Gould is also known for his contribution to philosophy. He is credited with the idea of non-overlapping magisteria in 1997. This is the way of thinking that science and religion can coexist and complement each other. He suggests that science hold priority in the workings of the physical world (Gould). Conversely, religion takes to the forefront of explaining topics such as morality and spirituality (Gould). This way of thinking has been adopted by many Popes, in an effort to better explain the creation of the universe.
