Znanost – praeambula fidei

Marina Novina - Pregledni rad

Science – praeambula fidei

Sažetak
Enciklika Fides et ratio, oslonjena na tomističku filozofsku misao, propituje odnos vjere i razuma i ističe nužnost filozofije za specifične teološke discipline. No, misaoni dosezi enciklike sežu puno dalje. Cilj je ovoga rada pokazati da se sve znanosti mogu shvatiti kao praeambula fidei i da je enciklika u cjelini poziv na dijalog, ne samo između filozofije i teologije, već i s drugim znanostima. U tom se smislu, enciklika pokazuje važnom za današnje doba, tzv. STEM doba, jer otkriva važnost svih znanosti i smješta ih u širi kontekst, te ih, ističući autonomiju njihova traganja za istinom, pokazuje neizostavnim sudionicima dijaloga s teologijom i filozofijom.

Abstract
The encyclical Fides et ratio is based on Thomistic philosophical thought. It questions the relationship between faith and reason and emphasizes the necessity of philosophy for specific theological disciplines. However, in this research we show that the encyclical’s thinking reaches far beyond. The analysis of the text of chapter six has shown that the encyclical emphasizes that (1) faith cannot give up reason, which limits itself from fideism. Also (2) that reason by faith strengthens itself to reach the goals it could not achieve, which represents (a) moving away from rationalism and scientism, and (b) giving reason a dimension of openness to the divine nature, revealing it as a link between nature and the divine nature. However, on the line of Thomistic thought the encyclical adds (1) that there are some truths that can be learned naturally, on the independent path of rational inquiry that does not have to divert from one’s own principles and autonomy, and that (2) the knowledge of these truths necessarily precedes the acceptance of God’s revelation. These truths represent the path of preparation for faith. Furthermore, relying on Aquinas’s metaphysic, psychology and philosophy of mind, the encyclical stresses that grace perfects nature (FR, no. 75) and that there is distinction between two lines of cognition (FR, no. 54). But these two lines of cognition are not mutually exclusive, but complementary and revealing (a) that the search for a natural foundation of meaning is one of the most important points of this encyclical and (b) the necessity of a dialogue between theology and philosophy. However, among the autonomous natural paths of cognition, which are defined by the term »the path of preparation for the faith«, which refers to the medieval term »praeambula fidei« (FR, no. 67), we also recognize the sciences that aim at natural cognition. Thus, the reach of the encyclical is expanded. Therefore, we conclude that the encyclical Fides et ratio places all sciences (a) in a broader context, and points to their significance; and (b) emphasizes their autonomy in the search for truth; and (c) at the same time reveals them as needed participants in the dialogue with theology and philosophy. Every science with its autonomy is an antecedent to the faith and that fact is a call for dialogue, which is clearly defined in Gaudium et spes number 36. This dialogue should be realized on an ontological, epistemological and ethical level. The connection in dialogue between theology and other sciences is philosophy. This, however, stead Lambert, sets before us the task of designing higher education institutions which can be a space for dialogue between sciences, without abandoning the principles of one’s own path of inquiry. By recognizing the empirical sciences as a pathway to faith and pointing out the importance of dialogue of philosophy, theology and other sciences, we discover the depth of the encyclical Fides et ratio. On its pages, it offers solutions that bring meaning and hope to the present-day STEM mentality.