DARWIN'S IDEA OF THE PURPOSEFULNESS IN NATURE.

• Authors: Bylica P.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

A role of naturalism in the contemporary science is still an important issue, which is commonly discussed in the field of philosophy of science. The author is presenting the factors that are related to the origin of Darwinian theory of evolution, and are crucial for appropriate understanding the matter. Darwin used to be an advocate of William Paley's version concerning the purposefulness. At last, however, the essential part of Darwin's evolutionary concept turned out to be a negation of all previous explanations referring to God's special intervention, or guidance in the process of evolution. Elimination of such explanations is fundamental and much distinctive for modern science as methodological naturalism. A common acceptance of the discussed methodological postulate is firmly connected with the achievements of Darwin's theory. In the present paper the author is willing to show that both scientific and problematic factors were crucial for the fundamental scientific assumption.

Keywords

EN

DARWINISM; HISTORY OF SCIENCE; NATURALISM; SCIENCE & RELIGION - RELATIONS; TELEOLOGY

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Instytut Historii Nauki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• Journal: Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 259-273
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Bylica P.

• P. Bylica, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski, Instytut Filozofii, Zaklad Logiki i Metodologii Nauk, al. Wojska Polskiego 69, 65-762 Zielona Góra, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

09PLAAAA060724