Philosophical Thoughts

BEYOND KNOWING

Like it or not, science is the hotbed, the nursery, the arbiter, and the repository of knowledge. We need to bear this in mind as we ponder the roots of our beliefs. Many of the new atheists Dan Seeger discusses in his essay (Friends Journal January 2010) are scientists with convictions rooted in a profound incoherence shared by many Friends. They believe that any reasonable belief must be something known, and hence proven or provable. No human being behaves in a manner that accords with this conviction. That is why it is incoherent. Many, including prominent Quaker scientists such as Arthur Eddington and Kenneth Boulding, share this conviction. That is why it is worth examining.

Like it or not, science is the hotbed, the arbiter, and the repository of knowledge.  We need to bear this mind as we ponder the roots of our belief. Many of the new atheists Dan Seeger discusses in his essay (Friends Journal January 2010) are scientists with convictions rooted in a profound incoherence shared by many Friends.  They believe that any reasonable belief must be something known, and hence proven or provable.  No human being behaves in a manner that accords with this conviction.  That is why it is incoherent.  Many, including prominent Quaker scientists such as Arthur Eddington and Kenneth Boulding, share this conviction.  That is why it is worth examining.