Truth in science, the humanities and religion : Balzan Symposium 2008 : organized by the International Balzan Foundation at the University of Lugano, Università della Svizzera italiana, 16-17 May 2008 : proceedings

by the Academies of the two countries – to the Italian-Swiss University of Lugano for the two-day-Symposium. The question of the meaning of “truth” is central to many areas of contemporary debate, whether between those subscribing to a post-Enlightenment view of the world and those who seek fundamental truth in religious texts, or between those maintaining that there are absolute truths and those believing facts to be social constructs. For some, the ultimate truth is revealed through religious faith and t- tual authority. Can this view be reconciled with an evidence-based, materialist, post-Enlightenment perspective of the truth as embraced by the natural sciences? If religion holds the key to the truth, which religion and which truths? During the five thematic sessions of the symposium, all attended by the same audience and by all the speakers and panel members, these and many other qu- tions, but in particular the one about the meaning of truth, were examined and debated. The whole range of perspectives represented on the panels and in the au- ence came to the fore. After the keynote lecture by Professor Simon Blackburn, the five sessions covered the following disciplines: philosophy, mathematics, physics, cosmology, the biological sciences including biodiversity and sustainability, h- tory, the social sciences, theology and religion. This volume contains the speakers’ lectures, the corresponding reactions of the invited panel members as well as the panel and general discussions of the two-d- symposium. "The question of the meaning of ""truth"" is central to many areas of contemporary debate, whether between those subscribing to a post-Enlightenment view of the world and those who seek fundamental truth in religious texts, or between those maintaining that there are absolute truths and those believing facts to be social constructs. For some, the ultimate truth is revealed through religious faith and textual authority. Can this view be reconciled with an evidence-based, materialist, post-Enlightenment perspective of the truth as embraced by the natural sciences? If religion holds the key to the truth, which religion and which truths? What is the attitude of the humanities to the meaning of truth? Truth in the sciences and the humanities as well as in religion and theology is the central theme of this book based on the proceedings of a conference organized by the International Balzan Foundation. It contains the speakers' lectures, the corresponding reactions of the invited panel members as well as the general discussions. The reader can familiarize himself with views ranging from philosophy to religion, from mathematics, physics and cosmology to biological sciences, history, sociology and economics. The exceptional wide scope of the book, comprising arguments about truth in the sciences, the humanities as well as religion and theology together with the discussions between representatives of all these different fields, means that it is of interest to a professional as well as a general readership." Front Matter....Pages i-viii Opening Session....Pages 1-16 Session I: Philosophy....Pages 17-36 Session II: Mathematics — Physics and Cosmology....Pages 37-63 Session III: Biological Sciences — Biodiversity — Sustainability....Pages 65-88 Session IV: History — Social Sciences....Pages 89-115 Session V: Theology—Religion....Pages 117-163 Session VI: Conclusion....Pages 165-173 Back Matter....Pages 175-192