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- A Jesuit at present emeritus professor of geophysics at Universidad Complutense, Madrid working on the history of sci... moreA Jesuit at present emeritus professor of geophysics at Universidad Complutense, Madrid working on the history of science, the relation of science and religion and the history of Jesuit contribution to scienceedit
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ABSTRACT On 11 May 2011, a M w = 5.1 earthquake shook the town of Lorca (SE Spain) causing a disproportionately large damage for its magnitude. In order to contribute to knowledge of the behavior of the active faults present in the region... more
ABSTRACT On 11 May 2011, a M w = 5.1 earthquake shook the town of Lorca (SE Spain) causing a disproportionately large damage for its magnitude. In order to contribute to knowledge of the behavior of the active faults present in the region and define the parameters which control their motion, we made a detailed study of the rupture process of this earthquake from inversion of body waves at regional and teleseismic distances. Ground motion displacements obtained in this way are in agreement with near-field strong motion data and GPS observations recorded in Lorca. We have obtained a partly bilateral rupture propagating to WSW (238°, 54°, 59°) with 27 cm of maximum slip and shallow focus (4 km). The fault plane orientation corresponds to that of the Cejo de los Enamorados Fault located NE of the Lorca town and parallel to the Alhama de Murcia Fault. The distribution of slip on the fault plane can explain the lack of any observed surface rupture as we found that the rupture started at 4-km depth along a plane dipping at 54°, with motion propagating upward to stop at 1.5 km below the surface. The strong motion and GPS data recorded near the epicenter are in agreement with the maximum slip on the fault. Directivity effects and the extreme shallowness of the rupture could explain the considerable damage that the earthquake caused in the town of Lorca.
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Research Interests: Geology and Seismology
Research Interests: Geology and Inner Core
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Historical seismicity is particularly important for the southeast region of the Iberian Peninsula, where large earthquakes are separated by long periods of time. The study of medieval earthquakes presents special difficulties. In this... more
Historical seismicity is particularly important for the southeast region of the Iberian Peninsula, where large earthquakes are separated by long periods of time. The study of medieval earthquakes presents special difficulties. In this study, we review the earthquake of 1258 in the town of Onteniente, an event that was not present in regional catalogs of the Iberian Peninsula until 2002. Information about the earthquake is based on a contemporary letter by King James I of Aragon, who granted tax exemptions to the people of the town of Onteniente because of the damage.
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Seismic data from all available broadband stations in the western Mediterranean were used to study the structure of the crust and upper mantle across the Alboran Sea with the receiver function method. Most stations close to the plate... more
Seismic data from all available broadband stations in the western Mediterranean were used to study the structure of the crust and upper mantle across the Alboran Sea with the receiver function method. Most stations close to the plate boundary are part of the GEOFON network, jointly operated by ROA, UCM and GFZ. P to S converted teleseismic waves at the
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The thermodynamic stability of S-substituting Si into a bcc Fe0.80Ni0.05SxSi(0.15−x) random alloy, with x=0.025 n (n=0−− 4), was investigated up to 350 GPa by using an ab initio density functional method based on the full charge... more
The thermodynamic stability of S-substituting Si into a bcc Fe0.80Ni0.05SxSi(0.15−x) random alloy, with x=0.025 n (n=0−− 4), was investigated up to 350 GPa by using an ab initio density functional method based on the full charge density–exact muffin-tin orbital–coherent potential approximation scheme. From the analysis of the calculated Δ H values, we suggest that the FeNiSSi stoichiometry with zero sulphur content always behaves as the most stable system along the whole pressure range of 0–350 GPa. As a general tendency, we found that the alloys with 6.8–8.1 wt.% Si are energetically more stable than those with lower silicon content, thus supporting the dissolution mechanism for the Earth's inner core compositional model.
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Information about historical earthquakes in the Iberian Peninsula going back to Antiquity (Roman times) can be found in different types of documents, such as unpublished contemporary manuscripts preserved in archives, general, and... more
Information about historical earthquakes in the Iberian Peninsula going back to Antiquity (Roman times) can be found in different types of documents, such as unpublished contemporary manuscripts preserved in archives, general, and regional histories in Spain and Portugal, published documents and reports on the damage of specific earthquakes, and reports in newspapers and magazines. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake marks an important point for the study of historical earthquakes in the peninsula. The compilation and interpretation of historical data presents many problems, one of which is how to express the many uncertainties in the focal parameters of historical earthquakes in earthquake catalogs.
