The Territories of Human Reason

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alister E. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Science And Religion ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Academic World ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Year 2000

Our understanding of human rationality has changed significantly since the year 2000, with growing emphasis placed on multiple rationalities, each adapted to the specific tasks of communities of practice. We may think of the world as an ontological unity—but we use a plurality of methods to investigate and represent this world. This development has called into question both the appeal to a universal rationality, characteristic of the Enlightenment, and also the simple ‘modern–postmodern’ binary. This work is the first major study to explore the emergence of multiple situated rationalities. It focusses on the relation of the natural sciences and Christian theology, but its approach can easily be extended to other disciplines. It provides a robust intellectual framework for discussion of transdisciplinarity, which has become a major theme in many parts of the academic world. The work offers a major reappraisal of what it means to be ‘rational’ which will have significant impact on older discussions of this theme. It explores the consequences of the seemingly inexorable move away from the notion of a single universal rationality towards a plurality of cultural and domain-specific methodologies and rationalities. What does this mean for the natural sciences? For the philosophy of science? For Christian theology? And for the exciting and important interdisciplinary field of science and religion? How can a single individual hold together scientific and religious ideas, when these arise from quite different rational approaches? This ground-breaking volume sets out to engage these questions. In doing so, it is certain to provoke intense discussion and debate.

Rational Explanation in Science and Religion

2018 ◽  
pp. 124-153
Author(s):  
Alister E. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Science And Religion ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Good Theory ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
Rational Explanation

This chapter considers what it means to ‘explain’ something in the natural sciences and Christian theology. A number of theories of explanation are considered, including ‘ontic’ and ‘epistemic’ approaches to explanation. Their respective merits and applications are examined. Particular attention is paid to ‘unitative explanation’, the idea that a good theory is able to enfold other theories, or enable things which were previously seen as unrelated to be considered as part of a greater coherent whole. The implications of these reflections for theological explanation are then considered, with the focus on one of Thomas Aquinas’s famous arguments for the existence of God—the ‘Second Way’.

Exercise Physiology From 1980 to 2020: Application of the Natural Sciences

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jane A. Kent ◽  
Kate L. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Human Performance ◽  
Exercise Physiology ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
The Past ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Advanced Technologies ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Fundamental Research ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

The field of exercise physiology has enjoyed tremendous growth in the past 40 years. With its foundations in the natural sciences, it is an interdisciplinary field that is highly relevant to human performance and health. The focus of this review is on highlighting new approaches, knowledge, and opportunities that have emerged in exercise physiology over the last four decades. Key among these is the adoption of advanced technologies by exercise physiologists to address fundamental research questions, and the expansion of research topics to range from molecular to organismal, and population scales in order to clarify the underlying mechanisms and impact of physiological responses to exercise in health and disease. Collectively, these advances have ensured the position of the field as a partner in generating new knowledge across many scientific and health disciplines.

The role of a single lingua franca in scientific inquiry

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-46
Author(s):  
Ekkehard König
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Scientific Communication ◽  
External World ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
International Exchange ◽  
Conceptual System ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Multilingual Approach

This paper discusses the role of English as the current lingua franca academica in contrast to a multilingual approach to scientific inquiry on the basis of four perspectives: a cognitive, a typological, a contrastive and a domain-specific one. It is argued that a distinction must be drawn between the natural sciences and the humanities in order to properly assess the potential of either linguistic solution to the problem of scientific communication. To the extent that the results of scientific research are expressed in formal languages and international standardised terminology, the exclusive use of one lingua franca is unproblematic, especially if phenomena of our external world are under consideration. In the humanities, by contrast, especially in the analysis of our non-visible, mental world, a single lingua franca cannot be regarded as a neutral instrument, but may more often than not become a conceptual prison. For the humanities the analysis of the conceptual system of a language provides the most reliable access to its culture. For international exchange of results, however, the humanities too have to rely on a suitable lingua franca as language of description as opposed to the language under description.

