The landscapes of science and religion : what are we disagreeing about? / Nick Spencer and Hannah Waite.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Spencer, Nick, 1973- author.

Waite, Hannah, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and science.

Religion and science--Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations.

illustration

Place of Publication:

Oxford, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, United States of America : Oxford University Press, [2025]

Summary:

"The Landscapes of Science and Religion seeks to identify and explore what exactly people are disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion — where, in effect, the conflict lies, or at least is perceived to. To answer this, the book first defines or, more precisely, disambiguates the two category terms ‘science’ and ‘religion’. Building on the work of Peter Harrison, and on Wittgenstein’s argument that meaning resides in usage, and his advocacy of ‘family resemblance’ approach to definition, it draws on various legal and philosophical definitions of science and religion, to which it brings a considerable new source of data, from over a hundred hours of research among scientists, philosophers, sociologists, theologians, and communicators, and a substantial quantitative study of UK public attitudes. From these, it elucidates two disambiguated ‘family definitions’ of science and religion. On the basis of these, Part II explores the points of contact between these disambiguated ‘family definitions’, and pays particular attention to four areas, or ‘fronts’, where the perceived conflict is sharpest. These are (1) metaphysics, (2) methodology, (3) anthropology, and (4) public authority and public reasoning. For each of these the book sets out in detail, firstly, where the perceived conflict lies; secondly, how this tension can be attenuated or even resolved; and finally, what are the outstanding points of disagreement in each area. In doing to, the book offers a comprehensive and empirically grounded response to the popular, long-standing but often polemicised and obscure debates around science and religion"-- Oxford Academic.

Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK, 'The Landscapes of Science and Religion' takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another.

Contents:

Introduction : the landscapes of science and religion

Defining science

Disaggregating science

Defining religion

Disaggregating religion

Disaggregating science and religion : public views

Metaphysics

Methodology

Anthropology

Public authority and public reasoning.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Online resource; title from home page (Oxford Academic, viewed November 24, 2025).

Other Format:

Print version: Spencer, Nick, 1973- Landscapes of science and religion.

ISBN:

9780191989063

0191989061

9780198878766

0198878761

9780198878773

019887877X

OCLC:

1454586188

Publisher Number:

CIPO000170159

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license