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March 23, 2009
This Seems Self-evident
At least it does to me.
. . . a scientifically literate person not only understands the scientific method, but also knows some science.
Read Mike the Mad Biologist's whole post.
I know a philosopher of science, philosopher of physics to be specific, who sometimes complains that a few of his fellow philosophers of science don't know much science. Oh, how they talk about science, but until they can write down and analyze the mathematics, understand the theories, explain the experimental evidence, to his mind, they only make pseudo-philosophical claims about straw men. Since there are among the more scientifically savvy philosophers of science those who are basically want-a-be scientists, this acquaintance of mine understands and relishes his role as philosopher. He is a metaphysician and even more an epistemologist who draws upon physics as the source for his philosophical reflections. But to be a metaphysician or epistemologist who draws upon physics you'd better know your differential equations among other things. And independent of what this unnamed philosopher might think, what do I think of theologians who try to draw upon science? I think less of them than I do of philosophers who lack real knowledge of science. Why? There's the question of motive. Ignorant philosophers, as far as they are philosophers are generally trying to explain and critique a believe system; Ignorant theologians are generally trying to justify a believe system.
I'd tell you the philosopher's name and our exact relationship, except he avoids having his name mentioned in blogs like the plague and he'd be pretty unhappy if I named him here.
Posted by Duane Smith at March 23, 2009 8:15 PM | Read more on Science - General |
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Comments
Duane, I'm going to call you on this. It's the most blatant bollocks I've ever seen you post.
You contrast "theologians who try to draw on science" with "philosophers who lack real knowledge of science" and prefer the latter. That might be a fair comment if you were contrasting theologians who lack real knowledge of science. But your wording suggests you have decided as a matter of definition that a theologian's knowledge of science must be inferior to that of an ignorant philosopher.
At the very least that ignores the empirical evidence of respected scientists who are also respected writers on theology and the theology-science interface, such as John Polkinghorne.
It would seem that for once - and that's why I bother to comment, since it's unlike you – you are interested in neither reasoned argument nor actual evidence.
Posted by: Doug Chaplin at March 24, 2009 3:25 PM
Doug,
Yeah, you got me. Despite my wording, I did not mean this to apply to all theologians, only those who know very little science. I actually know a couple of theologians who quite scientifically literate and when the use science they use tend to use it properly. I will note that scientists who write on theology and theologians who write on science are two different animals.
I do have my problems with Polkinghorne but I would never claim him ignorant of science. I also wonder if there really is a meaningful "theology-science interface" but that is another question.
Posted by: Duane at March 24, 2009 4:25 PM
OK. I'll confess I have my own problems with Polkinghorne and his approach to mathematics as the scientific version of Plato's world of forms.
On theologians writing on science, the most interesting in my view – but also those I have serious questions about – is Pannenberg. I find Torrance almost incomprehensible, and when reading McGrath I find myself wondering whether my disagreements are with his science or his theology. So I accept it's not simple.
I'm happy to admit my limitations in both theology and science. But I do so in order to learn more about both. I think ignorance is undervalued. Knewing what we don't know is the path to better knowledge.
Posted by: Doug Chaplin at March 24, 2009 5:03 PM
Knewing … or even knowing. Oops.
Posted by: Doug Chaplin at March 24, 2009 5:04 PM
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