From Decline of the West to Dawn of Day

Janus Head ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66
Author(s):  
Hub Zwart ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Religion And Science ◽  
The West ◽  
Smart Technologies

This paper subjects Dan Brown’s most recent novel Origin to a philosophical reading. Origin is regarded as a literary window into contemporary technoscience, inviting us to explore its transformative momentum and disruptive impact, focusing on the cultural significance of artificial intelligence and computer science: on the way in which established world-views are challenged by the incessant wave of scientific discoveries made possible by super-computation. While initially focusing on the tension between science and religion, the novel’s attention gradually shifts to the increased dependence of human beings on smart technologies and artificial (or even “synthetic”) intelligence. Origin’s message, I will argue, reverberates with Oswald Spengler’s The Decline of the West, which aims to outline a morphology of world civilizations. Although the novel starts with a series of oppositions, most notably between religion and science, the eventual tendency is towards convergence, synthesis and sublation, exemplified by Sagrada Família as a monumental symptom of this transition. Three instances of convergence will be highlighted, namely the convergence between science and religion, between humanity and technology and between the natural sciences and the humanities.

scholarly journals Is consciousness a product of the brain or/and a divine act of God? Concise insights from neuroscience and Christian theology

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Pretorius
Keyword(s):  
Current Literature ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
The Brain

Over several years now, notable research has been undertaken on consciousness from various disciplines in the natural sciences, especially in neuroscience and Christian theology. This paper will therefore attempt to add to the current literature in these areas by addressing briefly the following three main aspects, namely, (1) Presenting a succinct explanation of the various views of consciousness by select scholars. (2) Exploring briefly the question, ‘Is the emergence of consciousness a product of an evolved brain?’ (3) Concisely examining the question, ‘Is consciousness of God and spiritual experiences a divine act and/or a process of an evolved brain?’

Some Applications of a Unified Foundational Ontology in Business Modeling

2011 ◽  
pp. 345-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Guizzardi ◽  
Gerd Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Modeling ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Cognitive Engineering ◽  
Business Modeling ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Modeling Methods ◽  
Foundational Ontology ◽  
Basic Concepts ◽  
And Linguistics

Foundational ontologies provide the basic concepts upon which any domain-specific ontology is built. This chapter presents a new foundational ontology, UFO, and shows how it can be used as a guideline in business modeling and for evaluating business modeling methods. UFO is derived from a synthesis of two other foundational ontologies, GFO/GOL and OntoClean/DOLCE. While their main areas of application are natural sciences and linguistics/cognitive engineering, respectively, the main purpose of UFO is to provide a foundation for conceptual modeling, including business modeling.

Rational Consilience

2018 ◽  
pp. 203-226
Author(s):  
Alister E. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Open Approach ◽  
Natural Scientist ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
The World

This final chapter focusses on the question of how insights gained from multiple disciplines can be brought together or colligated into a deeper and more satisfying vision of the world. It specifically engages the question of whether it is irrational to hold beliefs which are developed through the use of different rational strategies and criteria—for example, the scientist who is also a socialist, or a theologian who is also a natural scientist. It is argued that any form of interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary engagement requires working with multiple rationalities and learning to live with the tensions this creates. In arguing for the need for integration and dialogue, the chapter criticizes the influential approach to consilience developed by E. O. Wilson on the grounds that it it is excessively dependent on the intellectual framework provided by the Enlightenment, and gives too prominent a place to the natural sciences. A more open approach is suggested in its place.

From Observation to Theory

2018 ◽  
pp. 154-181
Author(s):  
Alister E. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Potential Significance ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
The World ◽  
Intellectual Journey

How do we move from observing the world to developing more complex and sophisticated ways of representing and understanding it? This chapter examines the intellectual journey from observing our world to representing it in theory, focussing on three distinct processes that are widely believed to be important in this process—deduction, induction, and abduction. Each of these rational strategies is used in theological or philosophical arguments relating to the existence of God. In each case, careful consideration is given to its application both in the natural sciences and in Christian theology. Particular attention is given to the American philosopher Charles S. Peirce’s use of abduction, and its potential significance for Christian theology.

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