Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French Jesuit priest, scientist, paleontologist, philosopher, mystic and teacher who lived from 1881 to 1955. He investigated the theory of evolution from a perspective influenced by Henri Bergson and Christian mysticism, writing multiple scientific and religious works on the subject, and his mainstream scientific achievements include paleontological research in China, where he took part in the discovery of the significant Peking Man fossils at the Zhoukoudian cave complex near Beijing. His more speculative ideas, sometimes criticized as pseudoscientific, included a vitalist conception of the Omega Point, and alongside Vladimir Vernadsky he contributed to the development of the concept of the noosphere. In 1962 the Holy Office issued a warning regarding his works, alleging unspecified ambiguities and doctrinal errors, though later Catholic figures including Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have made positive comments on some of his ideas, and the response to his writings among scientists has been divided. He received the Medaille militaire and the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit, both military and civil.