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Is there a place for God in science? Case study: Bošković’s theory of forces
Stipe Kutleša
Sažetak
When considering the current issue of the relationship between science and faith (and religion), one question arises, and that is whether God has any place in science and if science can be without this presumption. This paper based on the analysis of Bošković’s philosophical works, points to Bošković’s view on God as part of his theory of natural philosophy. When looking upon the theories of natural phenomena, many have, especially in the past referred to God whereas theories in science throughout the 19th century and beyond, there was no need for such reference. It is here that the question of the autonomy of science, and whether science can autonomously resolve all issues, arises. Although Bošković believed that his theory was an important scientific theory of his time, he could also see that no theory was able to answer the basic questions and that the crossing of boundaries between science and natural philosophy was a necessity. Bošković shows that it is necessary to admit that there is a superior creature (God) who had created the world and laws of nature as we know them, but in his freedom and wisdom he created them for a specific purpose, and that is human existence. In that sense, Bošković’s theory can be connected to the anthropic principle of contemporary science, which is the first known explanation of this aspect of Bošković’s theory.
Ključne riječi
science; God; Bošković; theory of forces; anthropic principle
Hrčak ID:
85040
URI
Datum izdavanja:
20.7.2012.
Posjeta: 1.733 *