DOCSLIB.ORG

Humanity's Capacity to Apprehend Aesthetic Value

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Humanity's Capacity to Apprehend Aesthetic Value Submission Page Humanity’s Capacity to Apprehend Aesthetic Value as an Argument for God’s Existence To Fulfill the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Divinity Liberty University Walter Hurst Davis Sr. Read and Approved by: Chairperson: _ Dr. Dan Mitchell_______________________ Reader: _____Dr. Joseph Wooddell____________________ Reader: ______Dr. Samuel Smith_____________________ Date: ___May 6, 2016_________________ Liberty University Humanity’s Capacity to Apprehend Aesthetic Value as an Argument for God’s Existence A Dissertation Submitted to The Faculty of the Rawlings School of Divinity In Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Divinity by Walter Hurst Davis Sr. Lynchburg, VA May 2016 Copyright Page Copyright © 2016 Walter H. Davis Sr. All Rights Reserved ii Dedication To my faithful wife Dodie Mae Davis, my children and grandchildren, for their faithful endurance. I chose to endure the inconveniences of this process. They did not. iii Contents Preface ix Acknowledgements xi Abstract xiii Introduction 1 Clarifying the Role of Theistic Arguments 6 The Relevance of the Thesis 10 The Argument and Reasoning Methods 11 The Vital Relationship between Theology and Apologetics 12 The Place for this Study in Apologetics 15 The Plan for the Study 20 Chapter 1: A Defense of Abductive Reasoning in Light of Other Reasoning Methods 22 Deductive Reasoning 25 Hesitancy in Using Deductive Reasoning 26 Deciding Against the Use of Deduction 36 Inductive Reasoning 38 The Inductive Nature of the Evidential Apologetic Method 40 Hesitations in the Use of Induction 41 Abductive Reasoning 44 Defining Abductive Reasoning 46 Affirming Abductive Reasoning 48 Summary and Conclusion of the Case for Use of Abduction 49 iv Addendum to Chapter 1 54 Chapter 2: The First Premise 55 Ascertaining the Ability to Apprehend Aesthetic Value 56 The Definition of Apprehending 56 Features of Apprehending Aesthetic Value 61 Awareness of Supernaturalism 69 Why Awareness of the Supernatural is Relevant 71 Categories of Apprehension 73 Summary of the Ability to Apprehend Aesthetic Value 80 Ascertaining Aesthetic Value 81 Definitions of Aesthetic Value 81 A Proposed Definition of Aesthetic Value 84 Three Theories for Comprehending Aesthetic Value 85 Summary of the Ascertaining of Aesthetic Value 88 Ascertaining the Universality of Aesthetic Apprehension 89 Historical Evidence 90 Philosophical Evidence 92 Theological Evidence 93 Summary of Chapter 2 94 Chapter 3: The Second Premise 96 Identifying “Explanations” 98 Relevance of “Explanations” 99 A Proposed Criterion for the Best Explanation 104 The Need for Clarity 105 The Need for Consistency 106 The Need for Cogency 107 v The Need for Conclusiveness 107 Naturalism’s Explanations for the Apprehension of Aesthetic Value 109 Classical Natural Selection Explanation 109 Weaknesses of the Classical Natural Selection Explanation 117 Evolutionary Psychology 124 Weaknesses of Evolutionary Psychology 130 Measuring the Naturalistic Explanation 132 Applying the Criterion to Naturalistic Explanations 134 The Need for Clarity 134 The Need for Consistency 134 The Need for Cogency 135 The Need for Conclusiveness 136 Supernatural Explanations for Man’s Capacity for Aesthetic Apprehension 136 The Possibility of Supernaturalism 137 Philosophical Argument 138 Evidence for Miracles 145 Scientific Review of Naturalism 149 Summary of the Supernatural Explanation 153 The Explanation Question 153 Applying the Criterion 154 Concluding Thoughts Regarding the Second Premise 157 Chapter 4: The Conclusion and its Justification 158 Why This Argument Matters 156 To Affirm and Defend the Role of Apologetics 160 To Affirm and Append Classical Apologetics 163 To Contribute to the Argument for Theism’s Cogency 165 To Offer Another Argument for God’s Existence 166 vi Summary of Why the Argument Matters 167 Conclusion 169 Appendix 1: Theistic Arguments 174 Ontological Argument 174 Cosmological Argument 175 Teleological Argument 176 Moral Argument 177 Appendix 2: Apologetic Methodologies 179 Classical Apologetic Methodology 179 Evidential Apologetic Methodology 180 Cumulative Case Apologetic Methodology 180 Presuppositional Apologetic Methodology 181 Reformed Epistemology Apologetic Methodology 182 Appendix 3: The Relevance of This Study to World Views 184 Bibliography 188 vii Preface Though the passion for this study is evident in the text, the initial idea came from Dr. Dan Mitchell. After graciously agreeing to be the mentor for this project it became clear that settling upon a topic choice was anything but easy. Dr. Mitchell’s accomplishments as a very fine artist made his suggestion to consider an aesthetic approach understandable. After serious consideration of what could be done within that area of study, it became more appealing, resulting in the approach demonstrated in the following. When the idea was shared with Dr. Dave Baggett, faculty member of the School of Divinity and co-author of Good God: The Theistic Foundations of Morality, and after he was told that the argument was going to be employing abductive inference, he described the concept as “brilliant.” With affirmation such as this, that spark sufficiently ignited the fire which has consumed over a year of research and writing. The study has an aesthetic focus which binds it from beginning to end. Along the way, however, it enters the dialogues present within the disciplines of logical