Lecture 2026: Information Theory in the Theology of Creation and the Soul
Summary
Contemporary science describes physical reality as comprising matter, energy and information, within a dynamic space-time. The presence of information opens up new perspectives compared with descriptions based solely on matter and energy. In this lecture, we shall explore some possibilities offered by this informational dimension which may prove thought-provoking for work in the theology of creation and the theology of the soul. With regard to Creation, I propose to highlight some analogies between the informational aspect of the universe and the creative Word within the field of cosmology. With regard to the soul, I suggest taking into account the relevance of the Aristotelian concept of the soul in current research in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, in order to emphasise that interest in this concept is not a thing of the past, and to elaborate on some nuances of the Christian concept of the soul and the resurrection.
David Jou i Mirabent
Born on 23 October 1953, he is a professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a poet and an essayist; his research in physics has focused primarily on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. In addition to his extensive scientific output, he has also written various essays addressing multidisciplinary issues and is actively engaged in popularising science. He has received several research awards. He is also the author of a substantial body of poetry covering philosophical, scientific and religious themes. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Girona, is a member of the Science and Technology Section of the Institute of Catalan Studies and of the Royal Academy of Doctors, and is a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Madrid and of the Accademia Peloritana in Messina. He is also a member of the Association of Writers in the Catalan Language.
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Date and time: Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at 12.30 pm.
Venue: Aula Magna, Central Building, University of Navarra, Pamplona