Reflectorites
I have recently purchased Del Ratzch's latest book "Science & Its Limits", which
is an update of his "Philosophy of Science" (1986).
I have not finished it, but what I have read looks good. I particularly like this bit:
"It could be a scene straight out of Star Trek. A doctor examining a
crew member who has fallen mysteriously ill discovers something
remarkable in samples taken from the patient. What she finds is a
tiny self-contained, self-sustaining unit tightly packed with even
tinier subunits, which is controlled by what appear to be software
and processors so compact and condensed that their components
are specialized complex individual molecules. Further, the doctor
discovers, this microscopic entity contains a propulsion system
driven by a nifty, minutely inboard electric rotary motor. The motor
is attached to an outboard component which it rotates, thereby
generating the propulsion. Although the entity is obviously not of
human manufacture, the doctor recognizes an intelligently designed
micro machine when she sees one. And though she does not yet
know who designed it, what its purpose is or how it got into the
crew member, she immediately issues a security alert.
That might have been a scene from Star Trek, but it is not it is a
story about *us*. Each of us has millions of these remarkable units
in our own bodies they are microorganisms called E. coli. Although
E. coli are common parts of our natural internal and external
environments, it is difficult not to be rather astonished by the
existence of the microscopic electric rotary motors. In most
contexts we (like the doctor) would take the existence of such a
motor-complete with organic rotors, stators, bushings, driveshafts-
as virtually conclusive evidence that some intelligent designer had
been at work here. In fact, a number of scientists (e.g., Michael
Behe, author of Darwin's Black Box) have come to exactly that
conclusion and maintain that we cannot have a complete scientific
understanding of some parts of nature without incorporating the
concept of design."
(Ratzsch D.L., "Science & Its Limits: The Natural Sciences in
Christian Perspective," [1986], Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove
IL., Second Edition, 2000, p.111. Emphasis in original).
Here are its contents:
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[...]
1. Science: What is it? 11
2. The Traditional Conception of Science 17
3. Philosophy of Science in the 1 960s & 1 970s
Kuhn & Beyond 38
4. The Contemporary Situation
A Brief Introduction 63
5. The Competence of Science
What Can it Tell us? 73
6. The Limitations of Science
What Can it Not Tell us? 92
7. "Scientific" Challenges to Religious Belief 100
8. Design & Science 110
9. Christianity & Scientific Pursuits 133
10. Christianity & the Specific Content of Science
A Typology 141
Appendix: Speaking the Truth in Love
Some Thoughts About Feet 160
[...]
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There is a short blurb about it at
http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=1580
Steve
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"The origin of life has been explained by many theories which have become
progressively incompatible with the progress of scientific knowledge:
spontaneous generation; cosmic fertilization, according to which the Earth
was sown with germ-cells brought by meteorites or by interstellar cosmic
dust; creation by pure chance. None of these suggestions stand up to
serious critical examination." (Tetry A., "The Cell," in Rostand J. & Tetry
A., "Larousse Science of Life: A Study of Biology Sex, Genetics, Heredity
and Evolution," [1962], Hamlyn: London, 1971, p.56)
Stephen E. Jones | sejones@iinet.net.au | http://www.iinet.net.au/~sejones
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