The central issue in this study is the question of how insight into the relation between
faith and science in the philosophy of CA van Peursen can contribute to the wide
ranging faith-science debate in contemporary thought. The study is contextualized by
asking how the resultant insight into the relation between faith and science can be
brought to bear on the notion of a "Christian science" as it has developed within a
specific philosophical tradition.
It is argued that CA van Peursen's philosophy relies on the basic distinction between
thought and reality, and more specifically, the interrelation between the two. Van
Peursen utilizes a broad definition of rationality as networks of symbols with which
human consciousness works, in order to facilitate an appropriate response to the
challenges of its surroundings. At this point Van Peursen also makes use of the notion
of "narrative" to emphasize the dynamic character of the symbolic networks that exist.
Objective reality and subjective rationality can never be separated, but they are attuned
to each other, and the one should, as it where, be "read off' against the other.
A typology of the faith-science debate, that is developed in the initial stages of the
study, is subsequently used as a heuristic instrument to draw out the implications of Van
Peursen's philosophy for the question regarding the relation between faith and science.
It is argued that Van Peursen's thought is consistently non-reductionist, in the sense
that he grants both faith and science their own integrity. Faith and science are not
equal, however. Faith constitutes a much broader, more immediate and concrete
reaction to the challenges of reality than science does. Science strives towards
objectivity and abstraction, and therein lies it's power, but it nevertheless always
remains bound to the real world of everyday experience. Science therefore has a
"relational autonomy".
The insights gained into the relation between faith and science problematizes the idea
of a separate Christian science that is construed as being antithetical to so called
secular science. The notion of Christian science can be salvaged along two ways:
Christian science may be seen as a commitment to good science, and it may be seen
as a dialogue between the narratives of western science and Christian faith. / Thesis (M.A. (Philosophy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/366 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Kruger, Jacob Petrus |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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