Science's Blind Spot: The Unseen Religion of Scientific Naturalism (Paperback)
Cornelius G. Hunter
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
With the rise in prominence of the Intelligent Design movement (along with its vehement critics), the debate over origins increasingly plays itself out in the scientific community, the courts, the school boards, and the media. A traditional argument of proponents of evolution is that science in general, and evolution in particular, is empirically based, free from any religious or philosophical underpinnings. It follows, then, that science is a more trustworthy perspective on reality.
In this thought-provoking book, Cornelius Hunter turns that argument on its head. Through a study of the history of thought, he shows that in fact, modern science has been greatly influenced by theological and metaphysical considerations. This has resulted in the significant influence of what he calls "theological naturalism." Thus, naturalism is not a result of empirical scientific inquiry, but rather a presupposition of science. This bias is science's "blind spot," and it has profound implications for how scientific theories are evaluated and thus advanced or suppressed. In the end, Hunter proposes a better way--moderate empiricism--and shows how Intelligent Design fits into such a method. Science's Blind Spotprovides food for thought for anyone interested in the intersection between scientific and religious thought.
From the Back Cover
"Continuing the theme from his previous two books, biophysicist Cornelius Hunter surveys the history of science to reveal the real source of modern scientists' opposition to intelligent design. Turning popular opinion on its head, Hunter convincingly argues that scientists who oppose intelligent design do so for theological reasons, not empirically based arguments. Science's Blind Spot is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand why those who oppose intelligent design are becoming more entrenched as the evidence for it continues to build."--Guillermo Gonzalez, Iowa State University
"This book is a scholarly, yet easily understood, description of how difficult it is to work outside the dominant paradigm. Hunter provides a perceptive analysis of how we got to be where we are, and why 'theological naturalism' is an overlooked but critical issue in understanding the current face-off between religion and science. There is a depth of perception here, an insight into our most unexamined assumptions, that will boggle the mind of anyone conversant with the issues. This book will richly reward all those who read it, whether they are new to the debate or hardened veterans of the science wars. The author has a great gift for clarifying arguments that have long been misunderstood or overlooked."--Gene Bammel, professor emeritus, West Virginia University; author of Everyday Philosophy
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Source/Fonte: Amazon Books