argumentation, philosophy, psychology, science, and theology. What is consistent throughout the journey is a passion for a proposed theistic argument based on man’s capacity to apprehend aesthetic value, which often rises to the point of a polemic against the views of naturalism, particularly the dogmatism of Richard Dawkins. No apology is being offered for this passion. If, however, the intensity of the polemic disturbs a reader, it is prudent to encourage that reader to try and look past the polemic and concentrate on the accuracy or inaccuracy of the data presented. The reader should also know that the project blatantly reflects the views of evangelical Christianity. One should expect nothing else from a Ph.D. candidate seeking a degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity. Throughout the following pages, however, validating the thesis viii that man’s capacity to apprehend aesthetic value is the result of divine causation, with scholarly research reflecting multiple academic disciplines, is the primary focus. That this results in a rational refutation of naturalism should not be a surprise. It is a major hope that this project might be at least an encouragement for Christians. It would be even more gratifying if the Lord God used it to open the eyes of someone who has been blinded by the errant dogma of Darwinian and neo-Darwinian naturalism. Walter H. Davis Sr. Lynchburg, VA. 2016. ix Acknowledgements No one accomplishes any significant goal without help from either friends, colleagues, family or some combination thereof. This project is certainly no exception. It is such a small thanks to offer these deserved acknowledgements, but it is a sincere thanks. The first which comes to mind is the outstanding faculty of what is now the Rawlings Divinity School of Liberty University. These are not only capable scholars but are compassionate, committed believers in the Lord Jesus. Their scholarship as well as their lives attest to the truths of Scripture. Educational examples such as these must be acknowledged. In the case of this study, particular thanks is given for the encouragement, kindness and academic excellence of its mentor Dr. Daniel R. Mitchell who offered guidance when needed and room to roam as thoughts developed. The other dissertation readers, Drs. Joseph Wooddell of Criswell College and Samuel Smith of Liberty University, also deserve acknowledgement for their willing input and support. Sincere thanks are given to these men. Dr. Dave Baggett must also be mentioned as his support came merely out of his kindness and passion for education in general and this topic in particular. With co-author Dr. Jerry Walls, Dr. Baggett has made significant contributions to Christian apologetics. They forge a positive path for those who seek to discover why theism is so wonderfully rational and reasonable. Along those same thoughts, acknowledgment must also be given to Dr. Gary Habermas. As a globally recognized expert on evidence for miracles, especially the resurrection, his work makes significant contributions to apologetics in general and this study in particular. He and Dr. Baggett are academic luminaries and it is a privilege to have participated in their classes. Both of these men have become personal friends. To fail to mention Dr. John Morrison would simply be inappropriate. It would be inadequate not to mention this intellectual giant placing his hands on x my shoulders, during a particularly harrowing week of self-doubt, and hearing him say, “You belong here just like the rest of them.” Professors of this caliber are worth more than mere mention. These are powerful examples of what professors should be. This acknowledgement would not be complete without mention of the wise direction, gregarious support and tireless efforts of Dr. Leo Percer, Chairman of the Ph.D. Department at Rawlings Divinity School. Under his direction, the Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics degree being sought by this study is not only rigorous in its standards, but practical in its intent to develop students in becoming both respectable, contributing Christian academics
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Memorials 2005
    Scholars Crossing SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations 3-2005 Memorials 2005 James A. Borland Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Borland, James A., "Memorials 2005" (2005). SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations. 58. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs/58 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. JETS 48/1 (March 2005) 213–20 MEMORIALS gleason leonard archer, jr. Gleason Leonard Archer, Jr. was born on May 22, 1916, in Norwell, MA, the third child of Elizabeth (Snyder) and Gleason Archer, Sr. His older sib- lings were a brother, Allen, and a sister, Marion. Gleason grew up in Boston and attended Boston Latin School. His father founded the Suffolk University Law School in Boston where the family lived during the school year, retreat- ing to Norwell during the summers. Gleason’s mother was a Christian, a member of the Park Street Church, and he came to know Christ at an early age through her influence. Gleason attended Harvard College and received his B.A. degree in 1938, followed in 1939 by his LL.B. degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. His took his A.M. degree from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1940, and his Ph.D. from the same institution in 1944. He grad- uated with his Bachelor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary the following year.
