Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ

Prof Dr Kuruvilla Pandikattu Joseph SJ (1957- ), Dean, Faculty of Philosophy, Jnan Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune, India, is a Jesuit priest (DUM) who pursues his research in science and philosophy.

The holder of three Master's Degrees and two Doctorates (in philosophy and theology) from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, he has written extensively on topics of science, religion and philosophy. Author of more than 45 books and 216 scholarly articles, has been involved in the dialogue between science and religion and between religions.

The focus of his academic engagement has been: Issues in Philosophical Anthropology, Science-Religion Dialogue and Viable Life-Styles (TAMAS and Laudato Si'). He also contributes to the role of science, technology and spirituality towards fostering a sustainable life.

Designations:

• Dean and Professor of Philosophy, Science and Religion, at JDV, Pune

• Director, JDV Centre for Science-Religion Studies

• Editor: Jnandeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies

• Editor: AUC: Asian Journal for Religious Studies

• Organiser of Conferences, Seminars and Workshops

Areas of specialization:

• Dialogue as a Way of Life

• Life Management

• Philosophical Anthropology

• Science-Technology-Values Interaction

Email: kuru[at]jdv.edu.in | kuru[at]kuru.in

Courses Offered:

• Philosophical Anthropology

• Science and Religion

• Advanced Issues in Science & Religion

• Philosophy of Technology

• Philosophy as Narrative

• Meaning and Mortality (Phil of death)

• Symbol, Metaphor, Parable

• Metaphysics: Introduction

• Philosophy of Science

• Introduction to Philosophy (Ethics)

Preferred Notions:

• Humans as "Between, Before and Beyond"

• God as "Ever Approachable, Never Attainable"

• Love as "Useless, but not Meaningless"

• India as "Scientifically Foreword, Religiously Inward and Economically Backward"

• Human Response as: "Active Denial, Passive Submission or Prophetic Acceptance"

• TAMAS (There Are Many Alternative Stories)

Main Research Areas/Interests:

• Particle physics ("God particle") and philosophy

• Death and After (including physical immortality and transhumanism)

• Sustainable Life (TAMAS: "There are many alternative stories")

• Dialogue as Way of Life (science-religion dialogue and hermeneutics)

• Anthropological Issues (freedom, love, death, human nature, etc.)

• Symbol, Parable, Metaphor and Myth (Hermeneutics and more)

• Philosophy of Technology (Nanotechnology, Chaos Theory, Bioethics, Neurology and Neurotheology)