
The Justification of Science and the Rationality of Religious Belief
Michael C. Banner(Author)
Clarendon Press
Published on 30. July 1992
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-0-19-824019-8 (ISBN)
Description
Believers and non-believers often take it for granted that traditional religious faith is, in principle, incapable of the sort of justification which might be given to a scientific theory. Yet how are scientific theories justified and is it the case that religious belief cannot satisfy the same standards of rationality?
Based on a critical examination of recent accounts of the nature of science and of its justification given by Kuhn, Popper, Lakatos, Laudan, and Newton-Smith, this book contends that models of scientific rationality which are used in criticism of religious belief are in fact often inadequate as accounts of the nature of science. It is argued that a realist philosophy of science both reflects the character of science and scientific justification, and also suggests that religious belief could be given a justification of the same sort.
Based on a critical examination of recent accounts of the nature of science and of its justification given by Kuhn, Popper, Lakatos, Laudan, and Newton-Smith, this book contends that models of scientific rationality which are used in criticism of religious belief are in fact often inadequate as accounts of the nature of science. It is argued that a realist philosophy of science both reflects the character of science and scientific justification, and also suggests that religious belief could be given a justification of the same sort.
Reviews / Votes
`interesting and informative monograph' Times Higher Education Supplement `very clearly written and contains useful summaries of a number of important discussions' Theology `The book not only seeks to uphold the place of rationality in both science and religion, it is itself a superb example of the use of rationality in this area.' Journal of Theological StudiesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 47 mm
Width: 61 mm
Thickness: 0 mm
Weight
4 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-824019-8 (9780198240198)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Author
Dean, Fellow, and Director of Studies in PhilosophyDean, Fellow, and Director of Studies in Philosophy, Peterhouse, Cambridge
Content
Introduction; Part I: The Justification of Science; Kuhn's Challenge to the Rationality of Science; In Defence of Rational Realism; Part II: The Rationality of Religious Belief; Does Philosophy of Religion Rest on a Mistake?; Faith and the Religious Adequacy of Explanatory Justification; Theism and Inferring to the Best Explanation; Conclusions: The Problem of Evil and the Philosophy of Science; Afterword; Bibliography; Index