Georges Lemaître: Life, Science and Legacy

  • Book (with accompanying video)
  • 200 pages
  • Level: university

Georges Lemaître: Life, Science and Legacy (Berlin: Springer Verlag, 2012) edited by R. D. Holder and Simon Mitton, examines in detail the historical, cosmological, philosophical and theological issues surrounding the development of the Big Bang theory by Fr. Lemaître, from its beginnings in the pioneering work of Lemaître through to the modern day.

From the publisher’s site:

The year 2011 marked the 80th anniversary of Georges Lemaître’s primeval atom model of the universe, forerunner of the modern day Big Bang theory. Prompted by this momentous anniversary the Royal Astronomical Society decided to publish a volume of essays on the life, work and faith of this great cosmologist, who was also a Roman Catholic priest. The papers presented in this book examine in detail the historical, cosmological, philosophical and theological issues surrounding the development of the Big Bang theory from its beginnings in the pioneering work of Lemaître through to the modern day.

This book offers the best account in English of Lemaître’s life and work. It will be appreciated by professionals and graduate students interested in the history of cosmology.

Click here for a preview from Google Books.

Click here to for the publisher’s site.

The video below features a 30-minute talk by Simon Mitton, also titled “Georges Lemaître: Life, Science and Legacy”.