Charles Babbage, an English polymath, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer.
Biographical Overview
Born in England, 1791-1871 Mathematician Conceptualized development of the programmable computer
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), 1826
Co-Founded
Royal Astronomical Society, 1820
British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1831
Royal Statistical Society, 1834
Awards
Gold Medal, 1824
Worldview
Using a biblical worldview perspective, Babbage successfully applied the scientific method to investigate the laws of nature, His worldview is notable from what he said –
“The works of the Creator, ever present to our senses, give a living and perpetual testimony of his power and goodness far surpassing any evidence transmitted through human testimony.”
“There exists no fatal collision between the words of Scripture and the facts of nature.”
“The contradiction they have imagined can have no real existence, and that whilst the testimony of Moses remains unimpeached, we may also be permitted to confide in the testimony of our senses.”
“In the works of the Creator ever open to our examination, we possess a firm basis on which to raise the superstructure of an enlightened creed.”
“The works of the Creator, ever present to our senses, give a living and perpetual testimony of his power and goodness far surpassing any evidence transmitted through human testimony.”
“The limits of man’s observation lie within very narrow boundaries, and it would be arrogance to suppose that the reach of man’s power is to form the limits of the natural world.”
“We must not measure the credibility or incredibility of an event by the narrow sphere of our own experience, nor forget that there is a Divine energy which overrides what we familiarly call the laws of nature.”
Charles Babbage
