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A Man of God and Science
Ernan McMullin was born in Ballybofey Ireland to a lawyer father and a medical doctor mother. He was baptized at an early age before the unfortunate early demise of his parents. He was raised by his grandparents who loved him dearly. It is often put to question how such a devout ordained priest could hold the presidency of four major philosophical colleges. His viewpoints would change an entire generation of Notre Dame alumni's view on philosophy.
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Physicist to Philosopher
Before Ernan was a philosopher he was undoubtedly a physicist. Newly ordained he decided to further his education at the Dublin Institute for Advanced studies and was the only student without an advanced degree in science. Ernan was greatly influenced by Erwin Schrodinger. Ernan attended several of his lectures and would later seek out Schrodinger's guidance for his thesis " The Quantum Principle of Uncertainty." Ernan studied cosmic ray energy distribution while in Dublin. -
Fall and Rise at Notre Dame
Ernan was under direct order of the bishop of Ireland. He was surprised after finishing his schooling in Dublin, to receive permission to teach classes at Notre Dame. His initial impressions with the professors there went well but he saw a lot of problems with the philosophy department. He would move to Yale to teach in 1957 this was funded by the very first postdoctoral grant in history. He would return to Notre Dame to teach circa 1960 and was praised for his networking skills. -
Networking a Galileo Fandom
The culmination of this conference was the publication of "The Concept of Matter." He would go on to organize many successful world conferences. One in which ended in the publication of a compilation of all Galileo's works into one volume. Ernan was a self proclaimed Galileo expert and respected the man's intent. Ernan would retire after being the president of four acclaimed colleges and was without a doubt a man of resolve and tenacity. This man taught us that there is always another viewpoint. -
Reference and Short Video
https://www.closertotruth.com/interviews/3611 Adventures in Philosophy at Notre Dame By Kenneth M. Sayre Sayre, Kenneth M. Adventures in Philosophy at Notre Dame. University of Notre Dame Press, 2014.
