Does Science Explain Everything? (Aquinas 101)

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Science is not an adequate compass to life. It was never meant to be. Science can tell us how to build a nuclear bomb, for example, but cannot tell us whether it is right to use one.
Does Science Explain Everything? (Aquinas 101) - Fr. James Brent, O.P.
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This video was made possible through the support of grant #61944 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

[@Jiujitsuspecialist]

Thomism continues to outlive many secular explanations.

[@emanonymous]

this is such an underrated channel

[@paulojose311]

it should be maximally rated

[@johnfitzgeraldkennedy5265]

This is such an underrated comment

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks for watching! Spread the word!

[@davidlara993]

This is since specifically thomism, is such a complex system in its fundamental philosophical precepts. And people tend to avoid logical consequences today.

[@mhogomchungu7882]

Am also wandering ...how could this be posible....I was about to leave the church but this video started opening my mind

[@roisinpatriciagaffney4087]

Phenomenal Catholic teaching, Father Brent. Thank you. Peace in Christ. Greetings from Ireland.

[@Mishaguate]

Thank so so much. Learning our faith!! St Thomas Aquinas, ora pro nobis 🙏🏻❤️🐑⛪️

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks for watching!

[@mchristr]

The scientific method will never be able to answer the “why” question. And that answer is what our hearts and intellects most desire.

[@topkek5807]

Have you ever considered that these desires might just be vanity and that your belief in a personal God that has intended your existence in this particular place and time by your creation is the product of this vanity?

[@ZoltanVaci0]

@@topkek5807 this video is for people who think science is just another belief system. Notice how they dismiss it as such and then push their unfounded dogma as an alternative. It completely misses the point but it's safer than accepting the nihilism that science demands.

[@stephenmerritt5750]

@@topkek5807 No, not at all. It is not vanity to search for truth and to ask, why. It is rather prudent to do so. In fact, asking questions such as when, where, what, how and why is the very reason science exists at all. The point of this discussion is simply to point out that science is incapable of answering all. In fact, there is no scientific or materialistic basis for morality, purpose, hope, love, equality, sharing, fulfillment, forgiveness, or any other metaphysical quality or virtue. So, we follow the evidence as it leads to something outside of materialism. That's not vanity.

[@gregaroivadilinovich280]

Then one must be able to answer - what - is asking why? And from what eyes can this be asked?

[@TheMadstarproduction]

I have to slow these talks down just to let it penetrate appropriately. Thank God for all of you.

[@davonbenson4361]

I have an analogy that supports this video. If see an area of footprints, I know that something walking within that area, regardless of that fact that I can’t identify the entity that performed the action. Logic and reason tells us that there’s a higher power, but it doesn’t tell us who it is.

[@SAfutful]

God Bless the Thomistic Institute!

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thank you! God bless you as well.

[@causalaetitiae]

I really LOVE your videos. Thank you so much! I'm a Religious Education teacher and your work helps me to keep a thomistic, real, orthodox, integral focus in my classes - despite of the secularistic, anthropocentric and fragmentary curriculum. I truly benefit from your work. Thank you very much and may Our Lord reward you! With gratitude, a sister in Christ from Germany.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write this note! God bless you and your work. We hope you continue to find our videos helpful!

[@jasongr3219]

As a generic term all true knowledge is science. But when you're talking about physical science, it's only one of many avenues of knowledge.

[@servantoftheexpander9688]

Don't make things confusing. Nowadays Science is normally used as a term for the study of nature only.

[@stjohnstheevangelistccresp153]

Wow. Thanks for all you do. Please make a video on the Sanctity of Life. Your style of teaching is needed.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion! God bless you.

[@benhutchinson9808]

Really good video. Love it.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks, Ben!

[@ieatburgersalot]

Wonderful video

[@boku5192]

Well said

[@linu_joseph]

well explained, thank you.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@bruhbruh9990]

Excellent video!

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks!

[@victorkihika6408]

I'm almost Crying. I've been looking for EXACTLY these Teachings...for God knows how long. So glad to be here. Finally finding Clarity in an area that has been so confusing to me in my quest for Knowledge.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Very glad to hear that! Thanks so much for watching.

[@brianw.5230]

Great video!!!

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks, Brian!

[@brianw.5230]

@@ThomisticInstitute thank you!

[@tomasdeaquino4470]

Gracias.

[@mariadeven4112]

Great video

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thanks, Maria!

