INTRODUCTION XXI 



starting point of scientific investigation must be prior and more 

 certain than the torturous path leading to a true solution. This 

 starting point is the light of absolutely first principles, known 

 with certainty before all scientific demonstration. The complex 

 process of investigating nature was recognized as extremely 

 difficult, but Aristotle did not think it hopeless. There is the 

 security of an immoveable starting point. (3) For Aristotle the 

 investigation of nature occupied a preeminent place in the 

 pursuit of knowledge; he himself devoted most of his life to it. 

 But he did not claim this as the only pursuit of mankind. Even 

 in the study of the world and man Aristotle recognized various 

 approaches, each of which is legitimately called ' science.' In 

 other words, ' science ' is an analogical term, and its dignity 

 requires that it be recognized in its diversity and complemen- 

 tarity. The pluralist approach to reality respects the principles, 

 method and limitations of each legitimate endeavor. No one 

 branch can be erected into a monolithic idol without destroying 

 the integrity of truth and the dignity of science. 



The warfare between scientists and religion cannot be sub- 

 dued for long. This is not because of any intrinsic incompati- 

 bility between science and true religion, but because of the third 

 point mentioned above. If the scientist refuses to acknowledge 

 any theories other than those proposed by his own method, con- 

 flicts are bound to break out periodically. Today the conflict 

 is most evident in the conception some neo-biologists have of 

 evolution on the one hand, and the testimony of sound phi- 

 losophy and revelation on the other. This was evident in the 

 Darwin Centennial held at the University of Chicago in 1959. 

 Some biologists claimed the triumph of science over revelation, 

 since evolutionary theory now proves that man is no more than 

 a form of evolved matter, and religion a superstition. Even 

 apart from the embarrassing fact that the methodology of pre- 

 history is far removed from that of modern physics, we might 

 pause to marvel at this strange note of triumph. Man is no 

 more than the beast, the weed, the puff of air! Rejoice! Man 

 is not very much after all! Dialectical Materialism has been 