    [Show full text]
  • Critical Neuroscience
    Choudhury_bindex.indd 391 7/22/2011 4:08:46 AM Critical Neuroscience Choudhury_ffirs.indd i 7/22/2011 4:37:11 AM Choudhury_ffirs.indd ii 7/22/2011 4:37:11 AM Critical Neuroscience A Handbook of the Social and Cultural Contexts of Neuroscience Edited by Suparna Choudhury and Jan Slaby A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication Choudhury_ffirs.indd iii 7/22/2011 4:37:11 AM This edition first published 2012 © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Blackwell Publishing was acquired by John Wiley & Sons in February 2007. Blackwell’s publishing program has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business to form Wiley-Blackwell. Registered Office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell. The right of Suparna Choudhury and Jan Slaby to be identified as the authors of the editorial material in this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Jim Crow Racism and the Mexican Americans of San Antonio, Texas
    ORAL HISTORY AS A MEANS OF MORAL REPAIR: JIM CROW RACISM AND THE MEXICAN AMERICANS OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS by Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL May 2018 Copyright by Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi, 2017 ii ORAL HISTORY AS A MEANS OF MORAL REPAIR: JIM CROW RACISM AND THE MEXICAN AMERICANS OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS by Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi This dissertation was prepared under the direction of the candidate's dissertation advisor, Dr. Sandra Norman, Comparative Studies Program, and has been approved by the members of her supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. SUPERVISORY COMMnTEE: ~~o..... .:i N1~"" Sandra Norman, Ph.D. ~~Susan Love Brown, Ph. 'S:"..,;ae~.~~o~ JosephinBeoku-Betts, Ph.D. Directo , mparative St ilies Pro? MiC11aeliOfSWclD.~-# Dean, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts andn:ers . 5"", "Zo/g "~~2.~~ ' iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author offers her sincerest thanks and gratitude to members of her committee (past and present-Dr. Robin Fiore, Dr. Marta Cruz-Janzen, Dr. Sandra Norman, Dr. Susan Love Brown, and Dr. Josephine Beoku-Betts) for their guidance, input, and support in bringing this manuscript to fruition. She wishes to especially thank her dissertation advisor, Dr. Sandra Norman, for her patience, advice, and inspiration during the composition of this manuscript.
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court, Appellate Division First Department
    SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION FIRST DEPARTMENT FEBRUARY 24, 2015 THE COURT ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS: Tom, J.P., Friedman, Acosta, Saxe, Kapnick, JJ. 13941 Carla Farrulla, Index 306208/08 Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- Happy Care Ambulette Inc., et al., Defendants-Respondents. _________________________ Melcer Newman PLLC, New York (Roger Rodriguez of counsel), for appellant. Ryan & Conlon, LLP, New York (Michael Couglin of counsel), for respondents. _________________________ Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Lucindo Suarez, J.), entered on or about July 15, 2013, which granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs. In this action for personal injuries allegedly sustained by plaintiff while she was a passenger in an ambulette van, defendants established their prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by demonstrating that they had no involvement with the subject accident. In opposition, plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see DiPierro v City of New York, 25 AD3d 306, 308 [1st Dept 2006]). Her deposition testimony establishes that the ambulette van in which she was riding when the accident occurred had a black exterior, and that “Action Ambulette” was displayed on the side of the vehicle. Defendants submitted the affidavit of John Colagrande, defendant Happy Care Ambulette Inc.’s (“Happy Care”) vice president in which he asserted that the company never owned ambulettes that were painted black nor was it affiliated with an entity called Action Ambulette. Contrary to plaintiff’s contention, the Workers’ Compensation form and her affidavit fail to demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of fact as to whether Happy Care owned or maintained the vehicle involved in the accident or was legally responsible for the person who allegedly caused her injuries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Inerrancy and Authority of Scripture in Christian Apologetics
    The Journal of Ministry & Theology 50 The Inerrancy and Authority of Scripture in Christian Apologetics Lee Allen Anderson Jr. INTRODUCTION Scripture’s call to Christians to engage in the apologetic task is markedly obvious. For example, 1 Peter 3:15 instructs believers to always be “ready to make a defense (ἀπολογίαν) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” Similarly, Jude 3 exhorts Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” Here, the “faith” refers not to the subjective element of personal trust in the Lord God, but instead to that “body of truth that very early in the church’s history took on a definite form,” that is, the content of Christian faith—doctrinal truth (cf. Gal 1:23; 1 Tim 4:1).1 Implicit in this verse, therefore, is the acknowledgment of the fact that a certain body of doctrinal truth exists, which in turn implies a source or origin for that doctrinal truth. For the Christian, the principle, authoritative source of doctrinal truth is the “God-breathed” holy Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16). The reliability of Scripture as a standard for Christian doctrine hinges on the fact that, as the inspired word of the true God who does not lie (Num 23:19; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18), it is wholly true (Ps 119:160; John 17:17). To echo the words of the longstanding affirmation of the Evangelical Theological Society, “The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs.”2 This affirmation is not a peripheral issue to Christian theology; it is germane to the life of the church and, of logical consequence, the upholding of the Christian faith.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rapture in Twenty Centuries of Biblical Interpretation
    TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 149-171 THE RAPTURE IN TWENTY CENTURIES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION James F. Stitzinger Associate Professor of Historical Theology The coming of God’s Messiah deserves closer attention than it has often received. The future coming of the Messiah, called the “rapture,” is imminent, literal and visible, for all church saints, before the hour of testing, premillennial, and, based on a literal hermeneutic, distinguishes between Israel and the church. The early church fathers’ views advocated a sort of imminent intra- or post- tribulationism in connection with their premillennial teaching. With a few exceptions, the Medieval church writers said little about a future millennium and a future rapture. Reformation leaders had little to say about prophetic portions of Scripture, but did comment on the imminency of Christ’s return. The modern period of church history saw a return to the early church’s premillennial teaching and a pretribulational rapture in the writings of Gill and Edwards, and more particularly in the works of J. N. Darby. After Darby, pretribulationism spread rapidly in both Great Britain and the United States. A resurgence of posttribulationism came after 1952, accompanied by strong opposition to pretribulationism, but a renewed support of pretribulationism has arisen in the recent past. Five premillennial views of the rapture include two major views—pretribulationism and posttribulation-ism—and three minor views—partial, midtribulational, and pre-wrath rapturism. * * * * * Introduction The central theme of the Bible is the coming of God’s Messiah. Genesis 3:15 reveals the first promise of Christ’s coming when it records, “He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”1 Revelation 22:20 unveils the last promise when it records “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly,’ Amen.
