The Thomistic Institute Is Religion Really an Enemy of Science? – Prof. Carlos A. Casanova
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Mar 2, 2026 Carlos A. Casanova, philosopher and lecturer at the University of Florida’s Hamilton Center, explores the historical ties between religious worldviews and the rise of scientific methods. He traces Greek and medieval roots, monastic and university roles, scholastic contributions, and figures like Grosseteste, Domingo de Soto, and Galileo. Short takes spotlight how theology, institutions, and metaphysics shaped scientific inquiry.
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Greek Origins Of Demonstrative Science
- Science began in Greece as the first sustained attempt to formulate strict demonstrations rather than mere practical rules.
- Plato and Aristotle developed theology and the structure of the sciences, with Aristotle's Posterior Analytics defining demonstration, scientific types, and principles used for millennia.
Church Institutions Enabled Medieval Science
- Medieval Latin Christendom preserved and advanced Greek mathematics and astronomy through monastic and university settings aimed at contemplation, not mere utility.
- Benedictine monks and 12th–13th century universities absorbed Greek, Arabic, and Jewish science and cultivated mathematics for liturgical needs like calculating Easter.
Grosseteste Prefigured Experimental Method
- Robert Grosseteste (c.1230) pioneered a systematic experimental method: deduce consequences from hypotheses then design experiments to eliminate false causes.
- This method combined mathematical hypotheses with control experiments, anticipating modern falsification techniques.
