Science and the Contemplative Life

Tue 27 January

Woolf Institute

On 27th January at 1pm Dr Pui Him Ip will give a seminar entitled ‘Science and the Contemplative Life’.

Abstract: Monks contemplate. Philosophers contemplate. But do scientists contemplate? And should scientists contemplate? This seminar introduces and motivates three core questions underlying the new Faraday Institute Research Hub on ‘Science as a Contemplative Activity’ launched in April 2025. First, why should science return to its contemplative roots today? Second, how did early Christians situate the study of nature within their account of human spiritual progress? Third, what might it look like to contemplate in a contemporary scientific context? I will illustrate how our Research Hub in addressing these questions will bring together theological and philosophical accounts of modernity, early Christian reflections on spiritual progress, and contemporary sociological study of natural scientists, to develop a renewed understanding of science as a contemplative activity.

A light sandwich lunch will be provided from 12:30 in the Shasha Suite, Woolf Building, Westminster College, Madingley Road, Cambridge. Please be seated by 12:50 so that the seminar can start promptly.

Cost: Free