[@margarita.casilda]

Really great channel..well explained what St Thomas wrote....From Spain ,where St domingo de Guzman born in 1170(Burgos),the founder of Dominican order.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

Thank you, Margarita! If you haven't already, you should go visit Caleruega, St. Dominic's birthplace!

[@margarita.casilda]

I will..Thank you.

[@raquelcastillo4954]

Fr. is so relaxing like Msgr. Marini.

[@superdavidss]

Here I am considering seriuosly joining the Dominican Order. God bless you

[@zoebackhouse4554]

Only just come across this. Thank you so much for producing this! God bless

[@andydrozdziak3203]

Thank you for this wonderful explanation. Very helpful.

[@ThomisticInstitute]

You're welcome! We're glad it was helpful. God bless you!

[@frederickanderson1860]

Ecclesiastes chapter 7v16 is best verse regards how you acheive the correct balance.

[@frederickanderson1860]

@WeaponOfChoice faith is a gift dont abuse or become arrogant or take it for granted.

[@theophilus3793]

Not bad.

[@c.g.jonesze9089]

nice Name

[@TheMadstarproduction]

Supernatural light to give us to the whole human race. 6:50 ❤

[@winstonsmith7377]

Can anyone reccomend any introductory books on philosophy, metaphysics, etc?

[@robbiesimon6633]

Hey Winston, a good book to start with is On Guard: Defending Your Faith With Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig

[@nietzschesghost8529]

Most introductory college textbooks will suffice. I'd just look for one that contains excerpts of readings from different philosophers. Or if you want to dive right into the philosophers, I'd recommend Plato's _Republic._ The book is Plato's attempt to describe the ideal city, but in the process of doing so, he touches on metaphysics, epistemology, and several other issues. If you read that book, you have a good introduction to philosophy.

[@Ioannes_Solis]

Aquinas by Ed Feser is a good introduction to The Philosophy of Thomism and the Aquinas 101 book is a good introduction to the theology of Thomism

[@ThomisticInstitute]

We also recommend Ed Feser's "Aquinas." Here's our recommended reading page: thomisticinstitute.org/recommended-reading

[@neptasur]

Ed Feser.

[@dynamic9016]

Thanks much for this video.

[@redlinerumble3]

Thanks for these videos. I know it's not really that related to this video, but I'm having a somewhat hard time (even if I shouldn't) about human birth in the earth. Did humans really come to this world by "Fush!!! First humans from nothingness!!"? What about the extinct studied homo habilis, erectus, ergaster? They were very close to being an human, except they weren't? If we didn't come tho this world by an "spontaneous action", then, at which point did we start having a soul/being a human? (That one last questions sounds very dumb and I am very ashamed to ask it). I probably should have more faith in that regards and not overthink, but whenever someone comes and asks me "So did humans come by magic?" I can't really answer, as there is no point (or does it?) in giving an animal an spiritual soul and make it human.

[@neptasur]

The human body likely developed by some lengthy biological process (call it evolution if you wish), but the soul could not have "evolved" and must be a unique creation at the moment of conception.

[@redlinerumble3]

@@neptasur But my question/point is, at what moment did we become "humans with soul"? What about (for example) Neanderthals? Didn't they have a soul back then, or were they still "animals"? Was the human soul "injected" into a biologically human specie?

[@PInk77W1]

I love the book “Recalled by Life” It’s about a 42yr old doctor who had cancer threw out his whole body and was dying soon. He picked up a hitch hiker. A homeless guy. The homeless guy cured his cancer. True story. Great book.

[@davonbenson4361]

They say that your imagination isn’t real, yet their unable to inside my imagination and make measurements or observations of what’s going on.

[@PInk77W1]

I use to work with 20 people One was an atheist and he knew I was Catholic. He use to mock me for my religion. One day in front of everyone he said “Hey Joe the lotto is $300M, if I pray will God give me the numbers ?” I said “no, God wants to give u much more, he wants to give u Himself.”

[@xnoreq]

And your god cannot give him less for starters because.. reasons? If the only way for it to make sense is to swallow the whole thing then it's safe to say that you got a belief system at your hands that is not grounded in truth.

[@PInk77W1]

@@xnoreq he gives him less for starters everyday. He’s alive. He breathes air. He thinks. He acts. He works. He dreams. He moves. Everything we are and do is from God and is less than God. Or as the great angelic doctor St Thomas Aquinas said “Everything is Good”

[@xnoreq]

@@PInk77W1 What a wonderful dodge. So he wants to give him more, but since he's already giving him less he cannot give him anything in between? Also God is apparently great because he doesn't kill people (which he did, btw)... but if they do get killed God doesn't do anything either. In other words, God has no demonstrable effect which matches a reality in which God is purely imaginary. Lastly, repeating assertions may help you convince yourself but it doesn't actually make any of the assertions true.

