J. González Arintero O.P.: Evolution between Science, Religion and Thomistic Metaphysics

Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII promoted Thomistic studies within the Catholic Church. Father Juan González Arintero was a faithful representative of the Neo-Thomism of that era. In 1880, he was sent to Salamanca to study physico-chemistry. In an environment hostile to the faith, the young friar studied the theory of evolution in depth and, contrary to expectations, became increasingly convinced of its validity. This new conviction compelled him to compatibility between the theory and not only Catholic dogma but also Thomistic metaphysics. Thus, he set out to attempt a synthesis of science, philosophy and religion from a Thomistic perspective, responding to his opponents on the right (the intransigents) and on the left (pseudo-science) regarding what should be the proper criterion for the relationship between science and religion. Arintero achieves this synthesis between evolution and Thomistic metaphysics through the distinction between organic species and ontological species. Beyond the critiques that could be made of his proposal, it undoubtedly demonstrates the true spirit of openness the Church had toward science.