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Research Interests: Geology and Seismology
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ABSTRACT The Cape Saint Vincent region is of major seismological interest for its tectonic complexity and for the occurrence of the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. No structure capable of generating such a large earthquake has yet been... more
ABSTRACT The Cape Saint Vincent region is of major seismological interest for its tectonic complexity and for the occurrence of the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. No structure capable of generating such a large earthquake has yet been convincingly identified, but all authors agree that there is a possibility of a similar earthquake occurring offshore of the Cape sometime in the future. To shed some light on the region's dynamics, we here examine the mechanism of the three largest earthquakes to have occurred in the last 40 years west of the Cape – 29 July 2003 (Mw = 5.3), 12 February 2007 (Mw = 6.1), and 17 December 2009 (Mw = 5.5). By inversion of the body waves and the kinematic slip distribution, we estimated the three earthquakes to have had similar characteristics (dimensions, maximum slip, stress drop, source time function, focal depth, and rupture velocity), although there were differences in the geometry of the rupture that reflect the great seismotectonic complexity of the zone. The focal mechanisms of the 2003 and 2007 earthquakes were similar, corresponding to thrusting motion, but the 2009 earthquake had a dip-slip motion in a vertical plane. As deduced from the slip distributions, the three shocks show NE–SW rupture planes, with the energy released propagating to the NE, compatible with the regional NW–SE horizontal compression produced by the convergence of the Eurasian and African plates. Applied to the generation of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, this direction of faulting would correspond to a complex rupture along NE–SW trending thrust faults at the Gorringe Bank, the Horseshoe Scarp, and the Marquis de Pombal Fault, with the rupture propagating to the NE towards the Portuguese coast. Such a model could explain that unusually large and tsunami-generating earthquake.
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ABSTRACT The dimensions and rupture velocities of four earthquakes, two in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and two in Iceland with strike–slip mechanisms and magnitudes (Mw) between 6.2 and 6.8 were studied using the directivity effects of... more
ABSTRACT The dimensions and rupture velocities of four earthquakes, two in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and two in Iceland with strike–slip mechanisms and magnitudes (Mw) between 6.2 and 6.8 were studied using the directivity effects of Rayleigh and body waves. For Rayleigh waves we used the directivity function for different pairs of stations and for body waves the waveforms of P and SH waves corresponding to a simple extended line source. We have found that three have very shallow depths about 3 km and one 8 km, fault lengths between 12 km and 21 km, and a low rupture velocity of about 1.5 km/s to 2.0 km/s which supports the idea of the presence of slow earthquakes in transform faults.
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Three earthquakes that happened over two days in May 1951 caused extensive damage to villages in a small area of eastern El Salvador (Central America). Contemporary hypocentral solutions indicated focal depths, confirmed by... more
Three earthquakes that happened over two days in May 1951 caused extensive damage to villages in a small area of eastern El Salvador (Central America). Contemporary hypocentral solutions indicated focal depths, confirmed by re-calculations using available seismic data, of the order of 90 km, suggesting events associated with the subducted Cocos plate. Macroseismic observations strongly indicate that the earthquakes were of very shallow focus and this is supported by wave-form modeling and the appearance of seismograms recorded in Guatemala. A re-evaluation of the location and source characteristics for these events is presented, together with a fault plane solution and additional macroseismic evidence. The implications for seismic hazard and risk assessment in Central America, where shallow earthquakes of moderate magnitude, frequently occurring in clusters, pose the greatest threat to settlements which, like the area affected by these events, are concentrated along the axis of Quat...
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<p>We have estimated the source mechanisms of 15 intermediate (100 < h < 300 km) and 11 deep (h> 500 km) depth earthquakes (Mw ≥ 6.0), located at the Peru-Brazil-Bolivia border. From... more
<p>We have estimated the source mechanisms of 15 intermediate (100 < h < 300 km) and 11 deep (h> 500 km) depth earthquakes (Mw ≥ 6.0), located at the Peru-Brazil-Bolivia border. From teleseismic waveforms, using the slip inversion over the rupture plane, we have estimated the fault-plane orientation, scalar seismic moment, source time function, slip distribution, rupture velocity and stress drop. From north to south direction, for shocks located between 1 ºS and 12 ºS, the focal mechanisms of intermediate and deep events correspond to normal faulting with horizontal extension approximately in E-W direction. In this region, the Nazca plate, moves as a flat slab at a depth of 120 km between 400 km to 600 km distances from the trench. At greater distances from the trench, the Nazca plate begins to dip. Further south, from 13 ºS to 20ºS, the tension axes present a greater dip for intermediate earthquakes, in agreement with the change from flat to dipping subduction. We do not observe any significant difference between the, slip distribution, STF, rupture velocity and stress drop for intermediate and deep earthquakes. The stress drop shows values with slight differences between the northern group (1 ºS - 12 ºS) of earthquakes and the southern one (13 ºS - 20ºS). The shape of the source time functions of intermediate and deep earthquake presents a depth dependence in agreement with the conclusions of other studies. The source time functions of intermediate events are more complex than those of deep ones and present a longer mean duration. From these results we present a stress pattern scheme of the slab, showing at intermediate depth a horizontal extension in the northern part correlated to the flat slab, and with vertical compression for deeper events. In the southern part there are dipping extensions at intermediate depth and dipping compressions at a deep depth.</p>
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Teilhard de Chardin must be considered primarily as a true modern mystic of the presence and action of Christ in the universe. His mysticism can be traced through his writings from the earliest to the latest and in them we can find the... more
Teilhard de Chardin must be considered primarily as a true modern mystic of the presence and action of Christ in the universe. His mysticism can be traced through his writings from the earliest to the latest and in them we can find the reflection of a mystical experience lived in prayer and in his life, at the basis of which is the vision of the universe that science has been developing first with the evolution of the whole universe and of life and man on Earth. Teilhard always considers himself at the same time a "child of the Earth" and a "child of Heaven". The basis of his mysticism is, therefore, in the synthesis of these two loves. He is aware of the role of science and technology in the modern world, as the two great forces that move human progress. Thus, for him, scientific work itself has a religious and Christian value and is itself a form of worship. By identifying the Omega Point of evolution with the Christ of faith, Christ occupies the "universal center" or "cosmic center" of the universe. Cosmogenesis becomes a "Christogenesis" and the redeeming Christ is a true "Evolutionary Christ". All evolution is, therefore, a process by which the body of the "Cosmic Christ" or "Total Christ" is being built. Finally, for Teilhard what he calls "the Christic" constitutes the synthesis between the "cosmic convergence" and the "Christic emergence", the center of his mysticism.
