Natural theology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Inductive Inference ◽  
Natural Theology ◽  
Biblical Theology ◽  
Religious Language ◽  
Sense Perception ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Deductive Argument ◽  
Knowledge Of God

Natural theology aims at establishing truths or acquiring knowledge about God (or divine matters generally) using only our natural cognitive resources. The phrase ‘our natural cognitive resources’ identifies both the methods and data for natural theology: it relies on standard techniques of reasoning and facts or truths in principle available to all human beings just in virtue of their possessing reason and sense perception. As traditionally conceived, natural theology begins by establishing the existence of God, and then proceeds by establishing truths about God’s nature (for example, that God is eternal, immutable and omniscient) and about God’s relation to the world. A precise characterization of natural theology depends on further specification of its methods and data. One strict conception of natural theology – the traditional conception sometimes associated with Thomas Aquinas – allows only certain kinds of deductive argument, the starting points of which are propositions that are either self-evident or evident to sense perception. A broader conception might allow not just deductive but also inductive inference and admit as starting points propositions that fall short of being wholly evident. Natural theology contrasts with investigations into divine matters that rely at least in part on data not naturally available to us as human beings. This sort of enterprise might be characterized as revelation-based theology, in so far as the supernatural element on which it relies is something supernaturally revealed to us by God. Revelation-based theology can make use of what is ascertainable by us only because of special divine aid. Dogmatic and biblical theology would be enterprises of this sort. Critics of natural theology fall generally into three groups. The first group, the majority, argue that some or all of the particular arguments of natural theology are, as a matter of fact, unsuccessful. Critics in the second group argue that, in principle, natural theology cannot succeed, either because of essential limitations on human knowledge that make it impossible for us to attain knowledge of God or because religious language is such as to make an investigation into its truth inappropriate. The third group of critics holds that natural theology is in some way irrelevant or inimical to true religion. They argue in various ways that the objectifying, abstract and impersonal methods of natural theology cannot capture what is fundamentally important about the divine and our relation to it.

Natural Theology and The Christian Faith

1958 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-374
Author(s):  
Nels F. S. Ferré
Keyword(s):  
Natural Theology ◽  
Biblical Theology ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Existential Interpretation ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
General Experience ◽  
Biblical Faith

For over a generation now (in Protestant circles) natural theology has fallen on evil days. Barth has stamped ruthlessly on every attempt to ground the Christian faith in any form of general knowledge. ‘Back to the biblical faith’ became his watchword. Bultmann likewise scorned Weltanschauung as the importation of Stoicism into the non-philosophical Christian faith. Between Barth's biblical theology and Bultmann's existentialism there was such a strong bond of common hostility to general revelation that natural theology was rejected outright—for natural theology is most properly defined as any knowledge of God, His will and His ways, based on man's general experience, knowledge, and reason.Lately, however, for good or ill, there are some signs of return. The thrust of Kierkegaard's anti-rational and antiempirical polemic is being broken both as its newness wears off and as its negativity stands naked before us. The anti-theological as well as the an ti-metaphysical drive of linguistic philosophy is slowing down, and there is even evident most recently a somewhat more constructive mood and method within this philosophical position. The power of Tillich's position, in sharp contrast, has been partly due to a bold system holding that, while recognising the truths inherent in both Barth's anti-liberal stand and Bultmann's existential interpretation of the Christian faith, nevertheless dares to base itself on the fulness of the facts of experience and of human history. Tillich's positive and inclusive approach is commending itself to a fast expanding circle of thinkers.

Thomas Aquinas

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Brent
Keyword(s):  
Natural Theology ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Thomas Aquinas ◽  
Divine Revelation ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
Beatific Vision

Although Thomas Aquinas is perhaps known best for his natural theology and arguments for the existence of God, he thought that there were manifold ways of knowing God available to human beings. This chapter distinguishes and identifies within Aquinas’s thought seven such ways. One can know God (1) by a general and confused knowledge, (2) by a philosophical wisdom, (3) by divine revelation, (4) by faith, (5) by mystical wisdom, (6) by theological wisdom, and (7) by beatific vision. The chapter discusses the epistemic nature, properties, and limits of all seven. The main point is that Aquinas’s thought is rich enough to accommodate and account for all seven ways of knowing God. Such a comprehensive overview of Aquinas helps move past polemical contexts in which Aquinas is charged with reducing the knowledge of God to natural theology or failing to prioritize the Word of God.

