Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre (1881–1955), French Jesuit, philosopher, and paleontologist. In China (1923–46) he studied Peking Man (Homo erectus). The Phenomenon of Man (1938–40, published 1955) attempted to reconcile Christianity and science with a theory of human evolution toward final spiritual unity. His superiors held his views to be unorthodox and warned against them; fame came to him and his ideas only posthumously.

See also: Paleontology.