The Experts below are selected from a list of 318 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Aileen Fyfe - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Publishing and the classics: Paley’s Natural Theology and the nineteenth-century scientific canon
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 2002Co-Authors: Aileen FyfeAbstract:Abstract This article seeks a new way to conceptualise the ‘classic’ work in the history of science, and suggests that the use of publishing history might help avoid the antagonism which surrounded the literary canon wars. It concentrates on the widely acknowledged concept that the key to the classic work is the fact of its being read over a prolonged period of time. Continued reading implies that a work is able to remain relevant to later generations of readers, and, although some of this depends upon the openness of the original text, much more depends on the actions of subsequent publishers and editors in repackaging the work for later audiences. This is illustrated through an examination of the long publishing history of William Paley’s Natural Theology (1802). Over the course of the century, Natural Theology was read as a work of gentlemanly Natural Theology, as a work which could be used in a formal or informal education in science, and as a work of Christian apologetic. These transformations occurred because of the actions of the later publishers and editors who had to make the work suit the current interests of the literary marketplace. Comparisons are made to Constitution of man, Vestiges of the Natural history of creation and Origin of species.
-
The reception of William Paley's Natural Theology in the University of Cambridge
The British Journal for the History of Science, 1997Co-Authors: Aileen FyfeAbstract:In order to pass the BA examination, it was, also, necessary to get up Paley's Evidences of Christianity , and his Moral Philosophy . This was done in a thorough manner, and I am convinced that I could have written out the whole of the Evidences with perfect correctness, but not of course in the clear language of Paley. The logic of this book and, as I may add, of his Natural Theology gave me as much delight as did Euclid. The careful study of these works, without attempting to learn any part by rote, was the only part of the Academical Course which, as I then felt and as I still believe, was of the least use to me in the education of my mind. Charles Darwin Autobiography One of the books Charles Darwin read at Cambridge University was William Paley's Natural Theology (1802). Many scholars have assumed that this was a set text at the university in the early nineteenth century. However, a study of the examination papers of the university, and contemporary memoirs, autobiographies and correspondence, reveals no evidence that this was so, though it did appear in some of the college examinations. This contrasts with other books by Paley which did appear for many years in both university and college examinations. This paper uses the misapprehension about Paley's text as a starting point to investigate the role of Natural Theology in a Cambridge education in the first three decades of the nineteenth century.
Niall O’ Flaherty - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
The rhetorical strategy of William Paley’s Natural Theology (1802): Part 2, William Paley’s Natural Theology and the challenge of atheism
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 2010Co-Authors: Niall O’ FlahertyAbstract:Abstract The first part of this two-part article suggested that William Paley’s Natural Theology (1802) should be viewed as the culmination of a complex psychological strategy for inculcating religious and moral sentiments. Having focused in Part 1 on Paley’s rhetoric, we now turn our attention to the philosophical part of the programme. This article attempts to settle the vexed question of how far Paley responded to the devastating critique of the teleological argument contained in Hume’s posthumously published Dialogues concerning Natural religion (1779). It also identifies tensions that arose in Natural Theology between the rhetorical and intellectual sides of the stratagem. In response to Erasmus Darwin’s evolutionary theories, Paley asserted that the divinely designed architecture of nature had remained unchanged since the creation. But the more he emphasized the preordained nature of providence, its effectuation through mechanical dispositions, the less room there appeared to be for particular interventions. Section 2 concentrates on Paley’s efforts to reconcile this model of a law-governed, mechanical universe, with the belief in a personal God who was active in worldly affairs. It therefore challenges the view, long unquestioned in the historical literature, that Paley’s Deity was merely a watchmaker, who had remained idle since the Creation.
Cornel W. Du Toit - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Towards a new Natural Theology based on horizontal transcendence : original research
Hts Teologiese Studies-theological Studies, 2009Co-Authors: Cornel W. Du ToitAbstract:This article explores a context for designing a new Natural Theology. The starting point is that traditional developments in this regard, from Augustine to Aquinas, Paley, Boyle and Barth, do not get us much further. Our thinking reflects our world - a world which has changed dramatically under modern and postmodern influences, especially those of the sciences. A new Natural Theology is simply an account of nature and creatureliness with due regard to scientific advances. Consequently Natural Theology today must start 'from below' with a new anthropology that reflects the worldview of our time. As a result the article rejects absolute transcendence, replacing it with a horizontal transcendence that accords with humans' biological makeup and with present-day scientific thinking. In the framework of horizontal transcendence the pivotal problem of the human condition is no longer death, but life. This has radical implications for theological thinking. The example used in the article is the impact this has on Paul's theological method. Examples of Theology centring on the problem of life are discussed briefly with reference to Girard, iek and Vattimo.
-
Some Barthian perspectives on the present science-religion debate: What is the place of “Natural Theology” today?
HTS Teologiese Studies Theological Studies, 2007Co-Authors: Cornel W. Du ToitAbstract:As an example of the context-relatedness of Barth’s work, this article compares his crisis Theology with Heidegger’s philosophy of Being. Further examples are Barth’s reaction to the modernism of his time, with its accent on rationalism (see his critique of Kant), and the influence of subjective Theology. In spite of his condemnation of Natural Theology, Barth could make a unique contribution to the current science-Theology debate. His reading of the creation story and the way he views (transcends) the literal text in order to experience the Word of God as an event through that text, is a case in point. This approach, too, is comparable with certain aspects of Heidegger’s work. Barth’s reaction to the Natural Theology of his day was equally tied to that context. His particular target was the Theology of that era which he interpreted as “Natural Theology”. To Barth, Natural Theology is metaphor for self-assertive, autonomous human beings who, via reason, manipulate the church, the Word and tradition.
