A Minds Matter: An Intellectual Autobiography

Rating:
Summary: A Mind at Work
Review: Stanley L. Jaki is one of the most important writers on the relationship between religion and science. Prof. Jaki has written over 40 books. His work concerns the philosophy of science, the relationship between science and theology, theology proper, the history of astronomy and physics, and some other issues as well. Perhaps because of his writing style - which is at times polemical and at other times obscure - he doesn't receive the attention he deserves.

By way of background, although Fr. Jaki is a conservative Catholic theologian and has, for example, written books defending the papacy, he is no "fundamentalist." While he rejects Darwinism, he also rejects any attempt to find "concordance" between Genesis and natural science. He also considers Genesis 1 to be post-exilic and the product of multiple authors, which will hardly endear him to conservative Protestants, who might otherwise sympathize with much of his work.

This work is an enjoyable discussion of Prof. Jaki's career and the circumstances that surrounded the writing of his numerous books. It's enjoyable to read about the trials and travails of someone attempting to get his books into print, the reception of these works, and the effort that it takes to produce them. Some of the stories are quite amusing, such as the reception that Prof. Jaki has received from Moslems and Creationists (I think he is somewhat unfair to the latter.)

The big problem with this book is that Prof. Jaki obviously isn't happy that his work hasn't received the attention that it deserves. Unfortunately, he treats the readers to (at times) gratuitous speculations about why this is the case. I'm sure we would all like to "settle scores" but this detracts from this otherwise enjoyable work.

Rating:
Summary: A Mind at Work
Review: Stanley L. Jaki is one of the most important writers on the relationship between religion and science. Prof. Jaki has written over 40 books. His work concerns the philosophy of science, the relationship between science and theology, theology proper, the history of astronomy and physics, and some other issues as well. Perhaps because of his writing style - which is at times polemical and at other times obscure - he doesn't receive the attention he deserves.

By way of background, although Fr. Jaki is a conservative Catholic theologian and has, for example, written books defending the papacy, he is no "fundamentalist." While he rejects Darwinism, he also rejects any attempt to find "concordance" between Genesis and natural science. He also considers Genesis 1 to be post-exilic and the product of multiple authors, which will hardly endear him to conservative Protestants, who might otherwise sympathize with much of his work.

This work is an enjoyable discussion of Prof. Jaki's career and the circumstances that surrounded the writing of his numerous books. It's enjoyable to read about the trials and travails of someone attempting to get his books into print, the reception of these works, and the effort that it takes to produce them. Some of the stories are quite amusing, such as the reception that Prof. Jaki has received from Moslems and Creationists (I think he is somewhat unfair to the latter.)

The big problem with this book is that Prof. Jaki obviously isn't happy that his work hasn't received the attention that it deserves. Unfortunately, he treats the readers to (at times) gratuitous speculations about why this is the case. I'm sure we would all like to "settle scores" but this detracts from this otherwise enjoyable work.