Episode 14: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories

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Science & Religion 101

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University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

32 оценки

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

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Categories & Principles II & III

In this final section on Categories and Principles, we will consider foundational and religious epistemological (theory of knowledge) categories. In particular, does a belief in God, or a lack of belief in God, impact the step of faith or intellect jump in the Metaphysics-Physics Principle? This week also introduces the second foundational principle of this course termed “The Message-Incident Principle.” This is a hermeneutical principle for interpreting religious texts dealing with statements about the natural world. In order to develop a peaceful relationship between Science and Religion, it is critical to understand that religious texts like the Bible feature an ancient understanding of nature (i.e., an ancient science). During this week we also outline the basic positions on the origin of the universe and life—Young Earth Creation, Progressive Creation, Evolutionary Creation, Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological Evolution.

Episode 14: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories4:54

Episode 15: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:16

Episode 16: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:01

Episode 17: Hermeneutical Categories5:40

Episode 18: Eisegesis, Exegesis & Hermeneutical Horizons8:46

Episode 19: Hermeneutical Gaps & Biblical Inerrancy5:33

Episode 20: Categories of Biblical Statements7:16

Episode 21: Categories of Poetic Language & Phenomenological Perspective4:57

Episode 22: Categories of Biblical Concordism & Correspondence6:45

Episode 23: The Message-Incident Principle & Origins Debate: General Categories6:25

Episode 24: Origins Debate: General Categories (Continued)6:39

Episode 25: Origins Debate: Specific Categories5:34

Episode 26: Practical Considerations5:43

Episode 27: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-35:08

Episode 28: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-3 (Continued)3:11

Hebrew Alphabet8:34

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Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 14.

In continuing with the topic of philosophy,

we are now going to introduce some epistemological categories.

The term epistemology comes from the Greek noun,

epistemy, which means knowledge.

Simply defined, epistemology deals with the rules of knowing.

Another way to define epistemology is that it is our theory of knowledge.

Students often confuse this.

Epistemology is not knowledge itself.

It's not information, but rather it's how we know, we know.

Epistemological categories can be seen as our mental tools, or to use a computer metaphor,

our epistemology is the mental software and

mental hardware that allows us to know and understand.

Therefore, everyone has an epistemology, even though

they may not know this term.

Please turn to page 6 in the handouts.

And let's begin by considering some foundational epistemological categories.

First, correspondence.

This is the notion that knowledge matches external reality.

For example, water's wet, it's not dry.

Second, coherence.

This is the idea that knowledge is internally consistent and without contradictions.

For example, I opened this course by stating that I was a Christian,

but if I end the course by claiming I'm an atheist,

I would be incoherent.

And lastly, consilience.

This is the epistemological concept that knowledge interconnects

and fits tightly into one all-encompassing theory.

For example, one of the reasons that I'm

an evolutionist is because all the sciences that deal with the origin

of the world fit together tightly into one magnificent and consilient theory.

Let me push you a bit.

Should we limit our epistemological categories

simply to correspondence, coherence, and consilience?

Or, are there other important categories that we need to consider?

For example, could there be religious epistemological categories?

A central religious epistemological category deals

with the divine foundation of knowledge.

This is the idea that all knowledge is ultimately rooted in God.

Quote 6 is a biblical verse that is often used by

Christians to base their knowledge on God.

Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

Now there is an issue with the word fear for most of us.

This is a 17th century expression that began to appear in the first English Bibles.

However, the Hebrew word translated as fear is yireh,

and it has many meanings and nuances.

Yes, it can mean to be afraid,

which is our common definition.

But it also means, to be in awe,

to marvel, to revere, and to respect.

The Hebrew word for knowledge is daat,

it can mean facts, which is our common definition.

But it also includes practical skills,

personal experience, wisdom, discernment and morals.

Therefore, the biblical notion of knowledge is

rooted ultimately in God and it is relational to God.

Knowledge is personal, wide and holistic,

and not just facts.

In light of this religious epistemological category,

let me ask you the question.

What is the foundation of your knowledge?

Is knowledge ultimately rooted in God or some teleological factor?

Or, is your knowledge ultimately based in a brain built for and

shaped by a dysteleological evolutionary process,

in which there never was any plan for a brain like yours to appear?

Another way to understand a brain that arose entirely through a blind chance process

is to think of a brain produced by nothing but 4Fs: fighting,

fleeing, feeding and fertilizing.

In the next episode,

we'll consider the implications if our brain has been

produced by a dysteleological process.

End of episode.

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