Philosophy is the knowledge of things Divine and Human. Exploring the Divine Logos in the milieu of Greek Science during the 17th-19th centuries

Abstract

The relationship between science and Christian religion has been the subject of numerous studies, which have tried to shed light on the links between these two significant components of western civilization. In the present paper, we examine this relationship in a particular context: the Greek-speaking lands during the so-called Neohellenic Enlightenment (1750-1821). We show that a certain biblical interpretation which was used in support of certain scientific arguments was also used, mutatis mutandis, against some innovative scientific theories. We point out that most Greek secular scholars of the time argued that science evinces Divine Providence, and conclude that the emergence of scientific thinking in the region and its ultimate, if somewhat selective, acceptance by ecclesiastical circles constituted a remarkable achievement.