To: johnston@uidaho.edu, asa@calvin.edu
Date sent: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 09:23:03 -0600
Subject: Re: Phillip Johnson interview
From: John W Burgeson <burgytwo@juno.com>
Dear Burgy, et al:
Burgy posted:
> Larry posted: " I have enjoyed watching this concerted research
> effort by some good Christians on the ASA List, to do away with the need
> to
> take PJ and the ID movement seriously. Or, is it an attempt to help good
>
> Christian PJ by showing him how he can be more precise, and more
> effective?"
>
> I think Larry is being just a little sarcastic here. Apologies if not so.
Burgy - You are right, and I apologize for the sarcasm. I shud wait to post
until I'm in a better mood.
> My own problem with Phil, and I've discussed this with him on occasion,
> is that he sees no difference between the terms "philosophical
> naturalism" and "methodological naturalism." That there IS a difference
> seems so clear to me (at least) that I have real difficulty with this
> apparent blindness in his writings.
I also have this problem with Phil's writing. I think my definition of
methodological naturalism would be:
a) "When trying to understand some phenomenon (such as what happened to my
sandwich?) start by assuming that natural law applies". All of us scientist
types do this, of course. But I would also include in my definition the idea
that :
b) "If this approach fails, then consider what other logical explanations might
apply" (like maybe there is an intelligent sandwich thief lurking nearby)
Phil's complaint is that sometimes when discussing biology with Christian
Biologists at Christian Universities, they say they are Methodological
Naturalists. But then they insist on limiting the Bio-discussion to natural
causes, ie. Natural selection. In that case I think they are clearly behaving
as Philosophical Naturalists, and should be willing to recognize this.
So maybe Phil should choose a new name for such scientists , rather than saying
that the two terms mean the same thing. Maybe Crypto-Philosophical
Naturalists?
Burgy:
;
> I like Phil a great deal. We will have much to talk with him about in the
> life to come. Although this subject will probably be a very small part of
> that conversation.
Larry: - Hey, I'm sure looking forward to that, not too long for me
Meanwhile, let's get to the battle you mention, of changing the ruling
paradigm in present-world academia, the often underlying assumption that God is
either non-existent, or unemployed. Won't it be great Up There to find some
people who heard the Good News and responded to it, because their eyes were
opened by our witness?
Yours in Christ, Larry
================================================
Lawrence H. Johnston home: 917 E. 8th st.
professor of physics, emeritus Moscow, Id 83843
University of Idaho (208) 882-2765
http://www.uidaho.edu/~johnston/ =====================
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