Ok, what other way is there to attain knowledge? Listen to some guy who claims that God told him some divine truth? Epistemology is the study of knowledge, and philosophers from ancient greece until the present day have discussed the various methods of knowing. The idea that scientific inquiry is the sole method of ALL knowledge is a distortion of true reason, one that has only arisen in the last few centuries. Science, by definition, can only study reality that is directly observable. I certainly agree that it is a very powerful and accurate method, but it is not the only one.
The Pope doesn't particularly talk about the actual mechanics of science as much as the philosophy that it is connected to. And a lot of scientists simply "do" science without ever thinking about the philosophy which comes first: is science the ONLY way to attain knowledge?
Oh, and the Pope (as Cardinal Ratzinger) has written hundreds if not thousands of pages on that topic.
I would bet that a majority of people who harangue "those crazy popes" have never read anything substantial that they have written. Both John Paul II and Benedict accept rational inquiry. Faith and reason do not oppose each other, but mutually support each other in the search for truth. The truth that comes from science is truth about the observable world. Knowledge about reality that is not directly observable is by definition outside the realm of science. Something else is required.
More at:
Faith and Reason (John Paul II)
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Faith is another method for having knowledge. The discussion of what faith is too large for this post, so I direct you to "Faith and Reason" by John Paul II (not for the faint of heart): http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html
Faith and science, if considered correctly, will NOT contradict each other, because truth is truth no matter how you find it.
The Pope doesn't particularly talk about the actual mechanics of science as much as the philosophy that it is connected to. And a lot of scientists simply "do" science without ever thinking about the philosophy which comes first: is science the ONLY way to attain knowledge?
Oh, and the Pope (as Cardinal Ratzinger) has written hundreds if not thousands of pages on that topic.
I would bet that a majority of people who harangue "those crazy popes" have never read anything substantial that they have written. Both John Paul II and Benedict accept rational inquiry. Faith and reason do not oppose each other, but mutually support each other in the search for truth. The truth that comes from science is truth about the observable world. Knowledge about reality that is not directly observable is by definition outside the realm of science. Something else is required. More at: Faith and Reason (John Paul II)
Didn't you hear? NASA lost the recipe.