Numerous books have been written by philosophers and scientists about how creationism and intelligent design are not part of science, but scholars have largely ignored two of the main historical and philosophical issues underlying the attack on science. First, conservative Christian scholars commonly claim that Christian theological doctrines are the source of modern science. To them, modern science is the stepchild of medieval Christian theology or early Protestant doctrines. They believe that without those theological beliefs as presuppositions, modern science could never have arisen and that Christianity, or at least theism, is the only possible source of these beliefs. They argue that even today, all scientists, whether they realize it or not, must be committed to these theistic or specifically Christian ideas in order to practice science. This "dependency" thesis has now become widely accepted, even outside conservative circles. For example, renowned scientists such as Edward O. Wilson and Paul Davies accept the historical part of this thesis as a given. Second, some conservative Christians argue that theology has the epistemic right to control the content of all scientific theories and indeed the very nature of science. To them, science unfettered from theological control cannot reveal the true nature of the universe, and so theology must control the content and methods of all science. In the words of the philosopher Alvin Plantinga, "Scripture can correct science." In For the Glory of God, Jones challenges both the Dependency Thesis and Control Beliefs. He presents the historical and philosophical case against the Dependency Thesis and examines why modern science arose in the West and not in another culture. Jones also explores the negative effects of Control Beliefs on science. Throughout this work, Jones systematically studies how past and present religious conservatives have dealt with the complex nature of science.
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In this book, Jones methodically challenges both the claim that theological doctrines are the source of modern science (the Dependency Thesis) and the idea that theology has the right to control the content of all scientific theories (Control Beliefs).
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Part 1 Preface Part 2 Part I: Christianity and The Rise of Modern Science Chapter 3 Do the Roots of Modern Science Lie in Christian Doctrines? Chapter 4 What Was Christianity's Contribution to the Rise of Modern Science? Part 5 Part II: Religious Ideas and Control Beliefs in Science Chapter 6 The Role of Religious Ideas in Science and the Nature of Control Beliefs Chapter 7 "Science," "Religion," and "Science and Religion" Part 8 References Part 9 Index
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780761855668
Publisert
2011-06-08
Utgiver
Vendor
University Press Of America
Vekt
277 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Dybde
12 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
176

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Richard H. Jones holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in the history and philosophy of religion and an A.B. from Brown University in religious studies. He also holds a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. He lives in New York City. He is the author of Science and Mysticism (Bucknell University Press), Mysticism Explained (State University of New York Press), Reductionsim (Bucknell University Press), Mysticism and Morality (Lexington Books), Curing the Philosopher's Disease (University Press of America), Nagarjuna: Buddhism's Most Important Philosopher (Jackson Square Books), and numerous philosophy of religion and law review articles.