Natural Theology, Methodological Naturalism, and “Turtles All the Way Down” Cover Image

Teologia naturalna, naturalizm metodologiczny i „żółwie do samego dołu”
Natural Theology, Methodological Naturalism, and “Turtles All the Way Down”

Author(s): Del Ratzsch
Subject(s): Philosophy of Science
Published by: Instytut Filozofii, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski
Keywords: natural theology; methodological naturalism; design; creation; theism; fine-tuning; prohibitions; explanatory regress; explanatory recursion; Ockham’s razor

Summary/Abstract: Natural theology has not been held in particularly high regard during the past century and one half. However, recent developments both within science and within philosophy of science offer some new possibilities and resources. In what follows I explore some areas and structures within which natural theological potential might (in principle) emerge. I further argue that the current weapon of choice against substantive science/religion intertwining — methodological naturalism — not only fails as an inviolable norm, thus leaving the possibility of a genuine natural theology intact, but that it may even have unhappy theological consequences.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 13
  • Page Range: 119-152
  • Page Count: 34
  • Language: Polish