RIP Wolfgang Smith: Philosopher, Scientist, Catholic

Catholic philosopher Wolfgang Smith died last Friday at age 94.

Smith was one of the first in the movement to restore classical metaphysics to physics. Recall all physics must operate with a metaphysics, even when this is denied or the metaphysics is unspoken. The classical metaphysics which Smith championed is now re-blossoming, and this is in great proportion due to Smith.

He was humble to the point of nervousness about his efforts. No, that’s not the right word. “Fear and trembling” are better. His writings evince a deep concern to reconcile his work with dogma. This is expressed best in the book In Quest of Catholicity, a collection of correspondence between Smith and Fr Malachi Martin. Smith had just given the 1998 Templeton Lecture on Christianity and the Natural Sciences, “From Schrodinger’s Cat to Thomistic Ontology“, which he had earlier worried his colleagues would not take well.

Continued below.