[@PInk77W1]

@@xnoreq your assertions either. Your whole post made no sense. If someone gives u something Is the correct response “You didn’t give me enuf?” Jesus talked about this

[@xnoreq]

@@PInk77W1 What assertions? Your friend asked if God could give him something. You answered God wants to give him far more. I asked why God cannot give him something less. You answered God already lets him live. ??? Where's the logic in that? You've lead yourself down a dead-end that ends in exposing the absurdity of your excuses. If you still don't get it: if you assert that life is enough of a gift as an excuse against asking for anything beyond that, then you cannot say that God wants to give him far more at the same time. Don't you see the contradiction?

[@mers3481]

Science is not adequate for discussing origins...

[@ababich1]

If we know all things in all time we shall see the face of God. Science is carried forward by faith and reason in search of God.

[@lucym5490]

Father, do you have the message on Christmas!

[@winstonbarquez9538]

It can hardly explain black matter, how can it even explain everything.

[@servantoftheexpander9688]

Science still has the ability to understand it yet it only pertains to things that can only be perceived through sense but as the video suggests that there is something Higher then your senses which is your reason that tells you about the first principles like The Whole is greater then the part or Something can't 'be' and 'not be' at the same time.

[@davonbenson4361]

The desperation to disprove God eludes to the fact that deep down, they understand that theirs a higher power.

[@servantoftheexpander9688]

What peaks my interest is why people even want to disprove the existence of God.

[@allstarwatt7246]

there is zero evidence to prove that any God exists. I do not need to disprove something which has never been proved. It is like if you asked me to prove that unicorns or fairies do not exist....

[@davonbenson4361]

@@allstarwatt7246. Essential Causality proves that theirs a primary power, but it doesn’t prove that it’s Yahweh, Allah, or any other deities.

[@OrigenisAdamantios]

It would be better for these “reasonable” conclusions made “scientismists” to conclude they are limited by observation based on empirical observation/methods limited to their Theism. When they conclude beyond their speciality they contradict their science. Stay where you belong and you’ll continue to discover

[@blacked2987]

3 01

[@wyattsunkel1048]

This video is mega cope. Aquinas and the people who follow him start from the assumption that god exists and works to prove it.

[@servantoftheexpander9688]

Well that's how it works. Even Euclids propositions are like that first you have an assumption then you prove it for example he takes a proposition 'In any triangle the side opposite the greater angle is greater',then he proves it. Even Science assumes things like Nothing is self evident. Law of Nature can describe the world. Supernatural events can't be taken as explanations. We can understand Nature and more.

[@JosiahFickinger]

Most atheist scientists most likely start from doubts and disinterest in God.

[@jimmyfaulkner1855]

Is scientism today a modern day version of logical positivism?

[@solrinin]

2:38 Modern science also can't settle the question of the existence or attributes of Thor/Loki/Odin/etc., Zues/Poseidon/Hera/etc., Arthur Dent or Ford Prefect, Finn & Jake from Adventure Time, Aerial the Little Mermaid, Rick & Morty, Captain America, Iron Man, or any other the other Avengers, Forrest Gump, Xenu (the Scientology alien god or whatever), the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Kenny/Stan/Kyle/Eric from South Park, or literally any other fictional character that you can think of. That's a stupid thing to ask modern science to try to figure out to begin with. So I agree, science isn't good at proving fictional shit is really real, but neither are any of the holy books that have ever been written throughout all of history. I have just as much evidence that the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42 as you do that any gods exist.

[@ZoltanVaci0]

Thanks for this. This guy's matter-of-fact manner is nauseating. I can almost picture him using this tone to calmly explain to a heretic why he has to be burned. Honestly I'm terrified by this level of confidence in anything.

[@alfredobarrios1095]

And he'd agree with you on that ( 5:24 ).

[@alfredobarrios1095]

@@ZoltanVaci0 Shiver.

[@SoyElta]

There is only one primary cause of the universe. All names made my man are temporary and not eternal. God, Brahman, Dao, etc only the all imcompesing, unnameable, unending, primary cause of all is eternal. Lao Tzu said "the Dao that can be named is not the dao." Lao Tzu was surely blessed with holy spirit when he wrote the Dao De Jing. Peace be with him and the Chinese people.

[@carlosalegria4776]

@@ZoltanVaci0 lmao atheists lack so much self awareness it's hilarious. The man is literally speaking in the most calm, explicatory tone and it scandalizes, you, when internet atheists are literally the most arrogant and disrespectful people you will ever find. Also, the fact you don't address any of the arguments, like for example, there's a difference between faith in the scientific method and scientism, is also telling. Also, please tell me how you can empirically prove that the only way to find truth is through the empirical method. I'll wait.

[@raphrivers8028]

-Science does not pretend it knows or can solve everything. Science in itself is admitting that we don't know most things but let's try to find the evidence to back it up. -A big motto among scientists is therefore "all models are wrong but some are useful". Science isn't about finding the truth per se, it's about finding what is the closest that we can come to the truth given our current technological limitations. -Science is not perfect, but it's the closest we have to truth that can be tested and proved on the spot. A consensus in science is defined by testing an hypothesis over and over again in different conditions and getting the same answer. The same cannot be said about proof of the Christian god. There hasn't been a scenario where we can repeatedly prove the existence of the christian god in a tangible way like science does with its sets of proofs. -You talk about philosophy claiming with certainty that there is a god. Why does you refer to god by "he"? Philosophy does not claim with certainty that the christian god exists but rather that "a god" or "multiple gods" or even "cosmic energy" built the world around us since we know that we didn't. Philosophy is in no way shape or form an argument for the Christian god. At least not if you follow the Descartes theory, which I assume you're referring to here. -The moral conscience that god gives us here is not objective. Morals vary depending on what is considered good in some societies is considered bad in others. There is no sense of objective morale that bypasses every society on earth. -The moral conscience even varies within christians. Catholic christians decided that being a homosexual was immoral in 1946, where they translated the word "arsenokoitai" that didn't have a proper meaning to "homosexual" thus condemning homosexuality and perpetrating decades of christian discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. -Again even if we believe the idea that we have inner morals, there is nothing in philosophy that suggests the evidence of Jesus Christ having ever existed. There is also nothing in science that suggests the evidence of Jesus Christ. Then where does this idea of Jesus having the morals that are objective among human beings evidence? It comes from the Bible: a book written by humans/sinners to interpret the will of what they believed to be God, translated many times and passed on through thousands of years. - Even the concept of faith here is flawed. If the Christian god instilled morals in all of us for us to pray to him, how come he didn't appear in the Americas before Columbus reached it 1492? If it is god's will for humans to live by his morals, why did he let an entire continent develop without christianity? Why didn't he inform of his presence in these cultures? Thousands of years before 1492, and generations upon generations of people growing up with non christian morals, not even having the chance to develop them since there was no sign of christianity in that part of the world.

[@irememberyou12]

nice try

[@c.g.jonesze9089]

you put in some work, my respect. This theory with Columbus is an interesting one, Im questioning myself often in a different manner, if there are human like Aliens out there, who are not animals, will they have a spiritual connection to some kind of God and will the teachings of the Church about other religions apply also to this Spirituality or believesystem.

[@carmenk5767]

Hi, there! It is not my intention to address every point you delineated above, but I would like to offer some thoughts in response to several things you brought up, in no particular order: - The science vs. everything else, but more commonly, the science vs. religion, argument is a false dichotomy. There are many questions in the physical world that are well within the means of the natural sciences to answer. We continue to advance in our knowledge of the physical world, and thus are able to gradually answer more questions. That is a very good thing. However, it is beyond the scope of the natural sciences and fields/disciplines which depend on natural sciences, to answer certain questions. - If I were to ask, "Why is the water boiling?" another may reply with, "Well, the stove was turned on, and the water in the kettle was heated up, and water boils when it reaches a certain temperature." (Of course, you can furnish that reply with more complex scientific explanations, but that's not my goal here.) That is a valid answer. Nonetheless, it is just as acceptable to answer, "Well, the water is boiling because I wanted to have tea." These two perspectives/answers do not contradict each other. - If truth is narrowed to that which can be empirically and validly reproduced, we would have to throw out at least half the departments in most institutions of higher education, such as History and Archaeology. Moreover, if a composer were to reproduce a piece of music that is nearly identical to that which is already in existence, then we would most likely call that plagiarism..... - The concept of faith (I'm going to use this term to mean having confidence in someone or something) is to some degree necessary in science. There would be a dearth of scientific progress if scientists did not trust one another's authority or expertise on anything. So, for example, when I read a textbook, I am usually inclined to have faith that the author has knowledge of the subject matter that I can rely on. - I do not think it automatically follows that the existence of perverse and heinous cultural norms (child sacrifice, polygamy, adultery, etc) implies we cannot objectively judge that which is moral from that which is immoral. It does, however, give compelling evidence that human beings are not automatically and naturally predisposed to "doing good." (For Christians, we recognize that as a result of Original Sin.) - Someone with homosexual inclinations should be regarded with respect and love, and should be treated as a creature made in the image and likeness of God. It is, however, homosexual acts that are not condoned. This has to be understood in light of the design and purpose of marriage (which I will not go into here). - God (by this, I mean the triune God in Whom Christians believe) wants a personal relationship with His children for *our* sake. There is certainly more that can be said, but God does not desire to control us like puppets on strings. It is for this reason that we have free will to choose whether or not to love Him in return for the abundant love that He has shed for us, even to the point of death on a cross. God does not desire that we do or abstain from certain acts for His own amusement. It is always and ultimately for our own good. And for our part, it is ideal that we do or not do certain things out of love for Him, similar to how we do things for those whom we love such as family and friends. I don't claim to have satisfactorily answered anything, but I hope you would keep probing with an open mind why Christians believe what we do, even and especially when we fall short of the ideal. It is Christ on Whom we place our hope and faith, not in other Christians. If the Christian faith is based *solely* on how Christians behave, I would leave the Church so fast that it would break causality.

