REV - Scientia et Fides - Vol 7, Nº1 (2019)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/45448

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    Review of Naturaleza creativa
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Woollard, G. (Geoffrey); Brungardt, J. G. (John-G.)
    The short monograph Creative Nature (Francisco Javier Novo, Rubén Pereda, and Javier Sánchez -Cañizares. 2018. Naturaleza Creativa. Madrid: Rialp. ISBN: 978-84- 321-4916-0. 196 pp. Paperback, €14.25) is a welcome contribution to the philosophy of nature that arose from interdisciplinary conversations between authors who are both up-to-date in the scientific literature and deeply grounded in the western intellectual tradition. The authors draw from modern physics, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, developmental biology and ecology to argue that nature is creative in the sense that an “open future” of our evolving world lies ahead. In this review essay, divided into two parts, we offer a chapter-by-chapter summary covering Nature, Life, Change, Limits, Functions and Creativity. In conclusion, we offer some pedagogical possibilities. The second part proposes certain points for deeper reflection.
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    El cuerpo de Eva en Tomás de Aquino
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Bitocchi, G. C. (Gustavo-Carlos)
    La constitución del primer cuerpo femenino o el cuerpo de Eva tiene planteos que conllevan problemáticas metafísicas y físicas diversas que han derivado en consecuencias sociales y culturales para la mujer que han atravesado los siglos y llegan hasta la actualidad. La no existencia de progenitores, exige del Aquinate respuestas que exceden lo meramente antropológico y biológico y le conduce a la búsqueda de respuestas más profundas, que, muchas veces están entrelazadas con afirmaciones de carácter teológico y religioso. Tomás de Aquino brinda respuestas de razón aunque el trasfondo sea de fe, e inclusive, con interpretaciones literales de las Sagradas Escrituras actualmente ya abandonadas. No obstante esto, el Aquinate realiza un verdadero esfuerzo intelectual para encontrar respuestas en un ámbito meramente racional pues la materialidad del cuerpo de la primera mujer trae dificultades para su dilucidación y entendimiento. Como en otras partes de su extensa obra, Tomás de Aquino, sigue las obras biológicas y físicas de Aristóteles. Si bien el fondo es aristotélico está en consonancia con el trasfondo cristiano, pues, el Aquinate muestra su extraordinaria capacidad de síntesis entre la fe recibida y la razón argumentada, entre la revelación (y en especial las Sagradas Escrituras en este caso) y los principios de razón.
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    Complementarity and cohesion of the sophiologic and scientific vision of creation
    (2019) Strumilowski, J.P. (Jan P.)
    The rapid development of empirical science (physics, biology) and theoretical disciplines (theoretical physics) related to them, results in many theories on the origin, evolution and nature of the world, sometimes interpreted as contradictory to the theological conception. Consequently, under the influence of these achievements, within theology itself a position on the autonomy of both domains and on their complementarity seems to be more and more popular. With regard to this question, it is theology that should present the possibility of an understanding of the revealed truths such that they could coexist with scientific discoveries. Based directly on biblical texts, the sophiological vision of the origin and nature of the world seems to be very interesting among other theological conceptions regarding this question. The present article attempts to confront the presumptions of sophiology regarding the eternal creative Wisdom with the scientific theory of the world’s nature (i.e. its laws), its development (evolution, accidentality of events) and on human existence (e.g. liberty) in order to demonstrate the possibility of the coexistence of these discourses without contradiction.
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    Chomsky with Lewis: Human Nature, Science and Language Origin
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Escutia, M. (Marciano)
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    Vacuum Genesis oraz spontaniczne powstanie wszechświata z niczego a klasyczna koncepcja przyczynowości oraz stworzenia ex nihilo
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Tabaczek, M (Mariusz)
    The article discousses philosophical and theological reflections inspired by the cosmological model of the origin of the universe from quantum vacuum through quantum tunneling and the model presented by Hartle and Hawking. In the context of the thesis about the possibility of cosmogenesis ex nihilo without the need of God the creator, the question is being raised concerning the ontological status of nothingness and of the laws of nature in the aforementioned models. After pointing to the fact that they do not imply an absolute nothingness in the philosophical (metaphysical) sense, the main objectives of both models and philosophical-theological conclusions they inspire are interpreted in the light of the classical principles of potency and act, theory of causation and chance events in nature, elements of classical theology of creation and the classification of sciences in terms of various levels of abstraction, proposed by Aquinas. Noting the fact that some cosmologists cross methodological boundaries of their science, we emphasize the role and significance of their research in a deeper understanding of the philosophical aspects of the origins of the universe, especially the role of potency in the first stages of its existence and evolution.
