St. Gregory Palamas on natural philosophy and science

St. Gregory Palamas in the 14th century has these words to say regarding natural philosophy and science:

For a man to know God, and to know himself and his proper rank—a knowledge now possessed even by Christians, who are thought to be quite unlearned—is a knowledge superior to natural science and astronomy and to all philosophy concerning such matters. Moreover, for our intellect to know its own infirmity, and to seek healing for it, is incomparably greater than to know and search out the magnitude of the stars, the principles of nature, the generation of terrestrial things and the circuits of celestial bodies, their solstices and risings, stations and retrogressions, separations and conjunctions and, in short, all the multiform relationships which arise from the many different motions in the heavens. (Topics of Natural and Theological Science and on the Moral and Ascetic Life, 29, in the Philokalia)

Here and in such things as these lie the true wisdom and the saving knowledge that procure for us the blessedness of heaven. What Euclid, Marinos or Ptolemy has been able to understand these truths? What Empedocleans, Socratics, Aristotelians and Platonists with their logical methods and mathematical demonstrations? (ibid. 25)

Yet natural scientists, astronomers and those who boast of possessing universal knowledge are unable to understand anything of what has just been said on the basis of their philosophy. (ibid. 28) 

I studied in depth the science of men, astronomy and natural philosophy, with all its mathematical demonstrations, and found it all to fall short. It was all lacking.

There is a greater science which is not physical, but spiritual. To acquire this knowledge or gnosis (Greek γνῶσις) is to have true prayer. This is the prayer of the heart, by which all things can be seen and done. It is by this prayer that one perceives the hidden light.

God Himself "is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

One advances in steps in this prayer, as grace reveals itself more and more—first in little gifts, afterwards in greater gifts. And the whole darkness of this world is rolled back, and the light shines as if it were day, even in the darkness of the present night.

And what is hidden is revealed, not to those who are learned and clever, but to those who are simple and full of love. Those who have no love cannot see, and they are bound for darkness. But a loving heart perceives the truth. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

It is said, "Acquire a humble heart, and all will be done for you."

You, the Christian, will do even those works which the reasonings of natural scientists cannot anticipate. For from their reasonings they refuse to believe. They have put faith in their equations; in calculations, and in all their vain philosophy. But we believe by simple faith in Christ. For us, all is possible and nothing is truly unlikely. 

My eyes are now wide open, and I am a little child.

The world operates by hidden spiritual principles, which the learned men of this age do not see nor believe. For they dwell in the visible senses and in thoughts and words; but the Christian dwells in the heart.