In this enlightening discussion, William E. Carroll, a retired professor of philosophy and history of science from the Aquinas Institute, dives into the intricate relationship between cosmology and the concept of creation. He examines how modern theories like the Big Bang imply a creator while addressing the challenges posed by notions of an eternal universe. Carroll revisits medieval Aristotelian ideas, shedding light on philosophical perspectives on creation and causality. His insights bridge the historical and contemporary, merging science with deep theological questions.

William E. Carroll, a recently retired professor from the Aquinas Institute of Blackfriars at Oxford, dives into the profound relationship between creation, cosmology, and theology. He tackles how misconceptions about beginnings can lead to errors in various fields. Carroll argues that modern cosmological theories do not negate the need for a creator and clarifies the philosophical distinctions of existence and creation. He emphasizes Aquinas’s insights on creation ex nihilo and the ongoing dependency of beings on God, while urging caution against conflating science with theology.

Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. hosts Dr. William Carroll, an expert in intellectual history and the history of science. They unpack St. Thomas Aquinas’s profound insights on creation, discussing how it intertwines with time and cosmology. The conversation reveals the historical tensions between faith and science, particularly through the Galileo-Inquisition episode. They also explore the concept of 'conceptual therapy' to tackle misconceptions in cosmology and clarify the nature of creation ex nihilo, enhancing our understanding of the relationship between existence and creation.