Carlos Blanco, researcher at the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra, analyzed in the article from an evolutionary perspective, the human ability to recognize what is true and false. The interdisciplinary journal Scientia et Fides published his article, Truth in an Evolutionary Perspective, in its second issue. The 'Mind-Brain' ICS Group receives funding from the Obra Social "La Caixa".

Through more than 25 references – from the writings of Charles Darwin to the scientific treatises of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the researcher explores the knowledge of natural history, genetics, evolutionary forces and the concept of truth.

Specifically, Carlos Blanco examines the difficulties of the prevailing biological model of the development of the mind "in its attempt to build a philosophical theory of truth" and proposes to reconcile the philosophical foundations of truth with the scientific evidence for the evolutionary origin of our ability to discern it.

The scholar concludes that the only plausible explanation why forces that guide the processes of evolution are compatible with the autonomy of the knowledge of the truth defends that biological adaptation has led humans to recognize the distinction between true and false. In his view, this depends "on the intelligibility of the world, which is pre-existing or at least appears with evolutionary forces."

Recognize patterns that rule nature

"The reconciliation of the primacy (in Darwin's theory) of biological efficiency as the natural driving force of evolutionary processes with the necessity of admitting scientific truth demands accepting that evolutionary development itself has led to the emerge of a series of mental capacities structured in such a way that we can recognize the patterns ruling nature," he explained.

Carlos Blanco owns a degree in Philosophy, Chemistry and Theology (2007) and is Doctor of Philosophy and Theology. Apart from his work at the ICS, he collaborates with educational activities at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Navarra. In 2009, he received a scholarship from the Fundación Caja Madrid, and stayed at Harvard University (USA). He is a member of the International Association of Egyptologists and the Spanish Society of Leibniz. During the next academic course he will join the Department of Philosophy at the Pontifical University of Comillas.

Scientia et Fides is an online magazine sponsored by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Nicolaus Copernicus Torun (Poland) in collaboration with the research group Science Reason and Faith (CRYF) of the University of Navarra. Javier Sánchez-Cañizares is the deputy director of Scientia et Fides. The publication focuses on research that analyzes the relationship between science and religion.

Article online:

http://wydawnictwoumk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/SetF/article/view/SetF.2014.012