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Teilhard, sacerdote, científico y místico Como sacerdote jesuita y a la vez como reconocido científico en el campo de la
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After the occurrence of the mainshock on the 25 December 1884, a considerable number of reports on the damage caused by the catastrophic Andalusian earthquake were published mainly during the following year (1885) in several European... more
After the occurrence of the mainshock on the 25 December 1884, a considerable number of reports on the damage caused by the catastrophic Andalusian earthquake were published mainly during the following year (1885) in several European journals, as well as in bulletins of scientific societies and books. A few of them were anonymous notes, whereas others were signed by most important geologists and seismologists from different European countries. Special cases are the publications from the members of the three commissions that were specifically appointed to study this Andalusian earthquake. In this article, we present detailed information about the publications that appeared mainly during the following year (1885) of the occurrence of this earthquake. The prompt study of the Andalusian earthquake provided an opportunity for the scientific community at that time to present and disseminate new modern ideas about the nature of earthquakes and their relationship with the geodynamic process...
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The San Vicente Cape region (SW Iberia) is of great seismological interest due to its tectonic complexity and for the occurrence of the 1755 Lisbon mega-earthquake. A structure capable of generating such large earthquake has not been... more
The San Vicente Cape region (SW Iberia) is of great seismological interest due to its tectonic complexity and for the occurrence of the 1755 Lisbon mega-earthquake. A structure capable of generating such large earthquake has not been convincingly found but authors agree with the possible occurrence in the future of a similar earthquake offshore of San Vicente Cape. We have studied the mechanism of three earthquakes in this area: 29 July 2003 (Mw = 5.3), 12 February 2007 (Mw = 6.1) and 17 December 2009 (Mw = 5.5) which throw light on the dynamics of the region. These earthquakes are the largest occurred in the last 40 years at the western of San Vicente Cape. From inversion of body waves and kinematic slip distribution, we have obtained that the three shocks have similar characteristics (dimensions, maximum slip, stress drop, source time function, focal depth and rupture velocity), but we can observe differences on geometry of the rupture that reflect the great seismotectonics comple...
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Solving problems is an indispensable exercise for mastering the theory underlying the various branches of geophysics. This book is a collection of nearly 200 problems in geophysics, which are solved in detail showing each step of their... more
Solving problems is an indispensable exercise for mastering the theory underlying the various branches of geophysics. This book is a collection of nearly 200 problems in geophysics, which are solved in detail showing each step of their solution, the equations used and the assumptions made. Simple figures are also included to help students understand how to reduce a problem to its key elements. The book introduces the equations most commonly used in solving geophysical problems, and presents a series of exercises for the main, classical areas of geophysics – gravity, geomagnetism, seismology, and heat flow and geochronology. Problems range from simple exercises for the most elementary courses to more complex problems suitable for graduate-level students. This handy book is the ideal adjunct to core course textbooks on geophysical theory. It is a convenient source of additional homework and exam questions for instructors, and provides students with a practice or revision aid.
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Research Interests: Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Seismology, Tectonophysics, and 4 moreCAPE, Saint, Elsevier, and Focal Mechanism
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ABSTRACT
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Focal mechanisms of 10 intermediate-depth earthquakes (30<h<150 km) and one very deep (h 650 km) which occurred in southern Spain and the Alboran Sea are studied in this paper. Distribution of epicenters with foci at intermediate... more
Focal mechanisms of 10 intermediate-depth earthquakes (30<h<150 km) and one very deep (h 650 km) which occurred in southern Spain and the Alboran Sea are studied in this paper. Distribution of epicenters with foci at intermediate depth shows a N–S alignment with a geometry parallel to the east of the Arc of Gibraltar. Focal mechanisms have been determined from first
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ABSTRACT The deep earthquake (h = 650 km) that occurred on 11 April 2010 south of Granada, Spain, has been studied using the inversion of body waves at teleseismic and regional distances. We have obtained a solution of dip-slip motion on... more
ABSTRACT The deep earthquake (h = 650 km) that occurred on 11 April 2010 south of Granada, Spain, has been studied using the inversion of body waves at teleseismic and regional distances. We have obtained a solution of dip-slip motion on either a vertical plane or a nearly horizontal plane with the pressure axis dipping 45 degrees to the east. The horizontal plane is chosen as the rupture plane, with rupture propagating from east to west on the basis of directivity effects at teleseismic distances and differences of the waveforms at regional distances. The comparison of these results with the focal mechanisms of four other deep earthquakes that occurred in the same area shows similar rupture processes. The origin of this deep seismic activity remains an open question. Tomographic studies have shown the existence of an anomalous body in this region that extends from 200- to 700-km depth. The olivine-spinel phase transitions or shear melting along horizontal planes inside of this body may be an explanation for the occurrence of these earthquakes.
