THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IBD

Sinopsis

Herman Bavinck, the prominent, Dutch Neo-Calvinist theologian wrote TheáChristianáPhilosophyáofáScienceáin 1904, at the pinnacle of his career. However, the emphasis of this work sets it apart from BavinckâÇÖs other writings. Even though Bavinck is best known as a systematic theologian, he wrote this work to contribute to a comprehensiveáChristianáphilosophy. A century ago, in the Netherlands, a renewed desire to participate in scientific research in accordance witháChristianáprinciples inspired BavinckâÇÖs work on theáphilosophyáofáscience. At the time, manyáChristianáscientists and researchers were disillusioned with the methodological positivism that dominatedáscienceáfor much of the nineteenth century. Thus, Bavinck was ahead of his time, having written this work approximately 60 years before positivism was largely abandoned in Western academic studies. According to Bavinck, all scientific research must assume the presence of a logical order within, and consistently acting upon, Creation. This can only be the handiwork of a Sovereign Creator. He describesáscienceáas the understanding of the divine mind in various divine works. Therefore, authenticáscienceáshould always lead to a further understanding and respect for God. He also argues that, given the reality of human nature, theáChristianáphilosophyáofáscienceáis essential for scientific research. People are corrupt and prone to distorting the truth for their own benefit, therefore only through the self-evaluation mandated by the gospel of Jesus Christ can we truly be scientific truth-seekers. Trueáscience, according to Bavinck, is Christocentric, as all scientific inquiry is centered on Jesus Christ. There has never been a greater need for a thorougháChristianáPhilosophyáofáScienceáto engage in modern scientific challenges. While much work remains in this area, it is hoped that this translation of BavinckâÇÖs most complete work on the subject might help steer future efforts in a positive direction.