Holmes Rolston III is a philosopher who is University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University.

He is best known for his contributions to environmental ethics and the relationship between science and religion. Among other honors, Rolston won the 2003 Templeton Prize, awarded by Prince Philip in Buckingham Palace. He gave the Gifford Lectures, University of Edinburgh, 1997-1998. The Darwinian model is used to define the main thematic concepts in Rolston’s philosophy and, in greater depth, the general trend of his thinking.

He holds a B.S. in physics and mathematics from Davidson College and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA) also in 1956. He received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 1958; his advisor was Thomas F. Torrance. He earned an MA in Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh, beginning his career later that year as an assistant professor of philosophy at Colorado State University and becoming a full professor in 1976. He became a University Distinguished Professor in 1992. He gave the Gifford Lectures, University of Edinburgh, 1998-1999. He was named Templeton Prize laureate in 2003. He has lectured by invitation on all seven continents.