Evolution and Emergence ― Systems, Organisms, Persons

A collection of essays by experts in the field, exploring how nature works at every level to produce more complex and highly organized objects, systems, and organisms from much simpler components, and how our increasing understanding of this universal phenomenon of emergence can lead us to a deeper and richer appreciation of who we are as human beings and of our relationship to God. Several chapters introduce the key philosophical ideas about reductionism and emergence, while others explore the fascinating world of emergent phenomena in physics, biology, and the neurosciences. Finally there are contributions probing the meaning and significance of these findings for our general description of the world and ourselves in relation to God, from philosophy and theology. The collection as a whole will extend the mutual creative interaction among the sciences, philosophy, and theology.

Nancey Murphy is Professor of Christian Philosphy at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena. William R. Stoeger, SJ is Staff Astrophysicist, Vatican Observatory, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona.