Essay about The Role of Science, Ethics, and Faith in...

The Role of Science, Ethics, and Faith in Modern Philosophy ABSTRACT: Curiously, in the late twentieth century, even agnostic cosmologists like Stephen Hawking—who is often compared with Einstein—pose metascientific questions concerning a Creator and the cosmos, which science per se is unable to answer. Modern science of the brain, e.g. Roger Penroses Shadows of the Mind (1994), is only beginning to explore the relationship between the brain and the mind-the physiological and the epistemic. Galileo thought that Gods two books-Nature and the Word-cannot be in conflict, since both have a common author: God. This entails, inter alia, that science and faith are to two roads to the Creator-God. David Granby recalls that once upon a time,†¦show more content†¦Paradoxically, the third model, which argues for a fusion or unity of science and theology has naturalistic as well as theistic proponents. For naturalists like Willem B. Drees, personal experiences, including religious experiences and consciousness, are all part and par cel of nature (1996: 245). Hence, Drees concludes that the distinction between personal and impersonal relations provides no basis for distinguishing supernatural and natural phenomena (1996: 245). Naturalists like Drees, then, consider religious beliefs and moral codes as products of evolution or natural processes alone, which leave no room for a Creator, let alone a transcendent God. In contrast, theists like Phillip E. Johnson and Alvin Plantinga criticize the prevailing scientific paradigm in the natural sciences for excluding questions concerning design, purpose, value, First Principles, and ultimately the Creator-God. According to Johnson, the scientific method or methodological naturalism leads imperceptibly to, and buttresses, metaphysical naturalism that excludes the transcendent and God. For Johnson, this reductionist methodology has impoverished science and led to a corrosive moral/ethical relativism affecting social theory, law, and practice, since naturalistic metaphysics leads inexorably to relativism in ethics and politics, even though many naturalists dislike relativism and try hardShow MoreRelatedWeber s Criticism On Modern Society1387 Words   |  6 Pagescomments on modern society, he was primarily concerned with the emergence of capitalism. Weber’s work focuses predominantly on Western European culture and questions the re-emergence of capitalism time and time again over the course of history. Weber believes that what he referred to as modern rationality was a factor in the re-emergence of capitalism in Western Europe (Weber; 1905, 2007). This rationalism Weber refers to is what guides us to make choices in our lives. Personal ethics play a hugeRead MoreReligion And Where It Falls Today s Society926 Words   |  4 Pagessocial media and risk takers born after 2000, grow into the modern world, numerous crowds are questioning religion in today’s prevailing society and if it should be taught in the home (Sanburn). In fact, the religious category of unaffiliated has risen from 16% in 2007 to 23% in 2014. However, this does not mean that the overall Christian religion is depleting as still seven of ten identify themselves as Christians. Parents play a vital role in their children’s lives, ultimately to create the foundationRead MoreThe Generation Of Social Media And Risk Takers916 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneration of social media and risk takers born after 2000, grow into the modern world, many are questioning religion in today’s prevailing society and if it should be taught in the home. In fac t, the religious category of unaffiliated has risen from 16% in 2007 to 23% in 2014. However, this does not mean that the overall Christian religion is depleting as still seven of ten identify themselves as Christians. Parent’s play a vital role in their children’s lives, ultimately to create the foundation forRead MoreSpiritual Competence: Sikh Beliefs and Faiths1432 Words   |  6 Pagesperspective on health care to that of the Christian Religion. Sikh Beliefs and Faiths Sikhism is reported as the largest non-Christian religious group. There are 22 million followers worldwide. The founder, Guru Nanak Dev, was born in 1946, in Punjab, a region in India. This religion is not one that worships supernaturalism nor does it believe in devils, angels or heavenly spirits (Reimer-Kirkham, 2009). Sikhism faith starts with cheer and hope. Spiritual Perspective on Healing Meditation, alsoRead MoreEssay on Authority in Lisa Cahill’s â€Å"Homosexuality1169 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Homosexuality The most difficult part of any modern theological debate is choosing the authority. With the variety of Christian denominations, individual thinkers, and outside influences, and it is often difficult to reach a general agreement. In her essay, â€Å"Homosexuality: A Case Study in Moral Argument,† Catholic theologian Lisa Cahill examines four major authorities and different ways to determine how they work together to produce a cohesive Christian ethic. Though she fails to give a definitiveRead MoreThe Paradigm of 21st Century Nursing: Theories of Caring and Practice2625 Words   |  10 Pagesan overall philosophy of ethics while still remaining mindful of budgets and the need for the medical institution to be profitable. It seems as if these issues comprise a three-part template for nursing: respect for patient value individuality, education of patients, and cognition and respect for the realities of contemporary medicine. In many ways, too, modern technology has advanced further than societal wisdom, especially when confronting the issue of death. 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Legal positivism is a school of thought in the science of law or jurisprudence from the Latin term juris prudentia, which means the study, knowledge, or science of law; or in the United StatesRead MoreJean Watsons Theory Of Human Caring1343 Words   |  5 Pages1979 in Watsons book Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (Watson, Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring, 2008). Discussion abounds, possibly because of the implications of her theory challenge the applicability of nursing practice in the contemporary world of budget cuts and HMOs, as to less the validity and more the practicality of Watsons theory. For Watson, one cannot view nursing as just a science, but a combination of art and science that uses the process of caring toRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 PagesBranches of philosophy The following branches are the main areas of study: †¢ Metaphysics investigates the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology. †¢ Epistemology is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification. †¢ Ethics, or moral philosophy, is concerned with questions of how