Science and religion in the imagination of C.S. Lewis the quest for the best mental model of the universe Alister E. McGrath

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McGrath, Alister E., 1953- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lewis, C. S. (Clive Staples), 1898-1963--Religion.

Lewis, C. S.

Lewis, C. S. (Clive Staples), 1898-1963--Knowledge and learning.

Religion and science.

Religion in literature.

Science in literature.

Literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

'Science and Religion in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis' is a comprehensive examination of C.S. Lewis's views on the relationship between science and religion, authored by an internationally acclaimed writer recognized as an authority on both Lewis and the field of science and religion. It focuses on the literary depictions of this relationship and its significance in cultural discussions regarding the boundaries of human knowledge, as well as Lewis's understanding of the roles of science and religion in humanity's pursuit of meaning and significance. This study provides a rigorous and historically informed analysis of Lewis's perspective on the interplay between science and religion, drawing both on his studies of medieval and Renaissance literature and his literary and philosophical explorations of naturalism and materialism

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Development of Lewis's Views

Lewis's Engagement With Science: Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern

The Approach of This Study

1 Lewis On Medieval and Renaissance Science

Aristotelian Natural Philosophy

Precursors of Natural Science in the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Astrology

Magic

Alchemy

2 The Discarded Image

Lewis On Models of the Universe

Understanding and Participating in the Cosmos: The Influence of Owen Barfield

The 'Great Dance': Lewis On Harmony and Motion

The Beauty of Movement

Finding the Centre

Participating, Not Simply Observing

Aslan's Song: Lewis and the 'Music of the Spheres'

Retrieving the Discarded Image?

3 Lewis On Modern Scientific Theory and Practice

H. G. Wells: Science Fiction and New Human Possibilities

Meaningless Metaphysics: The Rise of Logical Positivism at Oxford

The Abolition of Man: Lewis's Critique of Scientism

Lewis's Critique of an Instrumental Scientific Rationality

Lewis's Critique of Modern Scientific Practice

Lewis On Scientific and Religious Language

Lewis On Theory, Myth, and Science

4 Lewis's Critique of Naturalism

Miracles and the Scientific Laws of Nature

Lewis's Critique of Naturalism

Darwinism as Scientific Theory and Worldview

The Context of Lewis's Reflections: Darwinism in the 1920s

Lewis On Darwinism and the 'Great Myth'

Darwinism: Explanation Or Interpretation?

5 Science and Apologetics

Lewis's Emergence as an Apologist

G. K. Chesterton On Christianity as a 'Hypothesis'

Apologetics and Illumination: Lewis's Image of the Sun

Lewis On Christianity as a 'Supposal'

Testing a Supposal: The Human Experience of Longing

Apologetics as a 'Big Picture'.

Theory: Apologetics as a New Way of Seeing Things

Conclusion

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (viewed on November 3, 2025)

Other Format:

Print version :

ISBN:

9780198982784

019898278X

9780198982777

0198982771

OCLC:

1548241613

Publisher Number:

CIPO000312752

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license