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From its foundation by St. Ignatius in 1540 and linked to its educational work, the Society of Jesus has maintained a continuous and institutional involvement in the natural sciences unparalleled by any other religious order in the... more
From its foundation by St. Ignatius in 1540 and linked to its educational work, the Society of Jesus has maintained a continuous and institutional involvement in the natural sciences unparalleled by any other religious order in the Catholic Church. Because its foundation coincided with the beginning of modern science and the educational work in colleges and universities, mathematical and experimental science was soon introduced in their programs. Thus the Jesuit scientific tradition was established. This tradition can be explained by the characteristics of Jesuit or Ignatian spirituality...
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Agustín Udías Un gran número de libros sobre ciencia y religión se han publicado por autores de habla española, tanto en España como en América, empezando muy pronto en 1856.
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BIBLIOGRAFIA DE CIENCIA-RELIGION. LIBROS DE AUTORES DE HABLA ESPAÑOLA 1850-2022 Agustín Udías Un gran número de libros sobre ciencia y religión se han publicado por autores de habla española, tanto en España como en América, empezando... more
BIBLIOGRAFIA DE CIENCIA-RELIGION.
LIBROS DE AUTORES DE HABLA ESPAÑOLA 1850-2022
Agustín Udías
Un gran número de libros sobre ciencia y religión se han publicado por autores de habla española, tanto en España como en América, empezando muy pronto en 1856. Entre 1850 y 2022 se han encontrado 150, de ellos 18 publicados en América, que damos en dos listas por autores y por años. De los primeros, a partir de 1856 y hasta 1900, hemos encontrado 14 publicados en España y uno en La Habana. En ellos está presente sobre todo la línea apologética de demostrar que no hay conflicto entre ciencia y religión. Esta línea apologética se encuentra también en los 13 libros publicados entre 1900 y 1949.. En los siguientes 50 años entre 1950 y 1999 aumenta el número de libros a 26, la mayoría (18) después de 1990. En los siguientes veinte años, de 2000 a 2019, aumenta enormemente el número a 89 con una variedad de autores tanto en España como en América y de temas.En los restantes tres años 2020-2022, se han publicado 8 libros.
LIBROS DE AUTORES DE HABLA ESPAÑOLA 1850-2022
Agustín Udías
Un gran número de libros sobre ciencia y religión se han publicado por autores de habla española, tanto en España como en América, empezando muy pronto en 1856. Entre 1850 y 2022 se han encontrado 150, de ellos 18 publicados en América, que damos en dos listas por autores y por años. De los primeros, a partir de 1856 y hasta 1900, hemos encontrado 14 publicados en España y uno en La Habana. En ellos está presente sobre todo la línea apologética de demostrar que no hay conflicto entre ciencia y religión. Esta línea apologética se encuentra también en los 13 libros publicados entre 1900 y 1949.. En los siguientes 50 años entre 1950 y 1999 aumenta el número de libros a 26, la mayoría (18) después de 1990. En los siguientes veinte años, de 2000 a 2019, aumenta enormemente el número a 89 con una variedad de autores tanto en España como en América y de temas.En los restantes tres años 2020-2022, se han publicado 8 libros.
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Athanasius Kircher, a Jesuit professor of mathematics at the Roman College (Rome) in the middle of the seventeenth century who was interested in a great diversity of subjects, such as the universal knowledge, language, Egyptian... more
Athanasius Kircher, a Jesuit professor of mathematics at the Roman College (Rome) in the middle of the seventeenth century who was interested in a great diversity of subjects, such as the universal knowledge, language, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the interior of the Earth, alchemy, cosmology, magnetism, and light and sound, still attracts today great interest. Kircher organized a museum at the Roman College which presented an image of universal science and was visited by many people.
His thirty-two books cover a great variety of subjects. Among his many interests was the search in ancient texts, especially those from Egypt, for pristine and original wisdom which would provide the key to all knowledge. Another was the study about magnetism which he considered as the force which pervades the entire universe and constitutes the ultimate cause of all phenomena. He also presents in other books the mysteries of the Earth and cosmos, the different effects of light and sound, and the search for a universal language. He is still today a fascinating figure. Here we present three of his cosmological works about the interior of the Earth, the terrestrial magnetic field, and the story of a journey through the universe from the Earth’s center to the limits beyond the fixed stars visiting the planets, Moon, and Sun.
His thirty-two books cover a great variety of subjects. Among his many interests was the search in ancient texts, especially those from Egypt, for pristine and original wisdom which would provide the key to all knowledge. Another was the study about magnetism which he considered as the force which pervades the entire universe and constitutes the ultimate cause of all phenomena. He also presents in other books the mysteries of the Earth and cosmos, the different effects of light and sound, and the search for a universal language. He is still today a fascinating figure. Here we present three of his cosmological works about the interior of the Earth, the terrestrial magnetic field, and the story of a journey through the universe from the Earth’s center to the limits beyond the fixed stars visiting the planets, Moon, and Sun.
Abstract Kircher's complete vision of the universe is contained in his work, Iter exstaticum coeleste (Ecstatic heavenly journey). There are three versions: Itinerarium exstaticum (1656), Iter exstaticum II, qui et Mundi Subterranei... more
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Kircher's complete vision of the universe is contained in his work, Iter exstaticum coeleste (Ecstatic heavenly journey). There are three versions: Itinerarium exstaticum (1656), Iter exstaticum II, qui et Mundi Subterranei Prodomus dicitur (1657), and with Kaspar Schott Iter extaticum coeleste (1660, 1671) which is the one discussed here. Schott has added introductions to every part of the work. It includes a vision of the universe from the Earth, considered its center, to the final limits beyond the fixed stars and the Empyrean Heavens, visiting the planets, Moon and Sun in a space journey. The last part includes the Earth with its water regions, land, with animals and plants, and its interior parts with the three systems of channels of air (Aerophylacia) water (Hydrophylacia) and fire (Pyrophylacia). The text is presented as it were a dream, in which there is a dialog between the three fictitious personages presented as interlocutors, namely, Theodidactus, representing Kircher himself and Cosmiel and Hydriel, cosmic angels, Cosmiel takes him on a space journey from the Earth to the stars and Hydriel through the waters ( seas and oceans) both answering to his questions. Through the dialogs Kircher’s vision of the universe is presented.
Kircher's complete vision of the universe is contained in his work, Iter exstaticum coeleste (Ecstatic heavenly journey). There are three versions: Itinerarium exstaticum (1656), Iter exstaticum II, qui et Mundi Subterranei Prodomus dicitur (1657), and with Kaspar Schott Iter extaticum coeleste (1660, 1671) which is the one discussed here. Schott has added introductions to every part of the work. It includes a vision of the universe from the Earth, considered its center, to the final limits beyond the fixed stars and the Empyrean Heavens, visiting the planets, Moon and Sun in a space journey. The last part includes the Earth with its water regions, land, with animals and plants, and its interior parts with the three systems of channels of air (Aerophylacia) water (Hydrophylacia) and fire (Pyrophylacia). The text is presented as it were a dream, in which there is a dialog between the three fictitious personages presented as interlocutors, namely, Theodidactus, representing Kircher himself and Cosmiel and Hydriel, cosmic angels, Cosmiel takes him on a space journey from the Earth to the stars and Hydriel through the waters ( seas and oceans) both answering to his questions. Through the dialogs Kircher’s vision of the universe is presented.
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Abstract Teilhard’s vision and practice of Saint Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises are marked, as his spirituality, by the scientific view of a world in evolution, giving them very special characteristics. For Teilhard, it is very clear... more
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Teilhard’s vision and practice of Saint Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises are marked, as his spirituality, by the scientific view of a world in evolution, giving them very special characteristics. For Teilhard, it is very clear that the meditations of the Exercises must be adapted to the new vision of the evolutionary process of the world, and man, that today's sciences provide. Thus, the essential meditations of the Exercises (Principle and Foundation, Temporal King, Two Standards, etc.), conceived by Saint Ignatius from the viewpoint of a static universe, must be adapted to the vision of a dynamic one in evolution. In particular, therefore, for Teilhard, the image of Christ, the “eternal king” following the model of the “temporal king”, proposed by St. Ignatius, according to the mentality of his time, must be changed to the “cosmic Christ”, center and origin of the universe. The “Contemplation to gain love”, that finishes the Exercises, is considered by Teilhard as a new vison of a “Christified world” in which the presence of the “Omega-Christ” converts the cosmic dimension of the world into a “Christic” dimension.
Teilhard’s vision and practice of Saint Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises are marked, as his spirituality, by the scientific view of a world in evolution, giving them very special characteristics. For Teilhard, it is very clear that the meditations of the Exercises must be adapted to the new vision of the evolutionary process of the world, and man, that today's sciences provide. Thus, the essential meditations of the Exercises (Principle and Foundation, Temporal King, Two Standards, etc.), conceived by Saint Ignatius from the viewpoint of a static universe, must be adapted to the vision of a dynamic one in evolution. In particular, therefore, for Teilhard, the image of Christ, the “eternal king” following the model of the “temporal king”, proposed by St. Ignatius, according to the mentality of his time, must be changed to the “cosmic Christ”, center and origin of the universe. The “Contemplation to gain love”, that finishes the Exercises, is considered by Teilhard as a new vison of a “Christified world” in which the presence of the “Omega-Christ” converts the cosmic dimension of the world into a “Christic” dimension.
