Science, Evolution, and Religion
A Debate about Atheism and Theism
Published on 18. August 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-937937-8 (ISBN)
Description
Comprehensive, up to date, and engaging, Science, Evolution, and Religion provides detailed coverage of the science-religion debate in contemporary culture and academia. The two authors, Michael Peterson and Michael Ruse, present theism and atheism, respectively, and argue for their positions. Peterson occasionally draws from Christian doctrine to supplement theism; Ruse often supplements his atheism with elements drawn from the larger context of philosophical naturalism. The result is a rich and respectful dialogure and debate on the nature of science, cosmic origins, biological origins, the anthropic principle, and the meaning of life, among other important subjects.
Reviews / Votes
"This book is a success. Unless already an expert in the science-religion field... any reader is bound to learn much of value in here." * Michael J. Reiss, Institute of Education, University College London * The book provides a comprehensive and insightful discussion of what's really at stake in the "science and religion discussion" by two eminent philosophers who, speaking on behalf of their own opposing "worldviews," see the larger picture with remarkable clarity." - Kirk Wegter-McNelly, Union CollegeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-937937-8 (9780199379378)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Michael Peterson is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has written or edited several books including Reason and Religious Belief, Fifth Edition (OUP 2012), and Philosophy of Religion, Fifth Edition (OUP 2015). He is also managing editor of Faith and Philosophy, and winner of Templeton grants in science/religion.
Michael Ruse is Lucycle T. Werkmeister Professor and Director of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He is well known for his work on the relationship between science and religion and is founding editor of the journal Philosophy and Biology.
Michael Ruse is Lucycle T. Werkmeister Professor and Director of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He is well known for his work on the relationship between science and religion and is founding editor of the journal Philosophy and Biology.
Content
Preface:
Introduction:
1. Autobiographical Reflections
A Life Observed
PETERSON
Formative Experiences
Witnessing God Make a Comeback
Considering Intellectual Journeys to God
Engaging Science and Religion
Apologia Pro Vita Sua
RUSE
Early Years
Loss of Faith and Finding Darwin
Creationism
Accommodationism
2. Science
Thinking about Science
RUSE
What Is Science?
Metaphor
What Is Naturalism?
The Limits of Metaphor
The Harmony of Science and Religion
PETERSON
Where the Conflict Really Lies
Does the Method of Science Support Naturalism?
Do the Laws of Science Exclude Miracles?
Theism as the Worldview Home of Science
3. Cosmic Origins
A Theistic Understanding of the Universe
PETERSON
The Beginning According to Science
A Metaphysical Explanation of the Cosmos
A Deeper Metaphysical Understanding of the Cosmos
The Fine-Tuned Universe
Naturalist Objections
Beauty, Elegance, Intelligibility
In the Beginning
RUSE
The Big Bang Theory
Religious Implications?
The Fundamental Question
Why Skepticism?
One God or Two?
4. Origin of Life
It's All Purely Natural
RUSE
Defining Life
A Natural Solution?
Impossible!
Miracles?
Where Do We Stand?
There is Grandeur in This View of Life
PETERSON
The Biological and the Prebiological
Origin-of-Life Research
The Mystery of Life
God or Natural Process?
Theistic and Christian Belief
5. Darwin and Design
A Wider Teleology
PETERSON
Darwin's Discovery
Natural Selection and Design
Understanding Evolution
Darwin's Gift
Teleology and Natural Theology
Darwin Destroys Design
RUSE
The Darwinian Theory of Evolution
The Problem of Final Causes
Does Darwinian Selection Refute Christianity?
So, What's the Answer?
6. Evolutionary Directionality
No Direction to Evolution
RUSE
Bottom-Line Demands
Does Evolution Go Anywhere?
Causes
Christian Escapes?
Is God Too Complex?
The Trajectory of Evolution
PETERSON
How Did We Get Here From There?
Scientific and Metascientific Questions
God and the World of Science
Creation, Providence, and Evolution
Emergence
7. Mind and Rationality
The Preeminence of Mind
PETERSON
Consciousness and Self-Consciousness
Neuroscience and the Metaphysics of Mind
Evolution and Human Uniqueness
Rationality and Evolution
Humans According to Evolutionary Naturalism
RUSE
Sentience
Knowledge
Naturalism Defeated?
A Sensus Divinitatis?
8. Morality
An Evolutionary Perspective on Ethics
RUSE
The Moral Argument for God's Existence
Explaining Morality
Darwinism and Morality
Implications for the Science-Religion Interface
Christianity on Morality: Beyond Rescue?
