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Creative genesis: escalating naturalism and beyond

Date

2014

Authors

Rolston, Holmes, 1932-, author
Mohr Siebeck, publisher

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Abstract

Does a plausible worldview need some explanations that exceed the natural? Hard naturalisms insist not, but softer, or more open naturalisms find that natural processes can produce ever more complex results - moving from matter to life to mind - in a superb natural history. This invites a religious naturalism, and challenges it. Repeatedly the critical junctures require analysis pressing beyond merely scientific explanations: whether such narrative history is self-explanatory, whether each stage is sufficient for the next when more emerges out of less, what account to give of the creative genesis found in cybernetic genetics, the rise of caring, surprising serendipity, the opening up of new possibility space. Even scientific rationality depends on non-empirical logic, particularly in mathematics. Thoughtful persons are the most remarkable result arising out of natural history. If there is no supernature, at least nature is super. Further still, the intensity of personal experience suggests the Presence of transcending divine Logos, in, with, and under nature.

Description

Lead article in the inaugural issue of this European-based journal on philosophy, theology, and the sciences.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 33-35).

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Subject

hard naturalism
Logos
soft naturalism
natural history
genesis
emergence
origin of life
genetics
cybernetics
caring

Citation

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