Naturalism in the Christian Imagination: Providence and Causality in Early Modern England

ISBN-13: 9781009211987 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022

Peter N (University of Oxford) Jordan

Opis

A compelling contribution to 'science and religion' debates, showing how early modern thinkers reconciled naturalism with a providential world view.

Recenzje

'Naturalism in the Christian Imagination is a very interesting, well-researched book built around a central, profound question: 'What bearing should religious convictions have on how phenomena in nature are understood and explained?' This question touches on some of the deepest issues in the study of science and religion, and could be answered in a variety of ways. Peter Jordan argues that it is best answered through a series of grounded historical studies focused on early modern England. That place and time, he contends, provides us with 'flesh-and-blood' thinkers grappling with the problem – who are more helpful than purely philosophical or theological analysis. As well as preventing loose speculation, this kind of historical analysis also helps foreground one of Jordan's primary concerns: how answers to this guiding question should change the way people live their lives in the here and now. The book asks important things and answers them in very interesting ways. The focus on how intellectual issues of providence can affect actual life and practice today will be of great interest to philosophers as well as historians of science.' Matthew Stanley, New York University

Spis treści

Part I. Setting the Scene: 1. Explanation before science and religion; 2. Providence in Early Modern England; Part II. Expanding the Explanatory Scope of Natural Causality: 3. Chance, lots, and games; 4. Prodigies; Part III. Curtailing the Explanatory Ambitions of Naturalistic Philosophies: 5. Atomism; 6. Theories of the Earth; Part IV. Conclusion: 7. Explanation after science and religion.