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Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College, and during his life, he dedicated himself to search for universal knowledge. He organized a museum that presented an image of universal science. His... more
Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College, and during his life, he dedicated himself to search for universal knowledge. He organized a museum that presented an image of universal science. His thirty-two books cover a great variety of subjects. Two of his main interests were the search in ancient texts, especially those from Egypt, for pristine and original wisdom which would provide the key to all knowledge and the study of magnetism as the force which pervades the entire universe and constitutes the ultimate cause of all phenomena. He presents in his book Mundus subterraneus, the mysteries of what he calls the Geocosmos or the whole of the Earth included its interior. The contents cover a large variety of subjects related to the Earth and its interior, such as, bones (fossils), animals, including dragons, men, and demons, the art of metals, a long discussion about alchemy, and the problem of what he called the principles of the "panspermia". The complete index translated into English is included as an appendix.
The Catholic church and Science have interacted for centuries, here we present the relationship in modern time. Contrary to popular belief a number of the great modern scientists beginning in the nineteenth-century were devoted... more
The Catholic church and Science have interacted for centuries, here we present the relationship in modern time. Contrary to popular belief a number of the great modern scientists beginning in the nineteenth-century were devoted Catholics. The Catholic Church has a special relation with science with many ecclesiastic active scientists, especially the Jesuits with their in universities and observatories. The popes have made known their appreciation for science creating the Pontifical Academy of Science and the Vatican Observatory. The second Vatican Council mentions the importance of science in its documents. Testimonies are presented of modern catholic scientists. The Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin presents a form of Christian spirituality from the scientific vision of the world.
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Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College and during his life he dedicated to search for a universal knowledge. He organized a museum which presented an image of universal science. His thirty... more
Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College and during his life he dedicated to search for a universal knowledge. He organized a museum which presented an image of universal science. His thirty two books cover a great variety of subjects. Two of his main interests were the search in ancient texts, especially those from Egypt, for a pristine and original wisdom which would provide the key to all knowledge and the study of magnetism as the force which pervades the entire universe and constitutes the ultimate cause of all phenomena. He presents in his book Mundus subterraneus the mysteries what he calls the Geocosmos or the interior of the Earth. The contents cover a large variety of subjects related to the Earth's interior, such as, bones (fossils), animals, including dragons , men and demons, the art of metals, a long disquisition about alchemy and the problem of what he call the principles of the "panspermia". The complete index translated into English is included.
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Among some of Teilhard de Chardin’s writings there are explicit prayers in which he addresses himself to God and Christ. These prayers show the most intimate expression of his spirituality. They can be followed from the first in 1916... more
Among some of Teilhard de Chardin’s writings there are explicit prayers in which he addresses himself to God and Christ. These prayers show the most intimate expression of his spirituality. They can be followed from the first in 1916 during his participation in the first world war to the last shortly before his death. We can distinguish two types of prayers, those found in his journal and the notes from his retreats, that are written for himself and those contained in his essays which are intended for the public. Among them Teilhard’s best known prayer is “The Mass on the World” where he expresses the presence of Christ in the world by his incarnation and its sacramental extension in the Eucharist. Teilhard’s prayers allow us to get access to his inner life and his relation to the Cosmic or Universal Christ who was the center of his life.
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The appearance of Jesuit scientists in science-fiction novels, often as the main characters, is an interesting and little-known fact. Some have even suggested that this feature may characterize a specific sub-genre of such novels. The... more
The appearance of Jesuit scientists in science-fiction novels, often as the main characters, is an interesting and little-known fact. Some have even suggested that this feature may characterize a specific sub-genre of such novels. The quality and the themes vary greatly, and it is not clear what moves authors to include Jesuits. Ten of these novels are presented briefly here and they show a great variety of plots and approaches. Often the novels mention space travel and contact with intelligent aliens. In general, the presence of Jesuit characters allows the authors to introduce a religious perspective into their novels. But it can also be interpreted as a recognition of the Jesuit tradition in scientific fields. Science-fiction and Jesuits. Science-fiction novels constitute a literary genre, which in general deals with situations resulting from scientific and technological advances projected, in a more or less realistic form, into a distant future. To define the genre with more precision is difficult, and in these novels one can find a great variety of themes: for example, situations on Earth in a distant future dominated by the scientific progress of artificial intelligence; or space travel to far away planets inhabited by exotic intelligent beings and their interaction with humans. According to David Pringle science-fiction is a form of fantastic fiction which exploits the imaginative perspectives of modern science 1. There are many types and sub-genres of science fiction, but in all of them science and technology, real or invented, play a key role. These novels often deal with other exotic worlds, aliens, intelligent robots, mutants and other predicted or imagined beings,
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Science and technology have a profound influence in today's world. Both contribute to the spread of attitudes often called by naturalism and secularism. In both cases, in practice, these attitudes can lead to a substitute of a religious... more
Science and technology have a profound influence in today's world. Both contribute to the spread of attitudes often called by naturalism and secularism. In both cases, in practice, these attitudes can lead to a substitute of a religious vision of life. The so called " scientific naturalism " affirms that there is no other reality than that of the natural order which can be known through the methods of science. Influence of technology's overall successes create the persuasion that it can finally solve all problems that afflict man and nothing falls outside its capabilities and becomes the foundation of all human hopes. This generate attitudes that have been called " techno-secularism ". Naturalism and secularism imply a negation of supernatural or transcendent realities and presents a vision that limits all reality to the natural realm leading to materialism and reductionism. They are not necessary consequences of science and technology, as often claimed, but ideologies. Sometimes they are presented as foundations for a certain type of spirituality and religiosity. Science and technology today Today, nobody can doubt the profound impact that science and technology have in the world. This influence goes beyond the specific of each of them and encompasses an ever growing domain of human life. First, science provides man with the vision of the world and of himself, duly endorsed by the prestige of the absolute reliability attached to scientific knowledge. This vision includes, for example, the origin, structure and evolution of the universe, the constitution and interaction of matter and energy, the origin and
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Among some of Teilhard de Chardin’s writing there are explicit prayers in which he addresses himself to God and Christ. These prayers show the most intimate expression of his spirituality. They can be followed from the first in 1916... more
Among some of Teilhard de Chardin’s writing there are explicit prayers in which he addresses himself to God and Christ. These prayers show the most intimate expression of his spirituality. They can be followed from the first in 1916 during his participation in the first world war to the last shortly before his death. We can distinguish two types of prayers, those found in his journal and the notes in his retreats, that are written for himself and those contained in his essays and are intended for the public. Among them Teilhard’s best known prayer is “The Mass on the World” where he expresses the presence of Christ in the world by his incarnation and its sacramental extension in the Eucharist. Teilhard’s prayers allow us to get access to his interiority and his relation to the Cosmic or Universal Christ who was the center of his life.
