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Dr.
Bob Kistler Bethel College |
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Session Outline and Links
Read and do before coming to class:
- Monsma Responsible Technology, Chapter 4 - The Cultural Mandate and Modern Technology, pp.37 - 57
- Ratzsch Science & Its Limits, Chapter 9 - Christianity and Scientific Pursuits, pp 133-140
- Kellert, S.R. Values Ethics, and Spirtual and Scientific Relations to Nature, pp 49 - 64 IN: The Good in Nature and Humanity.
Ancillary Readings, Links, & References:
- Kuhn, Robert L.. 2003 Science as Democratizer. American Scientist. 91(5):
- Wassersug, Richard COMMENTARY: Why Do Science? That's Entertainment! New Scientist. November 3, 2001:5252
- Massachusetts ABE Science & Technology Curriculum Framework. 2002. Why Do Science ? Field Notes, 12(2)
- Cringely, Robert X. 2002. Running Scared: Why Science Needs Us to be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
- Wicket, Sticky 2003. What science is for. Journal of Cell Science 116, 1859-1860
- Nangia, Ashish 2002. Why Technology is a Western Phenomenon? Internet http://www.boloji.com/desimind/02013.htm (9/20/03)
- Bailey, Ronald 2003. Accelerating Change: Why technology will be the defining battle of the 21st century. Reason On-line. Internet http://reason.com/rb/rb081303.shtml.
- Moore, J. H. 1998. Public understanding of science - and other fields. American Scientist, 86(6):498
The question of should we do science and technology has come up over and over so far this semester. Even for students of science this is a worthwhile question. Society often may say, what's a nice girl (or boy) like you doing studying science (or computers...). This kind of denigration of certain types of life pursuits seems even more prevalent in the Christian communities. What is our responsibility before our Creator pertaining to science and technology, both as process and as fields of study and learning? |
1. Humans are made in the image of God.
The joy of doing things differently!
Self-consciousness
Creativity
Religious beings
Class thoughts on the image of God and S & T
- relational beings
- the trinity aspect of God
- language – representational communication
- “ spoken word” - God spoke the Creation into existence - leads back to relational beings
- We do S & T to fulfill humanity’s commission
- science and technology are self-perpetuating in a technistic society
- different goals of life and living
- the “left-behind” phenomenon - but we have to keep up or be left behind.
- why is there demand?
- built in need for change and the “new”
- fear of the new
- how progess relates to S & T
- individual innocence.
- animistic manipulative use of “knowledge” of S & T
- pure Christianity
- pure S & T
- places of the holy – keltic ideas
- S & T is a tool
- being like God is distinct from trying to be God?
2. Abad and Shamar - The Cultural Mandate
(God)
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| Before Creation_____Creation_____The Fall______Redemption______Secularization - (humanity and human history)
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3. Technicism- the religion of the 20th century
"To become ever more masters of the world, to advance from power to power, even if only collectively and perhaps no longer by choice, can now be seen to be the chief vocation of (hu)mankind." Hans Jonas - in Monsma p49.
- inevitable
- progress
- technological solutions
4. Babylon
- will to power
- scientism/rationalism
- technicism
- profit motive
- political power
5. Christian Responses to S & T
- rejection
- accomodation
- fulfillment
- faithful
6. Are we not meant to "act like God"? - the "hidden things"
7. An ecotheology of technology - either/or/and
"empirically and objectively observed and scientifically determined"
vs
"religiously and spiritually oriented" for "harmony and fulfillment", through relavation, salvation, reverence, and faith
Or the question: How can we live in a world about which we know nothing - the urban dilemma of modern society?
- abiophilia- the ability to think we can live without attaching "physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral meaning to nature".
Reasons for culture (and thus for science and technology? Or can culture
exist without science and technology?)
(via 9 basic values of biophilia,
from Kellert, p55)
| Aesthetic: | physical attraction and appeal of nature |
| Dominionistic: | mastery and control of nature |
| Humanistic: | emotional bonding with nature |
| Naturalistic: | exploration and discovery of nature |
| Moralistic: | moral and spiitual relation to nature |
| Negativistic: | fear and aversion of nature |
| Scientific: | knowledge and understanding of nature |
| Symbolic: | nature as a source of communication and imagination |
| Utilitatian: | nature as a source of material and physical reward |
8. Or is the real question: What happens if we don't do science and technology, or if only some do?
- the concept of scientific and technological literacy- (two groups)
HOGE, DEAN R. JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES AND THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS, IN: THE PLACE OF THE PERSON IN SOCIAL LIFE. PAUL PEACHEY, JOHN KROMKOWSKI, GEORGE F. McLEAN (eds.), CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONTEMPORARY LIFE, SERIES I. CULTURE AND VALUES, VOL. 6, THE COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN VALUES AND PHILOSOPHY
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