Science & Christian Leadership

7/29/2019 Science & Christian Leadership

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Developments in Science

and Christian LeadershipProf. Dr. Job Kozhamthadam, SJ

Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune


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I. Who is a leader?

1. One who can facilitate moving the ideal into

the real What remains ideal and

unattainable is shown to be practical and

attainable.

2. One who can carry a group forward to a

higher and greater level.

3. One who can read the signs of the times, and respond

to them effectively and efficiently.

4. One with a creative vision and effective mission.


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5. One who can motivate the group by his/her

personal charism, with the width of knowledge

and depth of insights.

6. One who is capable of challenging the

followers to bring out the best out of them.

7. One who can inspire confidence in every one

of the followers to become a winner.

8. One who can be an agent of unity in diversity.


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Thus the keywords of leadership are:Inspiration, Unity in Diversity,

Success, and Progress


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II. Science and Leadership1. Nature is the masterpiece of the Creator.

2. Nature is the best teacher.

3. Science is the best student of Nature.

4. Science is an attempt to learn the hidden wisdom of

Nature.

5. Science perhaps is the most successful venture of

humans.


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6. Science has been immensely successful

because it has been the best student of

the best teacher.

7. A leader should go for the best knowledge

to instruct and inspire the followers most

effectively and efficiently.

8. Hence it will be most helpful for any leader toexplore and find out how science has achieved

its phenomenal success.


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III. Some Secrets of the Success of Science

As we have seen, science has beeneminently successful. It is a paradigm of unity in

diversity the many laws and theories ofscience attempt to give us a unified, holistic viewof Nature. Science has been an inspirer of greatconfidence. Thus many things we look for in an

effective leader are found in science. Hence it iswell worth the effort for a leader to examine thesecret of sciences success. I give below someaspects of this secret.


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1. Logical, methodological approach science isoften noted for its powerful method.

2. Emphasis on reliable process of validationusually science demands experimental

validation on the basis of careful observation.3. Open-minded approach: Open to truth from

wherever and however it comes.

4. Unconditional commitment to truth: Science is

ever ready to surrender before truth, howeverunexpected and uncomfortable theconsequences.


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5. Freedom from rigid traditions: No blind support toauthority, however well-established or success-supported.

6.. Quest for novelty ever ready to explore new avenues

and to try out new ways.7. Readiness to take risks: Science and scientists are

never shy of taking calculated risks, usually on the basisof hunches and insights.

8. The spirit of the magis never satisfied with the statusquo, ever on the lookout for the better and the greater.

9. Self-critical approach: Always ready to examine thepresent status to see if something better can be found.


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10. Readiness to accept mistakes the humble approach.

E.g., Einstein: The Cosmological Constant was the

greatest blunder of my life.

11. Readiness to learn from mistakes.

12. Self-correcting approach: Effective checks and

balances are often built into the scientific system.

13. Yearning for perfection: Relentless quest for greater

accuracy, better certainty, greater objectivity.

14. Emphasis on impartial, objective approach: Rejection of

all forms of favoritism.


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IV. Leadership and Worldview

1. A leader is a product of his/her times and milieu.

2. A leader is called upon to lead others who are

also products of their times and milieu.

3. Hence accurate and reliable knowledge of the

times and milieu is a necessary prerequisite for

effective leadership.


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4. The worldview of the times and milieuplays a key role in shaping the essentialfeatures of that milieu.

5. It is difficult to define accurately what aworldview is, but the science of the day,particularly the cosmology, provides asubstantial segment of the worldview.

6. Hence scientific worldview and leadershipare intimately interlinked.


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V. Different Scientific Worldviews andTheir Leadership Profiles

The history of science presents three dominant

worldviews:-Rationalistic-absolutist worldview of Plato &

Aristotle

-Materialistic-absolutist worldview of Newton

and the Mechanical Philosophy of Nature

-Realistic-indeterminate worldview ofcontemporary science


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A. Rationalistic-Absolutist Worldview ofPlato and Aristotle

This worldview arose from the extraordinary

intellectual acumen and perspicacious insightsof Plato and Aristotle.

1. Some of its principal features

a. It was a static, finite universe with definiteboundaries. Within the boundaries somechanges could take place, but the wholeuniverse itself remained static.


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b. The different items in the universe came as

finished products.

c. The initial universe, as created by God, was the

best, if not perfect, one.d. Aristotles universe was made up of a system of

spheres of solid, crystalline substance.

e. The earth was the centre of the universe

(geocentrism)f. A sharp division was made between the

terrestrial and the celestial


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Thus this gave a neat, orderly, systematic universe

with clear principles, and where every thing had its

natural place and specific purpose.


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g. The celestial was far superior to the terrestrial. In fact,the celestial was the real world. The terrestrial was theinferior/shadow world.

h. Immutability was a mark of all superior and important

items: Every being had its fixed essential nature (e.g.,human nature was fixed).

i. Change was a mark of imperfection and inferiority.

j. Every thing had its fixed natural place and its purpose orgoal. E.g, sex was only for procreation.

k. Absoluteness of principles. There were certain principleswhich were absolute and non-negotiable. E.g., The earthwas stationary and did not move.


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2. Some Key Aspects of this Worldviewa. Static, unchanging, clearly defined, and definite

universe.

b. Well-planned and readymade universe,everything having its predetermined naturalplace.

c. Change or deviation from the predeterminedorder was deemed a defect and a mark of

inferiority.d. Precedence of the ideal over the

experiential/observable (real)


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e. Absolute principles exist, which are knowable by

humans.

f. Experience or counterexamples cannot overrule

principles.g. Everything important has been already given.

h. New knowledge not emphasized

i. Clear, definite answers based on principles existj. Chance and risk-taking highly discouraged.

k. Creativity, novelty discouraged.


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3. A Leader in this worlda. Believes in absolute principles and claims

absolute power.

b. Makes sure that no serious change takes place his/her function is to preserve the status quo.

c. Decisions are taken on the basis of firm,immutable principles.

d. Creativity and novelty are not important values.

e. Authority and tradition are given very highregard.

f. Taking chances and risks is highly discouraged.


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B. Materialistic-Absolutist Worldview1. Newtons Viewa. The universe is rational. It operates on certain and

unchanging laws of nature.

b. Every event in the universe takes place according to theLaws of Nature and for a reason.

c. Every event in the universe should have a rationalexplanation.

d. Science can give us the best explanation. We shoulduse science to its maximum to explain phenomena ofnature.

e. There are phenomena that cannot be explained byscience alone. E.g., gravitation. In such cases Godshould be called in to explain them.


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2. Mechanical Philosophy of Naturea. The universe is a huge, gigantic machine.

b. All phenomena of our experience can be explainedadequately mechanistically, i.e., in terms of the laws,principles and methods of the Science of Mechanics.

c. The human body is a highly developed machine.

d. Animals and other living beings are all complexmachines.

e. Hence all these can be explained mechanistically, interms of matter, motion and interaction among materialbodies.


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f. Scientific knowledge is characterized by mathematicalproperties.

-Exact,

-Objective

-Certain-Predictable

-Determinate

g. Chance has no place in Nature. Nothing takes place bychance.

h. Novelty and new discoveries are allowed. But they haveto be in agreement with other established laws andprinciples.


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3. A Leader in this World

a. Can claim absolute power.

b. Subscribes to strict laws and principles, and

expects performance in accordance with them. .

c. Looks for exactness and perfection.

d. Looks for certainty.

e. Looks for regularity

f. Does not believe in taking chances and risks.


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C. The Realist-Indeterminate Worldviewof Contemporary Science

The most dominant scientific worldview is the

evolutionary worldview which takes evolution asa scientific fact.

1. Some characteristics

a. Dynamic: It is dynamic and changing. Not only

can the individual items in the universeundergo changes, but also the universe as awhole changes.


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a. All-Pervasive: Evolution is all pervasive. Thephysical universe arose as a result of theevolutionary process (the Big Bang Theory ofLemaitre), the biological universe came as aresult of the evolutionary process (Darwin,Lamarck, etc.), the spiritual, conscious world ofliving beings came as a result of evolution(Teilhard de Chardin).

c. Change is fundamental, and this is not a mark ofany inferiority, but rather a path to bettermentand greater perfection.


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d. The different items in the universe did not comeas finished products, but appeared in the courseof a gradual, progressive process.

e. The universe is not perfect, but perfectible, and

the process of perfecting is going on.f. Unified view: no terrestrial-terrestrial distinction.

Even the distinction between non-living, living,thinking beings is reduced to one of degree

rather than kind.g. Forward-looking perspective: The completion orfullness of the cosmos is something to beachieved in the future. Progress achieved bygoing forward. According to Teilhard, the

forward march is towards the Omega-Point, who


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h. Definiteness and exactness with regard to theuniverse are unattainable. Nature is intrinsicallyindefinite and indeterminate (Quantum Theory).The fundamental items

that were considered to be absolute (space,time, etc., ) are not absolute, but relative(Relativity Theory).

i. In the world of knowledge we can get only highprobability, not certainty (Uncertainty Principleand the Complementariy Principle in QuantumMechanics)

j. Chance is fundamental to this universeEvolution and Quantum Theor .


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2. Some Emerging Trends inContemporary Scientific World

a. Formation of a Global Village

b. Unity among the different beings in the universethrough common origin and heritage

c. Unity in diversity

d. Interdisciplinary, collaborative approach as the

path to success

e. Interconnectedness of the different sections anditems of the universe all are webbed together.


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f. Change seen as fundamental necessary

for progress

g. Change and stability can coexist and

collaborate.


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3. A Leader in This World

a. The universe is imperfect and incomplete.

Hence imperfection is an integral part of this

worldA leader is understanding and tolerant.b. The world is perfectible. Human effort is crucial

in this process of perfecting. Hence human

effort/work is something positiveA leader

ready to give his/her best in the process of

perfecting, and elicits others to give their best.


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c. The world is constantly changing change is anintegral part of progressA leader is open tochange remains open-minded.

d. The world is indefinite and indeterminate,uncertain and unpredictableA leader is readyto cope with an uncertain and unpredictablesituation

e. The world is intimately interlinked anythinghappening in one part affects every other partevery item is importantA leader believes thatevery one counts, cares for everyone.


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f. Interdisciplinary approach becoming the

path to successA leader emphasizes

team spirit, elicits collaboration and

cooperation.

g. This world rejects the various forms of

absolutismA leader refrains from

claiming absolute power.


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VI. Conclusion

Nature is the best teacher, and science is her best student.In this paper science has been sharing with us some of thetreasured secrets of Nature it has learned. We have seen thatthe worldview of science has been changing and evolving, andalong with it the profile of a leader also has been undergoingsignificant change. For instance, Mechanical Philosophy of

Nature looked upon the universe and even humans asmachines. Influenced by this worldview a leader of this agecould hope to attain perfect knowledge, and assessed otherhumans purely in terms of efficiency and performance, payingscant attention to various vital human aspects. On the otherhand, for contemporary science ours is an imperfect world,inhabited by imperfect humans, governed by laws about which

no one can have perfect knowledge. A leader in this world canclaim no perfection, and has to be realistic and consideratewith regard to the demands put on other humans.


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It seems to me that the transition from MPNto our contemporary times has a parallel in theworld of management. In the past IQ used to bethe primary criterion for a successful manager.

However, in recent times EQ has beenconsidered as equally important. In fact, todaythe consensus is that a successful manager orleader is one with a harmonious blending of IQ

and EQ. The profile of a leader emerging fromcontemporary worldview of science seems toshare this perspective.


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A leader today is one who can harmoniouslyintegrate the rational with the emotional, validreasons of the head with genuine sentiments of theheart. A leader should remain open to change,

without becoming a slave to fleeting fads andfashions; a leader should be willing to takecalculated risks, without giving to thoughtlessadventurism. A leader should demand responsibilityand performance, without neglecting concern and

compassion. Such a leader can bring the best out ofevery member; such a leader can make everyone awinner; such a leader can take the community tohigher and greater heights.

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Science & Christian Leadership