The physics of theism : god, physics, and the philosophy of science / Jeffrey Koperski.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Koperski, Jeffrey, author.

Series:

Gale eBooks

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physics--Religious aspects.

Physics.

Theism.

Religion and science.

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (viii, 279 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Place of Publication:

Chichester, West Sussex, UK : Wiley Blackwell, 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Physics of Theism provides a timely, critical analysis of the ways in which physics intertwines with religion. Koperski brings clarity to a range of arguments including the fine-tuning argument, naturalism, the laws of nature, and the controversy over Intelligent Design. A single author text providing unprecedented scope and depth of analysis of key issues within the Philosophy of Religion and the Philosophy of Science Critically analyses the ways in which physics is brought into play in matters of religion Self-contained chapters allow readers to directly access specific areas of interest

Contents:

The Physics of Theism: God, Physics, and the Philosophy of Science; Copyright; Contents; Introduction; I.1 Maps; I.2 Cosmology: Singularity and Creation; I.3 Overview; I.3.1 Science and Religion: Some Preliminaries; I.3.2 Fine-Tuning and Cosmology; I.3.3 Relativity, Time, and Free Will; I.3.4 Divine Action and the Laws of Nature; I.3.5 Naturalisms and Design; I.3.6 Reduction and Emergence; I.3.7 The Philosophy of Science Tool Chest; Notes; References; Chapter 1 Science and Religion: Some Preliminaries; 1.1 Conventional Wisdom; 1.2 History; 1.2.1 Ancient Greece

1.2.2 Voluntarism and Nominalism 1.2.3 Mechanistic Philosophy; 1.2.4 Experiments and Philosophy; 1.2.5 The Galileo Affair; 1.3 The Structure of Science; 1.3.1 Three Layers; 1.3.2 Change and Suspension; 1.3.3 Religion and Shaping Principles; 1.4 The Relation between Science and Religion; 1.4.1 Conflict/Warfare; 1.4.2 Independent Realms; 1.4.3 Dialogue; 1.4.4 Integration; 1.4.5 Assessment; 1.4.6 Proposal; Notes; References; Chapter 2 Fine-Tuning and Cosmology; 2.1 What Is Fine-Tuning?; 2.2 Examples; 2.2.1 Initial Conditions; 2.2.2 Fixed Parameters; 2.3 No Explanation Needed; 2.3.1 Coincidence

2.3.2 Weak Anthropic Principle 2.3.3 The Nature of Probability; 2.3.4 Analysis and Replies; 2.4 Naturalistic Explanations; 2.4.1 Future Physics; 2.4.2 Other Forms of Life Possible; 2.4.3 The Multiverse Reply; 2.4.4 Multiverse: The Problems; Notes; References; Chapter 3 Relativity, Time, and Free Will; 3.1 Physics and Freedom; 3.2 STR and the Nature of Time; 3.2.1 The Metaphysics of Time; 3.2.2 Relativity and the Present; 3.2.3 Minkowski Spacetime; 3.2.4 The Block Universe and Free Will; 3.3 Contra the Block Universe; 3.3.1 Relativizing the Present; 3.3.2 Manifold Antirealism

3.3.3 Before STR: Lorentzian Mechanics 3.3.4 GTR and Cosmic Time; 3.3.5 21st-Century Physics and 3 + 1; 3.4 Two Suggestions from the Philosophy of Science; 3.4.1 Metaphysics and Mathematical Spaces; 3.4.2 Idealizations and Domains of Applicability; 3.4.3 Conclusions; Notes; References; Chapter 4 Divine Action and the Laws of Nature; 4.1 Divine Intervention(?); 4.2 The Problems with Intervention; 4.2.1 An Incompetent God; 4.2.2 A Capricious or Inconsistent God; 4.2.3 The Problem of Evil; 4.2.4 The God of the Gaps; 4.2.5 Conflicts with Science; 4.3 The Nature of the Laws of Nature

4.3.1 Regularity versus Necessitarian Laws 4.3.2 Laws and Law Statements; 4.4 Noninterventionist Divine Action; 4.4.1 Avoiding Determinism; 4.4.2 Quantum Indeterminism; 4.4.3 Quantum Mechanics + Chaos; 4.4.4 Related Views; 4.5 QD: Pro and Con; 4.5.1 What Quantum Mechanics Allows; 4.5.2 A Bit More of the Physics; 4.5.3 Collapse Theories; 4.5.4 The Amplification Problem; 4.5.5 Chaos to the Rescue?; 4.6 Noninterventionism: Goring the Sacred Cow; 4.6.1 The Infinite Clockmaker; 4.6.2 Capricious or Inconsistent; 4.6.3 The Problem of Evil; 4.6.4 Intervention Conflicts with Science

4.6.5 God of the Gaps

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781118932773

1118932773

9781118933800

111893380X

9781118932797

111893279X

OCLC:

891427870