Science and the Orthodox Church in 18th and early 19th century Greece : sociological considerations

Abstract

From 1700 to 1821, modern science was gradually being introduced from
Europe into Greece, for, being under Ottoman rule at that time, Greece was
scientifically undeveloped. The introduction of new and sometimes radical
scientific ideas led to conflict between the majority of the Orthodox clergy,
who controlled the whole educational system, and the Greek scientists. The
reasons for this conflict are examined here from a sociological point of view.
The basic assumption is that the Church’s reaction was due, apart from the
socio-political circumstances of the period, to the very nature of Orthodoxy,
and specifically to certain theological concepts (such as the importance of
keeping tradition intact and the Weltanschauung sub specie aeternitatis),
which exerted a strong influence on various social domains, including education.
The social consequences of this conflict are discussed at the end of
the paper.