Is nature ever evil? : religion, science, and value /
Is nature ever evil? : religion, science, and value /
edited by Willem B. Drees.
- 1 online resource (xv, 341 pages) : illustrations.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Scientists often pretend that their disciplines only describe and analyze natural processes in factual terms, without making evaluative statements regarding reality. However, scientists may also be driven by the beauty of that which they study. Or they may be appalled by suffering they encounter, and look for technical or medical means 'to improve nature'. Outside of the scientific community, value judgments are even more common. Humans evaluate nature and natural processes in moral, aesthetic and religious terms as cruel, beautiful, hopeful or meaningless. Is nature ultimately good, with all suffering and evil justified in the context of the larger evolutionary process? Or is nature to be improved, via culture or technology, as it is considered less adequate than it could be? In this book, some major scientists, theologians, and philosophers discuss these issues. As a study on the relations between religion and science, this is unique in emphasizing the evaluation of nature, rather than treating religion and science as competing or complementary casual explanations."--Publisher Summary.
9781134436705 electronic bk. 113443670X electronic bk.
Philosophy of nature.
Nature--Moral and ethical aspects.
Science--Moral and ethical aspects.
Nature--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Christian ethics.
Philosophie de la nature.
Nature--Aspect moral.
Sciences--Aspect moral.
Nature--Aspect religieux--Christianisme.
PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics
Christian ethics.
Nature--Moral and ethical aspects.
Nature--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Philosophy of nature.
Science--Moral and ethical aspects.
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
BD581 / .I595 2004
111/.84
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Scientists often pretend that their disciplines only describe and analyze natural processes in factual terms, without making evaluative statements regarding reality. However, scientists may also be driven by the beauty of that which they study. Or they may be appalled by suffering they encounter, and look for technical or medical means 'to improve nature'. Outside of the scientific community, value judgments are even more common. Humans evaluate nature and natural processes in moral, aesthetic and religious terms as cruel, beautiful, hopeful or meaningless. Is nature ultimately good, with all suffering and evil justified in the context of the larger evolutionary process? Or is nature to be improved, via culture or technology, as it is considered less adequate than it could be? In this book, some major scientists, theologians, and philosophers discuss these issues. As a study on the relations between religion and science, this is unique in emphasizing the evaluation of nature, rather than treating religion and science as competing or complementary casual explanations."--Publisher Summary.
9781134436705 electronic bk. 113443670X electronic bk.
Philosophy of nature.
Nature--Moral and ethical aspects.
Science--Moral and ethical aspects.
Nature--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Christian ethics.
Philosophie de la nature.
Nature--Aspect moral.
Sciences--Aspect moral.
Nature--Aspect religieux--Christianisme.
PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics
Christian ethics.
Nature--Moral and ethical aspects.
Nature--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Philosophy of nature.
Science--Moral and ethical aspects.
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
BD581 / .I595 2004
111/.84