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    Das Verständnis des zeitlosen Gottes
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Volek, P. (Peter)
    Eine der Grundeigenschaften Gottes ist die Ewigkeit. Die Ewigkeit kann man traditionell als zeitlos oder modern als zeitlich verstehen. Zu den wichtigsten Kritikpunkten an der zeitlosen Ewigkeit gehört der Einwand, dass der zeitlose Gott in der Welt nicht wirken kann. Die Gründe für diese Behauptungen kommen daher, dass ein zeitloser Gott nicht wissen kann, was sich in der Welt früher oder später ereignet; Gott weiß nicht, welche Ereignisse aktuell, vergangen oder zukünftig sind. Gott hat nur ein sogenanntes tatsächliches Wissen, aber kein propositionelles Wissen wie wir Menschen. Dagegen lässt sich einwenden, dass Gott zwar nur tatsächliches Wissen hat, aber er trotzdem wissen kann, was die Menschen wissen, und zwar durch die Einsicht in ihr Wissen. Das direkte Wissen Gottes ist nur tatsächlich, aber mittelbar hat Gott auch propositionelles Wissen der Menschen durch die Kenntnis ihres Erlebens von Zeitbewusstsein, das ein Teil des propositionellen Wissens der Menschen ist. So kann Gott auch das Zeitbewusstsein der einzelnen Menschen erkennen, was er in seiner Essenz, in seinem Bewusstsein einsieht. Damit erweist sich der Einwand gegen die Möglichkeit eines Wirkens Gottes in der Welt samt dem Einwand gegen einen zeitlosen Gott als hinfällig.
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    Benedict XVI and the Limits of Scientific Learning
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Giostra, A. (Alessandro)
    In a scientific context such as ours, a true understanding of faith needs a correct approach to its relationship with science. Defending religious belief in the modern age dominated by scientific learning is the main preoccupation expressed by Pope Benedict XVI in some of his own speeches. Tackling this task means changing the nature of our ideas on both science and faith. The belief in God is compatible with science, only if we demarcate the limits of the scientific discourse. The idea that science is the framework for all kinds of cultural inquiry proves incorrect and represents a considerable risk for humanity. Moreover, a naturalist approach cannot respond to the exigency of finding a more profound meaning in natural reality.
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    Sensibilidad por el medio ambiente y cristianismo
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) Puig-i-Baguer, J. (Jordi)
    La sensibilidad contemporánea por el medio ambiente forma parte desde hace décadas del conjunto de rasgos culturales crecientes del mundo desarrollado. No llega, en cambio, a ser prevalente en las conductas, como se manifiesta particularmente en múltiples aspectos del consumismo que dañan el medio. En su desarrollo y presencia cultural contemporánea, la sensibilidad ambiental parece de entrada no ir muy de la mano del cristianismo, que viene siendo acusado desde hace décadas, y junto con la tradición judía, de ir en dirección contraria a la que indica esta sensibilidad. Este artículo se propone presentar y reflexionar sobre siete aspectos entrelazados del valor ambiental que son reconocidos desde múltiples expresiones del ambienta¬lismo, muy diverso de por sí. La sensibilidad ambiental cristiana aprende y descubre, en esos aspectos del valor ambiental compartidos con no cristianos o no creyentes, exigencias descuidadas de su propia vocación. La cultura ambiental contemporánea las pone con mucho acierto ante sus ojos, y reclama una conversión, en los modos de vida y de carácter moral, que llama también a los no cristianos o no creyentes desde su racio¬nalidad y capacidad de compromiso. Al aceptar esa ruta de conversión, el cristianismo discierne la presencia vivificante de Cristo en muchos rasgos de la cultura ambiental. El encuentro que así se genera alberga un potencial de comprensión y enriquecimiento recíproco, hacia el respeto de los valores naturales y humanos compartidos.
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    Is Eco-theologian Thomas Berry a Thomist?
    (Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, 2019) George, M. I. (Marie I.)
    I examine the views of the renowned Catholic environmentalist, Thomas Berry, C.P., by comparing them with those of Thomas Aquinas, an author Berry frequently references. I intend to show that while the two share a number of views in common (e.g., both hold that non-rational creatures have their own inherent goodness), ultimately the two diverge on many foundational issues, resulting in differing conclusions as to how we should regard and treat the environment. Aquinas upholds divine transcendence, whereas Berry regards the notion of divine transcendence to lead to the exploitation of creation and locates the divine in the universe itself. Berry accordingly thinks that we should revere all natural things, whereas Aquinas thinks we should revere God and creatures in God’s image. Aquinas maintains that the human soul is created by God and is in God’s image. He sees our rational soul as placing us above other natural things, and from it follows our responsibility to care for nature. Berry, to the contrary, sees this affirmation of discontinuity between humans and the rest of nature to be the root of our environmental woes, as providing a justification for human exploitation of nature. For Berry, humans have no special status, but are one member alongside others in the earth community. Rather than being created by God, “humans have nothing but what they receive from the universe.” By highlighting both the similarities and differences between these authors, I hope to contribute to the project of formulating a sound environmental ethics.