Models Theories and Narratives

by Huiser, Pieter Jacobus

• ISBN13: 9789051704433
• ISBN10: 9051704437
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-20
• Publisher: Purdue Univ Pr

Summary

Does God exist? This question, and its fellow: do unobservable entities such as electrons, quarks and black holes which are postulated in scientific theories really exist, are often treated similarly. This book discusses the presuppositions of the debate in which religious realism is treated in the same way as scientific realism and, in so doing, an original kind of religious realism evolves. A few of the themes which are addressed in this book are: the relationships between religion, theology, science and empirical reality; the respective meanings of the affirmation or negation of the existence of God, and the existence of unobservable entities in scientific theories; the role of different kinds of explanation in the defence of religious and scientific realism; the relationship between religious models, metaphors and narratives; the significance of religious narratives in the defence of religious realism.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction	p. 1
Religious and Scientific Realism	p. 3
Against Scepticism	p. 23
Reference and Truth in Science	p. 41
Reference and Truth in Religion	p. 61
Explanation in Science and Religion	p. 73
Against Theory?	p. 85
Why Be Realist? Intelligibility of Scientific and Religious Practice	p. 105
Why Be Realist? The Methodological Advantages of Realism	p. 115
Why Be Realist? Reasons to Believe Existence Claims	p. 133
Scientific Theories and Religious Narratives	p. 159
Bibliography	p. 187
Index of Names	p. 197
Index of Subjects	p. 199
Samenvatting (Summary in Dutch)	p. 203
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