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The Birth of a Philosopher (16OCT1930)
John Polkinghorne was born on October 16th in Weston-super-mare, Somerset, England to Dorothy Charlton and George Polkinghorne. -
Where was young John educated?
John attended a local primary school in street until the age of 7 [1]. At 7 he was transferred to Elmhurst Grammar School in Street due to below-average reading skills [1]. At the age of 15, he attended Perse School in Cambridge where he excelled in math [1]. -
The Good Old Army Years
in 1948, John had to serve for a year before attending college. John served for the Royal Army Education Corps. First, he attended basic training at the Royal Hampshire Regiment, then took a three-month course at the Army School of Education, and finally he spent the rest of the year at the Army Basic Trade Center outside of Malvern. -
Higher Education History
John attended Trinity College, Cambridge, in October of 1949 [1]. He graduated with a Ph. D in 1955 [1]. John received a bachelor's in mathematics (1952) along with a master's (1955) and a doctorate in quantum field theory (1956) [2]. After this, he went to New York for a postdoctoral Harkness Fellowship at the California Institute of Technology [2]. -
Life after college
After college, got a position as a lecturer in mathematical physics at the University of Edinburgh in 1956. John enjoyed teaching and also assisted in supervising research. During his time in Scotland, his family grew, Peter was born in 1957. -
Time to go Back to Your Roots
After 2 years at the University of Edinburgh, John was offered a position as a lecturer at Cambridge [2]. He accepted and was later promoted to professor of mathematical physics in 1968 [2]. His family grew as well. Isobel was born in 1959 and Michael was born in 1963 [1]. -
An Overachiever
In 1974, John received another Doctorate in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics from Trinity College. Along with this great achievement, his creation of a mathematical model that calculates the path of quantum particles was recognized by the Royal Society and he was selected as a fellow. -
A new Path Awaits
After John concluded his research he decided to resign in 1979 [2]. He began theological studies at Westcott House and became ordained in 1982 and in 1986 he was appointed fellow, dean, and chaplain of Trinity Hall, Cambridge [2]. Along with these achievements he was appointed president of Queen's College, Cambridge in 1996 [2]. -
The Famous Works Begin
In 1983, John published one of his many papers "The Way the World Is" where he speaks of how Christianity presents a worldview that can be taken seriously even while researching the importance of science [3]. He devoted a lot of work to the relationship between science and religion [2]. -
The Faith of a Physicist
"The Faith of a Physicist" was another publishing from john that talked about the relationship between science and religion. -
A True Knight
John was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth ii in 1997 for "distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics" [2]. -
Citations
John Polkinghorne - Biography. (n.d.). Maths History. Retrieved May 3, 2021, from https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Polkinghorne/
Turner, D. J. (2020, October 12). John Polkinghorne | English physicist and priest. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Polkinghorne
Noble, B. &. (n.d.). Way The World Is|Paperback. Barnes & Noble. Retrieved May 3, 2021, from https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/way-the-world-is-john-c-polkinghorne/1101638801 -
The Death of a Theoretical Physicist
On March 9, 2021, John Polkinghorne passed away in Cambridge. There was not much information on the cause of death. -
Contribution to the Philosophy of Science
John Polkinghorne was a great theoretical physicist and mathematician who contributed to the discovery of the quark. A key part to understanding atoms. He contributed his thoughts of the relationship between religion and science which has helped describe the actions of God through concepts of religion in a way that other scientists could understand and possibly agree with. Please click to learn more link text