    [Show full text]
  • ART and ARCHAEOLOGY Vocabulary ART and ARCHAEOLOGY Vocabulary Version 1.1 (Last Updated: 2018-01-22)
    - Institute for Scientific and Technical Information - ART and ARCHAEOLOGY Vocabulary ART and ARCHAEOLOGY Vocabulary Version 1.1 (Last updated: 2018-01-22) Controlled vocabulary used for indexing bibliographical records for the "Art and Archaeology" FRANCIS database (1972-2015, http://pascal-francis.inist.fr/ ). This resource contains 1960 entries grouped into 133 collections. A French version of this resource is also available. The resource is browsable online on the terminological portal Loterre: https://www.loterre.fr Legend • Syn: Synonym. • → : Corresponding Preferred Term. • FR: French Preferred Term. • ES: Spanish Preferred Term. • DE: German Preferred Term. • BT: Broader Term. • SC: Semantic Category. • DO: Subject Field. • URI: Concept's URI (link to the online view). This resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license: TABLE OF CONTENTS Alphabetical Index 4 Terminological Entries 5 List Of Entries 140 Collections 183 Alphabetical Index from 'Abd al-Samad to 'Abd al-Samad p. 6 -6 from 10th century AD to 1st millenium BC p. 9 -9 from 20th century AD to 2nd millenium BC p. 11 -11 from 30th century BC to 3rd millenium BC p. 12 -12 from 4th century AD to 4th millenium BC p. 13 -13 from 5th century AD to 5th millenium BC p. 14 -14 from 6th century AD to 6th dynasty p. 15 -15 from 7th century AD to 7th dynasty p. 16 -16 from 8th century AD to 8th dynasty p. 17 -17 from 9th century AD to 9th dynasty p. 18 -18 from Abassid dynasty to Aztec Civilization p. 19 -27 from baboon to Byzantium p.
    [Show full text]
  • Reflections of Generosity Annual Report of Private Giving
    Reflections of Generosity Annual Report of Private Giving For the year ending June 30, 2018 Index Reflections of Generosity In Gratitude for Our Engaged Community ....................................... 6 Collective Visioning .......................................................................... 8 Financial Highlights Supporting Excellence ...................................................................... 12 Collective Generosity A Story Told Together ........................................................................ 16 The Gift of Time: CCS Summer Research Fellowships ...................... 18 Alumni Generosity Leaving Legacies and Living Legends ............................................... 22 Homegrown Support ......................................................................... 24 A Passion for Unconventional Science .............................................. 26 A Video Board to Spark Hoopla......................................................... 28 Faculty Generosity Dear Friends, An Evolving and Rewarding Partnership ........................................... 32 Enduring Influence ............................................................................ 34 As we reflect on philanthropic giving to UC Santa Barbara over the past year, we are overwhelmed and inspired by you — our steadfast supporters — whose vision continues to advance the excellence and diversity of our Friends Generosity great institution. We are tremendously thankful for your generosity and your appreciation for the crucial role of Making
    [Show full text]
  • “Violent Brain”? Does It Make Sense to Speak Of
    DRAFT – NOT FOR QUOTATION; COMMENTS INVITED VIOLENCE ON THE BRAIN: A CRITIQUE OF NEUROSCIENCE IN CRIMINAL LAW Amanda C. Pustilnik∗ Abstract Is there such a thing as a criminally “violent brain”? Does it make sense to speak of “the neurobiology of violence” or the “psychopathology of crime”? Is it possible to answer on a physiological level what makes one person engage in criminal violence and another not, under similar circumstances? Current research in law and neuroscience is promising to answer these questions with a “yes.” Some legal scholars working in this area claim that we are close to realizing the “early criminologists’ dream of identifying the biological roots of criminality.” These hopes for a neuroscientific transformation of the criminal law, although based in the newest research, are part of a very old story. Criminal law and neuroscience have been engaged in an ill-fated and sometimes tragic affair for over two hundred years. Three issues have recurred that track those that bedeviled earlier efforts to ground criminal law in brain sciences. First is the claim that the brain is often the most relevant or fundamental level at which to understand criminal conduct. Second is that the various phenomena we call “criminal violence” arise causally from dysfunction within specific locations in the brain (“localization”). Third is the related claim that, because much violent criminality arises from brain dysfunction, people who commit such acts are biologically different from typical people (“alterity” or “otherizing”). This Article first demonstrates parallels between certain current claims about the neurobiology of criminal violence and past movements that were concerned with the law and neuroscience of violence: phrenology, Lombrosian biological criminology, and lobotomy.