[@letsgetreal3420]

1492 might sound like a long time to wait around but within "eternity" (or even billions of years) it is but a drop in the ocean...you could also ask why Jesus only came around 0 AD and not before...not all cultures and events provided a receptive setting...

[@stephenmerritt5750]

The speed limit in front of my house is known to all drivers, especially since there is a sign posted somewhere along the road. Also, drivers take a training course which fully entails instructions on what signs mean and what they look like. If this is true, then why do 3 out of 4 cars drive by my house above the posted limit? Why did my friend drive past my house below the limit on Monday but above the limit on Thursday? Knowing and understanding moral principles are one thing, obeying these same principles is another, especially since we are self aware that the moral law exists. That's the history of human existence. Finally, God's presence and existence and will is not confined to Christianity alone. It is ultimately universal as evidenced by the moral sense within each culture. While moral truth exists in all religions and cultures, Christianity simply claims to be the correct definition into the nature and character of God, and is therefore complete. Christianity encapsulates the entire spiritual and metaphysical truth which can be discovered without leaving anything out.

[@ababich1]

When we know everything we shall see the face of God.

[@allstarwatt7246]

a meaningless statement.

[@frosted1030]

Pedaling ignorance as a methodology doesn't get you anywhere. Your religion explores a sad mythos that has been uncovered as lies.

[@lancrx]

Everyone has their own ignorance and biases but I don't think this video is pedaling ignorance. There are strong philosophical arguments for a God, and the priest also rightly states that we cannot know God as the truine Christian God and it is really by faith we know him through Tradition and Scripture if you believe it. It's not a cult as well because many are free to leave and it really does not impose in the truest sense fundamentalism due to the nature that is upon you yourself to choose to ask for faith. A religion that has been uncovered for lies is also a bold statement to conclude as your substance for that conclusion seems lacking. I've been lurking for what is true for a large amount of life and the mythos is not sad but beautiful and life giving. This mythos is a mystery and in mystery there is always a great adventure to discover something at every corner. It's a love affair.

[@PInk77W1]

The Catholic Church has 100s of universities and they ALL have science departments.

[@sriorganontoastmasters8974]

@@PInk77W1 Indeed, the Catholic Church invented the university!

[@JacketOff99]

Lot of claims. No evidence nor reasoning. Therefore, I will apply the HItchen's Razor

[@frosted1030]

@@lancrx "Everyone has their own ignorance and biases but I don't think this video is pedaling ignorance" It directly says that science can't explain it, therefor a deity must be responsible. That's an argument from ignorance fallacy. "There are strong philosophical arguments for a God" It takes a lot to ignore the fallacies in that "purely logical argument". It's also just philosophy. "It's not a cult as well because many are free to leave and it" Look up the definition of a cult. "A religion that has been uncovered for lies is also a bold statement to conclude as your substance for that conclusion seems lacking." Kid, religion is a fallacious logical argument, nothing more. Easily shown.

[@SolutionsNotPrayers]

"Faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move from there to here, and it will be done." Christians can't move the mountain nor the mustard seed, therefore Christians do not have any Faith. What they do have is Belief, but belief and Faith are not the same, even though Christians use them interchangeably.