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Resumen A partir de 1954 empezó a darse la presencia de Jesuitas jóvenes estudiando en las universidades estatales públicas en España. Algunos de ellos continuaron en estas instituciones primero como profesores ayudantes o encargados de... more
Resumen
A partir de 1954 empezó a darse la presencia de Jesuitas jóvenes estudiando en las universidades estatales públicas en España. Algunos de ellos continuaron en estas instituciones primero como profesores ayudantes o encargados de curso y finalmente llegando algunos a catedráticos. Lo mismo se dio con algunos como investigadores en el CSIC. Esta incorporación se dio debido al número grande de vocaciones a la Compañía de Jesús en aquellos años y el aumento rápido en el alumnado y profesorado universitario entre 1955 y 1975. La apertura del Concilio Vaticano II impulso a jesuitas jóvenes a trabajar en las universidades públicas en lugar de en las instituciones propias. A partir de 1973 esta participación se formalizó con la creación en 1976 de la Misión Universitaria en Instituciones no S. J. (MUINSI). En los años de mayor participación hacia 1986 había unos 75 jesuitas en las universidades públicas y en el CSIC entre ellos 23 catedráticos, 9 de letras y 14 de ciencias. El Padre General Pedro Arrupe vio en esta presencia una prometedora forma de apostolado universitario. La caída brusca en las vocaciones a partir de 1980 y las necesidades de las propias instituciones y otro tipos de trabajo determinó el final de esta experiencia.
Abstract
From 1954 began a presence of young Jesuits studying in state public universities in Spain. Some of them continued in these institutions first as associate professors and arriving some to full professors. Similarly it happened also with researchers at the CSIC. This incorporation was possible due to the large number of vocations to the Society of Jesus in those years and the rapid increase in the university students and professors between 1955 and 1975. The new open outlook of the Vatican II Council drove young Jesuits to work in public universities instead of their own institutions. From 1973 this Jesuit involvement was formalized in 1976 with the creation of the University Mission in non-Jesuit Institutions (MUINSI). In the years of greater participation about 1986 there were some 75 Jesuits working in public universities and the CSIC, among them 23 full professors, 9 in humanities and 14 in science. Father General Pedro Arrupe saw in this presence a promising form of university apostolic work. The rapid fall in vocations from 1980 and the needs of the own institutions and other forms of work determined the end of this experience.
A partir de 1954 empezó a darse la presencia de Jesuitas jóvenes estudiando en las universidades estatales públicas en España. Algunos de ellos continuaron en estas instituciones primero como profesores ayudantes o encargados de curso y finalmente llegando algunos a catedráticos. Lo mismo se dio con algunos como investigadores en el CSIC. Esta incorporación se dio debido al número grande de vocaciones a la Compañía de Jesús en aquellos años y el aumento rápido en el alumnado y profesorado universitario entre 1955 y 1975. La apertura del Concilio Vaticano II impulso a jesuitas jóvenes a trabajar en las universidades públicas en lugar de en las instituciones propias. A partir de 1973 esta participación se formalizó con la creación en 1976 de la Misión Universitaria en Instituciones no S. J. (MUINSI). En los años de mayor participación hacia 1986 había unos 75 jesuitas en las universidades públicas y en el CSIC entre ellos 23 catedráticos, 9 de letras y 14 de ciencias. El Padre General Pedro Arrupe vio en esta presencia una prometedora forma de apostolado universitario. La caída brusca en las vocaciones a partir de 1980 y las necesidades de las propias instituciones y otro tipos de trabajo determinó el final de esta experiencia.
