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’.

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.

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.

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?’

scholarly journals Explanation and Understanding as Methods of Historical and Biographical Cognition

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Mykola Bakaiev
Keyword(s):  
Causal Explanation ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
History Of Ideas ◽  
Biographical Research ◽  
Rational Explanation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Understanding Function

Traditionally, explanation is considered to be the method of natural sciences and understanding to be the method of humanities. However, this paper considers both to be methods of history. Namely, the author focuses on how explanation and understanding function in history in general and in biography in particular. Referring to biographical realm helps explicate the specifics of explanation and understanding as well as broaden the view about their uses in humanities. In the first part, the author refers to explanation and understanding in history as such. In particular, causal explanation (explanatory sketch by Karl Hempel) and rational explanation (history of ideas by Mark Bevir) are considered in the paper along with the relationship of hermeneutic notion of understanding with the two. The second part of the paper deals with the functioning of explanation and understanding in biographical research. Namely, it considers biographical understanding by Tilmann Habermas and Neşe Hatiboğlu as well as cases of causal and rational explanations in biographical research. In particular, it is shown that while causal explanation occurs in biography as explanatory sketch, it is not a separate distinct notion. It is also shown that rational explanation is used in biographical reconstructions in order to clarify the influence of particular events on beliefs of people. Based on the materials involved, the author demonstrates the specifics of explanation and understanding in biography compared to their usage in historical cognition in general.

The Evolution of the Soul from Matter and the Role of Science in Karl Rahner's Theology

Horizons ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-104
Author(s):  
Michael Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Significant Influence ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Karl Rahner ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
Cognitive Sciences ◽  
Area Of Study

AbstractThe relation between science and religion can be difficult for Christian theologians. Some like Whitehead and Teilhard seek full integration of the two; others prefer to keep them at arm's length. Karl Rahner recommends separating them into distinct spheres, yet in practice the general conclusions of science have had a significant influence on his thought. This appears explicitly on the topic of the evolution of the soul from matter. The human soul is part of the order of creation. That order is part of the proper area of study of the natural sciences, according to Rahner. So he listens carefully to what evolutionary scientists say, and maintains an openness to the conclusions of evolutionary and cognitive sciences, in forming his ideas about the origin of the human soul. In doing this he is also implicitly relying on other conclusions developed by science over the last 400 years.

Science and Religion: Their Logical Similarity

1969 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Science And Religion ◽  
Religious Believer ◽  
Existence Of God

In his “Theology and Falsification” Professor Antony Flew challenges the sophisticated religious believer to state under what conceivable occurrences he would concede that there really is no God Who loves mankind:‘Just what would have to happen not merely (morally and wrongly) to tempt but also, logically and rightly, to entitle us to say “God does not love us” or even “God does not exist”? I therefore put…the simple central questions, “What would have to occur or to have occurred to constitute for you a disproof of the love of, or of the existence of, God”?’

Two Concepts of God

1966 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-240
Author(s):  
John Lachs
Keyword(s):  
Religious Tradition ◽  
Religious Language ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Philosophical Theology ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
God Concepts ◽  
Scientific Curiosity ◽  
Concepts Of God ◽  
Theology Proper

Philosophers have long debated the question of the existence of God. This is one of many philosophical issues in which the motivation for inquiry has come more perhaps from the side of human feeling than from disinterested scientific curiosity. Powerful emotions appear to prompt thinkers to devote effort to the attempt to prove or disprove the existence of God. The urgency of this task has made some of these philosophers pay less than adequate heed to the concepts they employ. It appears to have escaped the attention of many of them that the word “God” does not have a single meaning either in religious language generally or in philosophical theology. It is obvious that one of the important ways in which religious traditions differ is in their conceptions of the Deity. But a considerable number of different God-concepts may be distinguished in the Judeo-Christian religious tradition itself, and not even in Christian theology proper is the word “God” free of ambiguity.

scholarly journals Second Thoughts on Naturalistic Theism and Model of Levels of Analysis: A Response to Mark Harris

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 275-285
Author(s):  
Piotr Bylica
Keyword(s):  
Science And Religion ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Divine Action ◽  
Methodological Naturalism ◽  
Biblical Scholarship

I shall show that Dr. Harris’ study of biblical scholarship is treated in a very serious manner in my paper, as it is the element identifying him as a representative of naturalistic theism (NT). NT is a position that has been recognized in the literature on science and religion for several years. Dr. Harris’ commitment to the rule of methodological naturalism in the natural sciences, as well as his lack of evidence for the limits of using it in his hermeneutical analysis of divine action, makes his academic papers represent the main assumptions of NT. Model of levels of analysis (MLA) helps to show the empirical character of accounts of divine action as an important part of the traditional theistic interpretation of this action, and scepticism towards such an interpretation as a main characteristic of all advocates of NT.

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