    [Show full text]
  • BOOK REVIEW Defi Ning Right and Wrong in Brain Science: Essential Readings in Neuroethics
    BOOK REVIEW Defi ning Right and Wrong in Brain Science: Essential Readings in Neuroethics Edited by: Walter Glannon, Dana Press, 2007 Reviewed by: Chris Kaposy, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow Ethics of Health Research and Policy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. euroethics is a young but very active sub-fi eld of bioethics. techniques. How do we manage incidental fi ndings about brain Several new academic journals and special issues devoted tumours or anomalies that might arise in non-therapeutic brain Nto considering the ethical implications of developments in imaging research studies? Th ere are also concerns about the way neuroscience have emerged since the landmark 2002 conference neuroimaging data are interpreted, since such interpretation is in San Francisco that is widely credited with stoking the interest in inevitably shaped by social and cultural frameworks, and since neuroethics. Walter Glannon’s book, Defi ning Right and Wrong in the brain is the seat of our identity, or the “organ of individuality” Brain Science: Essential Readings in Neuroethics, captures well the as Safi re puts it. debates that have engaged neuroethics and provides a thorough introduction to the fi eld. Th e fascinating section on “Free Will, Moral Reasoning, and Re- sponsibility” (Part IV) contains articles that discuss what neurosci- Th e anthology is comprised of Glannon’s general introduction, 30 ence can tell us about moral reasoning. Th ere are also several key articles organized into six thematic sections with helpful introduc- essays which consider whether knowledge of the deterministic tions to the sections, and an epilogue by Steven Rose. All of the nature of the brain as revealed by neuroscience will cause us to articles have previously been published elsewhere, and many have abandon belief in moral and legal responsibility for our actions.
    [Show full text]
  • How Far Beyond Chicago? Assessing Recent Attempts to Reframe the Inerrancy Debate — Jason S
    Themelios 34.1 (2009): 26-49 How Far Beyond Chicago? Assessing Recent Attempts to Reframe the Inerrancy Debate — Jason S. Sexton — Jason Sexton is a licensed minister with the Evangelical Free Church of America and PhD candidate in Systematic Theology at The University of St. Andrews, Scotland. he doctrine of inerrancy has been a watershed issue among evangelicals in the West, perhaps now Tmore evident than ever.1 While the inerrancy debate never entirely dissipated from its last spell in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it recently surged to the forefront of discussions about an evan- gelical doctrine of Scripture both in North America and abroad. This transpired with recent events in the Evangelical Theological Society (hereafter, ETS) dealing with inerrancy2 and fresh publications of at least a dozen books, articles, and reviews.3 With this new rally, one might say that evangelicalism is 1 It was designated a “watershed” over three decades ago by Harold Lindsell, The Battle for the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), 26–27, and eight years later by Francis A. Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster (Wheaton: Crossway, 1984), 44. The degree of watershed was challenged early by Richard H. Bube, “Inerrancy Is/Is Not the Watershed of Evangeli- calism: None of the Above,” Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 29 (March 1977): 46–47, who called for “revelational inerrancy,” asserting that the term “inerrancy” outlived its usefulness. Some, however, see the inerrancy debate as a watershed for other reasons—because of a “classically modern” view of truth that made inerrancy the “foundational Christian doctrine upon which all others depend.” Jeffery Stephen Oldfield, “The Word Became Text and Dwells Among Us? An Examination of the Doctrine of Inerrancy” (PhD thesis, University of St Andrews, 2007), 232–33.
    [Show full text]
  • Editors Smile
    78 Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Informatics and Information Technology ORIGINS OF CONTEMPORARY INFORMATICS K. Zdravkova Institute of Informatics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova bb, PO BOX 162, Skopje, Macedonia [email protected] Abstract: Throughout many centuries calculation was mainly connected with mathematics. In recent times with an average delay of a decade, inventions in electronics and telecommunications made possible the growth of calculation into computing. Nowadays, informatics implements shortly technological miracles from many scientific disciplines. This paper gives a short review of those discov- eries that have significantly influenced contemporary information technology. Keywords: history of mathematics and informatics, computer industry, software industry 1. Pre-informatics era According to archaeologists, Neolithic peoples in the 45th century BC have al- ready used quantities, ten centuries earlier than Egypt hieroglyphs and Sumerian script in Mesopotamia were invented. This is the beginning of primitive calculus, with no doubt performed on fingers. The evidence for this fact is that Egyptian in the 35th century BC developed a symbol for 10. Latin name for the first calcula- tion tool is digitus. Although there is no evidence of any mathematical reasoning at that time, it is obvious that ancient Egyptians demonstrated remarkable mathematical sense still visible in their buildings. It is particularly manifested at Keops pyramid that was built in the period between 2.600 BC and 2.480 BC. The ratio of the hypotenuse and the smaller side of its meridial triangle is identical to the golden cut. This is exactly the same value at which the ratio between consecutive elements of Fibo- nacci series tend.
    [Show full text]