CHARACTERIZATION OF RELIGIOUS STYLE AS A FUNCTIONAL STYLE IN LINGUISTICS

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-242
Author(s):  
Barnokhon Kushakova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Religious Language ◽  
Religious Texts ◽  
World Outlook ◽  
The People ◽  
The Social ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
The Creation

This article discusses the conditions, reasons and factors of characterization of religious style as a functional style in the field of linguistics. In addition, religious style and its main peculiarities, its importance in the social life, and the functional features of religious style are highlighted in the article. As a result of our investigation, the following results were obtained: a) the increase in the need for the creation and significance of religious language, particularly religious texts has been scientifically proved; b) the possibility of religious texts to represent the thoughts of the people, culture and world outlook has been verified; c) the specificity of religious language, religious texts has been revealed; d) the development of religious style as a functional style has been grounded.

Sense-Perception, Reasoning and Forms in Plotinus

Phronesis ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Eyjólfur K. Emilsson
Keyword(s):  
Crucial Role ◽  
Concept Formation ◽  
Sense Perception ◽  
Human Beings

Abstract This paper discusses the role of innate concepts derived from Intellect in Plotinus’ account of cognition of the sensible realm. Several passages have been claimed as evidence for such innateness, but an analysis of them shows that they do not support this claim. It is tentatively suggested that, nevertheless, some very general concepts such as difference, sameness and being are integral to the faculty of sense and play a crucial role in concept formation. It is further argued that reasoning about the sensible realm takes place to a large extent without the involvement of the higher realms of Plotinus’ hierarchy of being. Clearly, however, for value concepts such as those of goodness, justice and beauty human beings are dependent upon an illumination from Intellect.

Minimalist Biological Race

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O. Hardimon
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Common Ancestry ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
Biological Race

The minimalist concept of race represents the barest characterization of the ordinary concept race possible. Minimalist races are groups of human beings distinguished by patterns of visible physical features, groups whose members are linked by a common ancestry peculiar to members of the group, and which originate from a distinctive geographic location. Minimalist races exist because there are existing human groups that satisfy the minimalist concept of race. Their existence is not precluded by the findings of population genetics. Appeal to contemporary studies in evolutionary biology and population genetics makes it possible to rebut the objection that minimalist races do not exist because they are not genetically distinct.

The Scope of the Conceptual

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Laurence ◽  
Eric Margolis
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Donald Davidson ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Conceptual Content ◽  
Michael Dummett ◽  
Contemporary Philosopher ◽  
Conceptual Thought ◽  
The Moment

This article explains different views on concepts, which are among the most fundamental constructs in cognitive science. Michael Dummett argues that nonhuman animals are not capable of full-fledged conceptual thought but only a diminished form of thought, which he calls, proto-thought. Human beings can remove themselves from the moment and can rise above the confined world of current perceptions because of their linguistic abilities. Donald Davidson, a contemporary philosopher, denies that animals are capable of conceptual thought and claim that conceptual content requires a rich inferential network. Donald Davidson made an argument against animals having conceptual thought. Davidson's original formulation of the argument begins with the claim that having a belief requires having the concept of a belief but adds that having the concept of belief requires possession of a natural language. It follows, then, that to have a belief requires facility with natural language. The characterization of the conceptual/nonconceptual distinction that is implicit in Davidson's metacognitive argument is a complex one involving a capacity for belief about beliefs, a concept of belief, and concepts of truth and falsity. Both Robert Brandom and John McDowell argued that conceptual thought requires more than a capacity for detection. They claim that conceptual thought requires the ability to appreciate the reasons that would justify a given concept's application and use, and this, in turn, is inherently a social practice that is dependent on natural language

The Contemporary Reception of Aquinas on the Natural Knowledge of God

2021 ◽  
pp. 595-611
Author(s):  
David VanDrunen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Theology ◽  
Thomas Aquinas ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Natural Order ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Summa Theologiae ◽  
Human Reason ◽  
Natural Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
Attributes Of God