Abstract
From 1954 began a presence of young Jesuits studying in state public universities in Spain. Some of them continued in these institutions first as associate professors and arriving some to full professors. Similarly it happened also with researchers at the CSIC. This incorporation was possible due to the large number of vocations to the Society of Jesus in those years and the rapid increase in the university students and professors between 1955 and 1975. The new open outlook of the Vatican II Council drove young Jesuits to work in public universities instead of their own institutions. From 1973 this Jesuit involvement was formalized in 1976 with the creation of the University Mission in non-Jesuit Institutions (MUINSI). In the years of greater participation about 1986 there were some 75 Jesuits working in public universities and the CSIC, among them 23 full professors, 9 in humanities and 14 in science. Father General Pedro Arrupe saw in this presence a promising form of university apostolic work. The rapid fall in vocations from 1980 and the needs of the own institutions and other forms of work determined the end of this experience.
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An important aspect of man relation with the world is his attitude to the environment. Modern man is becoming aware that he has to defend the environment from his actions. Science and religion influence his correct attitude to the... more
An important aspect of man relation with the world is his attitude to the environment. Modern man is becoming aware that he has to defend the environment from his actions. Science and religion influence his correct attitude to the environment. Environmental ethics regulate man's relations in this concern. Two important aspects of this relation are population growth and energy consumption. Increase in world population and energy consumption may create great problems in the future. Energy sources are limited and must be kept for future generations. Another problem is pollution that follows from development. It can be divided into atmospheric, water and soil pollution. Man should endeavor to reach a uniform and controlled energy consumption without the present great inequalities. The link created between quality of life and energy consumption must be broken. St. Francis teaches as to look at the earth as our sister and mother. Man and the Environment Man shares with other living beings the vital space of the earth. From the evolutionary point of view, man forms a biological species among the many which constitute the tree of all living beings. However, man has special characteristics that makes him a special case different from all other living beings. This makes his relation with the natural environment to be different. In the past man considered nature as the source of resources necessary for life and at the same time also as a source of dangers, such as, wild animals, storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, from which he had to defend himself. This created both an attitude of dependency and respect, and of fear and defense with regard to nature. In many aspects man saw nature as a menace he has to defend himself from. Growing human population, increasing consumption of resources and scientific and technological progress has changed this attitude. Today man sees nature as the source of needed resources that are becoming scarce and as something in danger that he has to defend from his own actions. Man has become aware that he himself has become a menace of nature. Faced with the negative consequences of his actions on nature, man begins to become aware that he is not the absolute lord and master of nature. He is only its steward and must learn to respect it. Owing to the fact that many of the aggressions and assaults to the environment take their origin from the scientific and technological progress, this is an important field of consideration with serious ethical problems. Religion also influences man's attitudes toward nature. The conceptions that religions have regarding the relations between man, the world and divinity influence these attitudes. For example, oriental religious traditions identify the world with the divinity so that nature is seen as its manifestation while in the Jewish-Christian tradition God has created nature and put man in charge of it. Thus, religious attitudes are also important regarding man relation with the environment. Science, technology and religion must then be considered with regard to the problems of man's attitudes and actions with respect to other living beings and the environment. We will PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT22
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Since their foundation Jesuits have a remarkable scientific tradition not comparable con that of any other institution in the Catholic Church. Here I present a summary of the different contributions of Jesuits to the natural sciences. It... more
Since their foundation Jesuits have a remarkable scientific tradition not comparable con that of any other institution in the Catholic Church. Here I present a summary of the different contributions of Jesuits to the natural sciences. It is divided into two parts. The first from the foundation of the order in 1540 to its suppression in 1773. The second from its restoration in 1814 to the present. A bibliography is added of general works on the subject.
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Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College and during his life he dedicated to search for a universal knowledge . He organized a museum which presented an image of universal science. His... more
Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), occupied the chair of mathematics at the Roman College and during his life he dedicated to search for a universal knowledge . He organized a museum which presented an image of universal science. His thirty two books cover a great variety of subjects. Two of his main interests were the search in ancient texts, especially those from Egypt, for a pristine and original wisdom which would provide the key to all knowledge and the study of magnetism as the force which pervades the entire universe and constitutes the ultimate cause of all phenomena. He also presents in other books the mysteries of the Earth and cosmos, the different effects of light and sound and the search for a universal language. He is still today a fascinating figure.
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La «Gran Historia», _big history_ es un enfoque reciente que presenta una visión unitaria de la historia desde el big-bang hasta nuestros días, propuesta por el historiador australiano David Christian en 1991 y desarrollada en sus... more
La «Gran Historia», _big history_ es un enfoque reciente que presenta una visión unitaria de la historia desde el big-bang hasta nuestros días, propuesta por el historiador australiano David Christian en 1991 y desarrollada en sus libros. Presenta, por lo tanto, la formación de los primeros átomos, la de las estrellas y del planeta Tierra alrededor de una de ella, la evolución de la vida sobre la Tierra, la aparición del ser humano y su evolución para llegar al presente. La última época, con la interacción del humano sobre la superficie de la Tierra misma modificándola, recibe hoy el nombre de Antropoceno (últimos 200 años). Sobre la Gran Historia se basa el proyecto educativo “Big History Project”, para su enseñanza a nivel de universidad y escuela secundaria, que se encuentra ya establecido en muchas partes a nivel mundial.