Metafizyka jako „ancilla scientiae” (Nauki przyrodnicze: metafizyka – wiara)

Abstract

The author attempts to answer three questions: 1) What is metaphysics, with its intention to become the first among sciences, also among natural ones; 2) Is there any necessary relations/connection between metaphysics, natural science and theology (which partly means also relations between faith and reason); 3) In what way metaphysics can be used in natural sciences (also in theology) and how do these sciences benefit from it? In reply to the first issue, the author has stressed that metaphysics is an interpretation of persons, animals, plants and other things. A relationship between metaphysics and natural sciences, which is the problem discussed in the second part of the article, is necessary when a naturalist (and also a theologian) uses the results of his research to built a certain world view. Discussing the third question, the author shows that metaphysics, natural sciences and theology could cooperate in constructing an integral image of the world and man, form an adequate terminology to name particular problems, making people aware of the limits of research methods and teaching a principle of freedom in doing research in order to defend science from being ideology-oriented.