From: Walter Hicks (wallyshoes@mindspring.com)
Date: Thu Oct 16 2003 - 17:12:23 EDT
John W Burgeson wrote:
> Ted Davis, on 10-9-03, posted as follows (between the dashed lines):
> ----------------
> jwburgeson@juno.com writes:
> Phil's primary error, IMHO, is not understanding that philosophical
> naturalism (the universe is all there is) and methodological naturalism
> (science is a game which investigates causality as if no gods exist) are
> two very separate ideas.
>
> I used to say the same thing myself, and on one occasion I said it
> directly to Phil. I now think I was mistaken: I think Phil understands
> this distinction very well. He simply believes, rightly or wrongly, that
> MN leads inevitably to PN.
> --------------
> I am unconvinced that you are mistaken, although I cannot find in my
> library of books by Johnson a direct quote to verify my statement. I did
> find a note on Richard Dickerson's PSCF article (vol 44, pp 137-38) where
> Phil takes (page 145 of THE WEDGE OF TRUTH, 2000) exception to
> Dickerson's defense of methodological naturalism. And I found zero index
> entries in that book under "methodological naturalism," which indicates
> to me that Phil does not take it as a "real" concept.
Help me out, Burgy or Ted. There is a clear cut difference between the two
concepts but I fail to see where it makes any practical difference in the
outcome. Either way one arrives at a conclusion which precludes direct
interaction by God. It seems like that old saw applies: "If it walks like a
duck and it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then call it a duck"
Whether MN ot PN, will the results not be the same -- a duck either way?
Can you illustrate a difference in any scientific theory given the two views?
Walt
>
>
> To the extent that Phil DOES understand MN, I agree with your last
> sentence, of course. But until I see in his writings that he understands
> it, I remain unconvinced. His latest book, THE RIGHT QUESTION, was a
> disappointment.
>
> I have met Phil on two occasions, the last being the NTSE in Austin in
> Feb 1997. I like him, and to some extent I think he does raise some of
> the "right questions." But something is fearfully wrong.
>
> Burgy
>
> www.burgy.50megs.com
>
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-- =================================== Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>In any consistent theory, there must exist true but not provable statements. (Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic If you have already found the truth without it. (G.K. Chesterton) ===================================
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