The Language of Science and the Language of Theology (original) (raw)

1999, Studies in Science and Theology 5, 239–246

The notion of incommensurability has been advanced to claim that adherents of rival scientific theories cannot fully understand each other. If this is true even within science, is there any hope for understanding between the scientist and the theologian? Serious consideration must be given to the philosophical criticism of incommensurability, i.e., arguments that show how communication across theories, and by extension across disciplines, is possible. The parallel consideration of (a) rival scientific theories of light, and (b) scientific and theological understandings of creation show that problems arise from potentially resolvable misunderstandings rather than an unremediable lack of understanding. Some theologians have tried to minimize communication problems by adopting a “scientific” way of speaking, for example by transferring the scientific concept of complementarity into the science–theology dialog. However, since the subject matters are irreducibly different, this approach creates its own problems. Analyzing potential language problems between science and theology can lead to some practical suggestions on how to improve mutual understanding.

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