Artigas, Mariano

Mariano Artigas (1938-2006) was a Spanish priest, philosopher of science, and physicist who made significant contributions to the dialogue between science and religion. Educated in physics at the University of Barcelona and philosophy and theology in Rome, he served as professor of philosophy of nature and science at the University of Navarra. His work focused on examining the compatibility between scientific advancement and religious faith, particularly regarding evolution and Catholic theology. In "Oracles of Science" (2007, with Karl Giberson), he analyzed how prominent scientists engaged with religious questions, while "Negotiating Darwin" (2006) provided groundbreaking historical analysis of the Vatican's response to evolutionary theory between 1877-1902. Artigas argued for the complementarity of science and faith, maintaining that scientific materialism unnecessarily restricts human understanding. His scholarship demonstrated how the Catholic Church's engagement with Darwin was more nuanced than commonly portrayed, contributing significantly to contemporary discussions about the relationship between scientific and theological worldviews.