In Quest of Science: Historical Examples of Understanding What Science Is and Cannot Be and What to Do and Not to Do to Acquire and Preserve It

Peter Redpath’s In Quest of Science delves into the role of Christian philosophy, particularly that of St. Thomas Aquinas, in shaping Western scientific and intellectual traditions. Redpath argues that misunderstandings of fundamental principles have caused philosophical and educational decline in the West. He examines the influence of figures like Aquinas, Étienne Gilson, and Stanley Jaki, asserting that true science and philosophy stem from a cohesive psychology and metaphysics rooted in Christian teaching, which link rational thought to real-world applications.

Redpath critiques how modern philosophy’s departure from these foundational ideas, like the existence of the soul and an intrinsic moral order, has fragmented Western civilization and weakened higher education. He contends that Aquinas provided an essential framework for integrating faith with reason, enabling scientific inquiry and intellectual growth. Furthermore, Redpath examines the current state of Catholic education, identifying a “decline of real colleges and universities” that have strayed from a true understanding of their purpose and mission. He suggests that reclaiming the Thomistic understanding of human nature and intellectual virtues can help rebuild these institutions and, more broadly, Western society itself.

The work is both a historical analysis and a call to return to an educational model that harmonizes faith, reason, and scientific exploration, aligning moral and intellectual aims for human flourishing.