Morality and Personhood
PETERSON
A Darwinian Genealogy of Morals
A Moral Argument against Evolutionary Naturalism
Theism and Personal Dignity
A Theistic Genealogy of Morals
9. Evil and Suffering
Theism, Atheism, and Evil
PETERSON
The Argument from Evil and Suffering
Science and Approaches to Theodicy
Theodicy for a Scientific Age
Evil and the Clash of Worldviews
Darwinism and Evil
RUSE
Does Darwinism Intensify the Problem?
Original Sin
Free Will
Natural Evil
10. Meaning and Purpose
A Stark Picture Indeed
RUSE
Where Are We?
Why Do We Believe?
Evolutionary Debunking?
Evolutionism as Religion Substitute
The Deep Structure of the Universe
PETERSON
Science, Evolution, and the Search for Meaning
Naturalism and the Denial of Meaning
Theism and Meaning
Follow the Argument Wherever It Leads
Glossary:
References:
Index:
Introduction:
1. Autobiographical Reflections
A Life Observed
PETERSON
Formative Experiences
Witnessing God Make a Comeback
Considering Intellectual Journeys to God
Engaging Science and Religion
Apologia Pro Vita Sua
RUSE
Early Years
Loss of Faith and Finding Darwin
Creationism
Accommodationism
2. Science
Thinking about Science
RUSE
What Is Science?
Metaphor
What Is Naturalism?
The Limits of Metaphor
The Harmony of Science and Religion
PETERSON
Where the Conflict Really Lies
Does the Method of Science Support Naturalism?
Do the Laws of Science Exclude Miracles?
Theism as the Worldview Home of Science
3. Cosmic Origins
A Theistic Understanding of the Universe
PETERSON
The Beginning According to Science
A Metaphysical Explanation of the Cosmos
A Deeper Metaphysical Understanding of the Cosmos
The Fine-Tuned Universe
Naturalist Objections
Beauty, Elegance, Intelligibility
In the Beginning
RUSE
The Big Bang Theory
Religious Implications?
The Fundamental Question
Why Skepticism?
One God or Two?
4. Origin of Life
It's All Purely Natural
RUSE
Defining Life
A Natural Solution?
Impossible!
Miracles?
Where Do We Stand?
There is Grandeur in This View of Life
PETERSON
The Biological and the Prebiological
Origin-of-Life Research
The Mystery of Life
God or Natural Process?
Theistic and Christian Belief
5. Darwin and Design
A Wider Teleology
PETERSON
Darwin's Discovery
Natural Selection and Design
Understanding Evolution
Darwin's Gift
Teleology and Natural Theology
Darwin Destroys Design
RUSE
The Darwinian Theory of Evolution
The Problem of Final Causes
Does Darwinian Selection Refute Christianity?
So, What's the Answer?
6. Evolutionary Directionality
No Direction to Evolution
RUSE
Bottom-Line Demands
Does Evolution Go Anywhere?
Causes
Christian Escapes?
Is God Too Complex?
The Trajectory of Evolution
PETERSON
How Did We Get Here From There?
Scientific and Metascientific Questions
God and the World of Science
Creation, Providence, and Evolution
Emergence
7. Mind and Rationality
The Preeminence of Mind
PETERSON
Consciousness and Self-Consciousness
Neuroscience and the Metaphysics of Mind
Evolution and Human Uniqueness
Rationality and Evolution
Humans According to Evolutionary Naturalism
RUSE
Sentience
Knowledge
Naturalism Defeated?
A Sensus Divinitatis?
8. Morality
An Evolutionary Perspective on Ethics
RUSE
The Moral Argument for God's Existence
Explaining Morality
Darwinism and Morality
Implications for the Science-Religion Interface
Christianity on Morality: Beyond Rescue?
Morality and Personhood
PETERSON
A Darwinian Genealogy of Morals
A Moral Argument against Evolutionary Naturalism
Theism and Personal Dignity
A Theistic Genealogy of Morals
9. Evil and Suffering
Theism, Atheism, and Evil
PETERSON
The Argument from Evil and Suffering
Science and Approaches to Theodicy
Theodicy for a Scientific Age
Evil and the Clash of Worldviews
Darwinism and Evil
RUSE
Does Darwinism Intensify the Problem?
Original Sin
Free Will
Natural Evil
10. Meaning and Purpose
A Stark Picture Indeed
RUSE
Where Are We?
Why Do We Believe?
Evolutionary Debunking?
Evolutionism as Religion Substitute
The Deep Structure of the Universe
PETERSON
Science, Evolution, and the Search for Meaning
Naturalism and the Denial of Meaning
Theism and Meaning
Follow the Argument Wherever It Leads
Glossary:
References:
Index: