited
De Cruz, Helen. “Religion and Science.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 3 Sept. 2022, plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-science/.
“May 8, 1998 ~ Sir John Polkinghorne on Science and Theology.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 29 Jan. 2015, www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/1998/05/08/may-08-1998-sir-john-polkinghorne-on-science-and-theology/15143/.