Thomas and the Physics of 1958: A Confrontation

This monograph examines the relationship between Thomistic philosophy and mid-twentieth century physics, addressing whether Thomas Aquinas's metaphysical framework remains compatible with contemporary scientific understanding. Margenau, writing from the perspective of a physicist engaged with philosophical questions, explores the tensions and potential harmonies between medieval scholasticism and modern quantum mechanics.

The work centers on the confrontation between two worldviews: the Aristotelian-Thomistic conception of nature, which grounds much of Catholic philosophical theology, and the probabilistic, observer-dependent reality described by quantum physics. Margenau analyzes specific Thomistic principles—including substance and accident, potency and act, and the nature of causality—in light of experimental findings from atomic physics. He particularly focuses on how quantum indeterminacy challenges classical notions of divine providence and natural law that underpin Thomistic arguments for God's existence.

The author employs a dual methodology, combining technical exposition of physical theories with philosophical analysis. He examines how concepts like complementarity and uncertainty might affect traditional proofs for God, especially the argument from motion and the principle of sufficient reason. Margenau engages critically with neo-Thomist attempts to accommodate modern physics, particularly those of Jacques Maritain and other twentieth-century Catholic intellectuals who sought to preserve Thomas's essential insights while updating his natural philosophy.

Significantly, the monograph addresses whether quantum mechanics necessitates abandoning the metaphysical realism central to Thomistic thought. Margenau explores how the Copenhagen interpretation's emphasis on measurement and observation relates to Thomas's understanding of knowledge and being. He considers whether modern physics requires a fundamental revision of natural theology or merely a refinement of its expression.

The work contributes to the God debate by assessing whether scientific advances genuinely threaten classical theistic arguments or simply demand their reformulation. Margenau's analysis is particularly valuable for its technical competence in physics combined with serious engagement with scholastic philosophy. Writing during a period of renewed interest in the dialogue between science and religion, he provides a rigorous examination of whether Thomistic natural theology can survive the quantum revolution. His conclusions bear on broader questions about the compatibility of traditional metaphysics with contemporary science and the viability of philosophically grounded approaches to demonstrating God's existence in an age of radical scientific change.