-
Secular spirituality versus secular dualism: Towards postsecular holism as model for a Natural Theology
HTS Teologiese Studies Theological Studies, 2006Co-Authors: Cornel W. Du ToitAbstract:The term “secular spirituality” is meant to convey the contemporary phenomenon of spirituality as experienced in different spheres not associated with structured, institutionalised religion. An outline is given of the relation between secular reality (the Natural realm) and religious/spiritual reality (the superNatural realm), as it developed from pre-secular animism (pre-modern unity with nature) to secular dualism (modernism) to post-secular holism (influence of postmodernism). Then follows a brief discussion of secular spirituality in Africa with reference to struggle spirituality. Secular spirituality in its technospiritual mode is becoming increasingly important and is dealt with cursorily before dealing with secular spirituality as a model for a postmodern Natural Theology. In this context “Natural Theology” is not concerned with proofs of God’s existence, but seeks to integrate the Natural and superNatural dimensions of human life meaningfully.
Michael Sudduth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology
2009Co-Authors: Michael SudduthAbstract:Contents: Preface Introduction Part I Natural Theology and the Reformed Tradition: The emergence and evolution of the reformed endorsement of Natural Theology Understanding the reformed objection to Natural Theology. Part II Natural Theology and the Immediate Knowledge of God: The Naturally implanted knowledge of God The immediate knowledge of God in 20th-century religious epistemology Immediacy and reformed models of Natural Theology. Part III Sin and the Christian Reconstruction of Natural Theology: Natural Theology and the noetic effects of sin The noetic effects of sin and contemporary epistemology The dogmatic model of Natural Theology. Part IV The Logic of Natural Theology: The logic of theistic arguments God of the philosophers The 'robust theistic descriptivist' objection evaluated Epilogue Indexes.
-
Revisiting the 'Reformed Objection' to Natural Theology
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2009Co-Authors: Michael SudduthAbstract:In the present paper I address two significant and prevalent errors concerning opposition to Natural Theology within the Reformed theological tradition. First, contrary to Alvin Plantinga, I argue that the idea of properly basic theistic belief has not motivated or otherwise grounded opposition to Natural Theology within the Reformed tradition. There is, in fact, a Reformed endorsement of Natural Theology grounded in the notion that theistic belief can be properly basic. Secondly, I argue that late nineteenth- and twentieth-century Reformed criticisms of Natural Theology do not constitute an objection to Natural Theology as such but rather an objection to Natural Theology construed in a particular way. I explore the nature of this objection and its compatibility with an alternative understanding of Natural Theology.
Matthew Daniel Eddy Eddy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
The Rhetoric and Science of William Paley's Natural Theology
Literature and Theology, 2004Co-Authors: Matthew Daniel Eddy EddyAbstract:In this essay I suggest that William Paley's Natural Theology was rhetorical work written to appeal to an eighteenth-century British empiricist mindset. I begin by addressing the book's argument and audience. In particular, I pay close attention to Paley's adolescent exposure to rhetoric and Natural Theology's panegyric format. In addition to excavating the work's cultural context, I go on to explain why Paley's work appealed to a conservative, polite and economically comfortable audience. I then move on to address how he used the rhetorical practice of inventio to select scientific sources and examples, or commonplaces, intended to play on the heart-strings of his empirically minded readers. To illustrate this aspect of the book's rhetorical construction, the end of this essay shows that the scientific examples of his theological argument were taken from a wide variety of contemporary physiology, Natural philosophy and Natural history texts. Contrary to later nineteenth-century assessments of Natural Theology, I emphasise that these books and articles were standard sources for the practicing scientific community of Paley's generation. Moreover, throughout all of the following sections, I demonstrate that Paley specifically intended to shame atheism and to praise the attributes of God.
-
Paley, William: science and rhetoric in his Natural Theology
1999Co-Authors: Matthew Daniel Eddy EddyAbstract:William Paley's Natural Theology is probably the nineteenth century's most well- known design argument. As such an influential book, it is almost expected that twentieth century intellectual historians should at least pay a footnote to it. In midst of all these studies about the impact of Natural Theology upon the nineteenth century, one key fact is forgotten: Natural Theology and its sources were written in the eighteenth century. It is the goal of this thesis to demonstrate that Paley's design argument must be compared to the intellectual climate of that time period. Chapters 1 and 2 outline the rhetorical argument and the tools that Paley used to persuade his polite eighteenth century audience. The majority of scientific sources and examples he used were well-known names and therefore implicitly contributed to the believability of his argument. Accordingly, chapters 3 and 4 investigate why Paley's scientific sources added credibility to Natural Theology. Chapters 5 and 6 examine the actual scientific data that Paley turned into examples for his design argument. Setting the rhetoric aside, what was the actual scientific picture communicated by his examples? In these chapters, we find that even though Paley argues against random change, he does support a morphological telic change—the development of a supplemental part based on a pre-existing, fixed body part. As every chapter of this thesis unfolds, it will become more apparent that Paley was an intellectual heir to the eighteenth century. He wrote in a polite manner and employed a body of standard eighteenth century Natural philosophical knowledge. It is this context that must be addressed and seriously considered when studying the nineteenth century intellectual legacy of Natural Theology.