This chapter considers key themes from Thomas Aquinas’ view of the natural knowledge of God, or natural theology, from the opening of his Summa theologiae. It is written from the perspective of Reformed theology, which has traditionally supported natural theology of a certain kind, despite its recent reputation as an opponent of natural theology. According to Thomas, natural theology is insufficient for salvation and is inevitably laden with errors apart from the help of supernatural revelation. But human reason, operating properly, can demonstrate the existence and certain attributes of God from the natural order, and this natural knowledge constitutes preambles to the articles of the Christian faith. The chapter thus engages in a critically sympathetic analysis of these themes and suggests how a contemporary reception of Thomas might appropriate them effectively.

ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ROTENOIDS FROM CAJANUS CAJAN (L.) MILLSP. (LEGUMINOSEAE)

INDIAN DRUGS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (08) ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
P. Chaturvedi ◽  
◽  
P Khanna ◽  
A Chowdhary
Keyword(s):  
Cajanus Cajan ◽  
Spectral Studies ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Botanical Pesticides ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Maximum Quantity ◽  
Natural Insecticides ◽  
Identification And Characterization

Natural insecticides now-a-days have a bright future because synthetic insectides are harmful to human beings. Among botanical pesticides, the rotenoids standout for their potency and effectiveness against many crop pests and are fifteen times more toxic than the nicotinic acid. Cajanus cajan primarily grown as a grain crop for human consumption (pulse, vegetable) and has not been analysed for it’s rotenoidal content. Chromatographic analysis showed the presence of four rotenoids namely elliptone, deguelin, rotenone and tephrosin, which were identified by co-tlc, melting point, GLC and IR spectral studies with that of the standard reference compounds. In the present investigation, rotenone (0.37 mg/gdw) was found in maximum quantity which was followed by deguelin (0.27 mg/gdw), tephrosin (0.21 mg/gdw) and elliptone (0.15 mg/gdw).

Philosophical Background

2021 ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Mark Timmons
Keyword(s):  
Human Beings ◽  
Phenomenal World ◽  
Knowledge Of God ◽  
Freedom Of The Will ◽  
The World ◽  
Philosophical Background ◽  
The Will ◽  
Kant's Ethics ◽  
Immortality Of The Soul ◽  
Cognition And Knowledge

This chapter provides a brief overview of certain elements of Kant’s metaphysics and epistemology that are essential background for understanding certain features of his ethical theory. In particular, it presents Kant’s distinction between the ‘world of sense’ or ‘phenomenal world’ and the ‘world of understanding’ or ‘noumenal world’ as a basis for explaining the limits of theoretical cognition which rules out theoretical cognition and knowledge of God, immortality of the soul, and freedom of the will, yet allows Kant to affirm their reality on moral grounds, needed to explain how the highest good is possible. Of importance for understanding certain claims in his work on virtue is the distinction between the phenomenal world and the noumenal world as it applies to human beings. The chapter concludes with reflections on the relation between Kant’s ethics and his metaphysical and epistemological commitments.

Natural Law

2019 ◽  
pp. 174-203
Author(s):  
Lenn E. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Natural Law ◽  
Legal Theory ◽  
Natural Theology ◽  
Human Freedom ◽  
Naturalistic Fallacy ◽  
Legal Positivism ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Theology And Science ◽  
Great Tradition

Natural law links moral and legal theory with natural theology and science. It is critical to thinking about God’s sovereignty and human freedom. Tracing the roots of the natural law idea, I defend the approach against conventionalism and legal positivism. For they leave human norms ungrounded. Chapter 7 opens by disarming Hume’s elenchus about ‘is’ and ‘ought’. I do not deny the reality of a naturalistic fallacy, but I do argue that facts make rightful claims on us and that the unity of reality and value central to Jewish thinking and to the philosophical great tradition does not confuse facts with values but does appreciate the preciousness of being—of life and personhood most pointedly. Once again here transcendence consorts with immanence. For we find God’s law writ subtly in nature, not least when we discover what it means to perfect ourselves as loving and creative human beings.

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