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de Koninck, Charles
Charles de Koninck, philosopher (b at Thourout, Belgium 29 July 1906; d at Rome, Italy 13 Feb 1965). A graduate of Louvain U, when he arrived at Québec's Université de Laval, Thomism was the established doctrine of philosophy in Québec. Director of Laval's philosophy faculty 1939-56, he determined the course of philosophy there and in much of French Canada through his numerous publications and his connections with the Roman Catholic Church.
de Koninck's work, more than 150 papers and books, was devoted mainly to the philosophy of science. He published also in the philosophy of religion and metaphysics. Because of his willingness to write in both English and French, he became well known in English Canada and in the US, where he lectured frequently. His popular book The Hollow Universe (1960), published after a series of lectures at McMaster in Hamilton, attempted to reconcile philosophy, science and religion. De Koninck argued that divorced from concrete experience the scientific world was an empty shell. A controversial philosopher, he was influential for many years.
