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EN
The question about the origins of man posed in the field of biological sciences, concerns the phylogenetic line leading to the appearance of the species Homo sapiens. According to a certain hypothesis about the course of this lineage, a biologist may try to determine when and where a change took place, so decisive that it should be considered the creation of our – really new – species. The problem, however, is that the criteria for clearly distinguishing one species from another appear to be difficult, if not impossible, to formulate. This means that the very concept of a “really new” species is somewhat empty. This article illustrates the key methodological problems in the field of natural anthropology that are relevant for its findings.
PL
Pytanie o początki człowieka, stawiane na gruncie nauk biologicznych, jest pytaniem o linię filogenetyczną, wiodącą do pojawienia się gatunku Homo sapiens. Dysponując jakąś hipotezą, dotyczącą przebiegu tej linii, biolog może starać się ustalić, kiedy i gdzie zaszła zmiana na tyle decydująca, że należy ją uznać za równoznaczną powstaniu naszego – prawdziwie nowego – gatunku. Problem polega jednak na tym, że kryteria, pozwalające jednoznacznie odróżnić jeden gatunek od drugiego, wydają się być trudne, a być może nawet niemożliwe do sformułowania. Oznacza to, że samo pojęcie „prawdziwie nowego” gatunku jest w pewnym sensie puste. W artykule zostały ukazane kluczowe problemy metodologiczne, występujące na gruncie antropologii przyrodniczej, mające znaczenie dla jej ustaleń.
EN
The paper maintains and reinforces a viewpoint that science and religion (theology) are methodologically and epistemologically independent. However, it also suggests that this independence can be overcome if a “third party” is taken into account, that is – philosophy. Such a possibility seems to follow from the thesis of incommensurability and the thesis of underdetermination formulated and analysed in the current philosophy of science.
Roczniki Filozoficzne
|
2020
|
vol. 68
|
issue 4
89-109
EN
The aim of the paper is to seek such an interpretation of the presence and activity of God in nature that could harmonize important truths of faith with scientific understanding of the world, governed in its evolution by chance and devoid of any direction. The search is taken in a few steps. Firstly, classic accounts of teleology are indicated, with the conclusion that the only way of the understanding an idea that the world is purposeful is that in terms of inner teleology: the world is directed not so much by God but towards God. Contemporary discussions about the possibility of God’s aims being realized in nature often concentrate on the notion of general or special divine action. Drawing on some accounts of GDA and SDA the paper supports the view that strict delimitation of what is natural and what divine in a given case is probably impossible. One of the reasons of this impossibility is captured by the principle of the causal closure of the world. With relation to this principle, a need to revise some classic accounts of the miraculous is pointed to. Particularly, “the miracle of the human” does not need any special divine interventions, any special guidance of the evolutionary processes (which are, in any case, truly random), if one accepts a hypothesis of the underdetermination of the goal of creation: If God’s aim is that a special being emerges in nature, able to maintain a conscious relation with its Creator, then such a being (called Human in theology) does not need to be a representative of the species Homo sapiens. Finally, panentheism is pointed to as a truly Christian view of the world; the world which is “fate and destiny” of God himself (Karl Rahner). In such a perspective, the details of the evolutionary development of the world cease to be relevant for religion, and religion frees itself finally from “error and superstition” (John Paul II).
PL
Celem artykułu jest poszukiwanie takiej interpretacji obecności i działania Boga w świecie, jaka pozwoliłaby zharmonizować istotne prawdy wiary z naukowym obrazem świata, którego ewolucja jest rządzona przypadkiem i pozbawiona kierunku. Poszukiwanie to jest realizowane w kilku krokach. Odwołując się do różnych koncepcji celowości wskazuje się najpierw, że jeśli można mówić o tym, że świat ma taką cechę, to nie w sensie zmierzania w określonym kierunku (nauki przyrodnicze takiego kierunku nie wykrywają, więc najrozsądniej jest przyjąć, że go nie ma), lecz w sensie celowości wewnętrznej: świat ze swej natury jest skierowany na Boga. Współcześnie o Bożej celowości w świecie mówi się często w kategoriach ogólnego lub szczególnego działania Boga (general lub special divine action). Artykuł, podejmując tę kwestię zmierza do wniosku, że odróżnienie aspektu naturalnego od nadnaturalnego w danym zdarzeniu jest przypuszczalnie niemożliwe. Na jeden z powodów tej niemożliwości wskazuje tzw. zasada domknięcia przyczynowego, dlatego jest ona analizowana w kolejnym punkcie artykułu. Wskazuje się tutaj między innymi na konieczność zrewidowania niektórych klasycznych koncepcji cudu. W odniesieniu zaś do takich przełomowych zdarzeń z dziejów świata, jak powstanie życia czy pojawienie się człowieka, proponuje się hipotezę niedookreśloności celu stworzenia: Bóg może realizować swoje cele w świecie rządzonym przez autentyczny przypadek, jeśli cele te są rozumiane odpowiednio subtelnie. Na przykład, jeśli celem Boga jest pojawienie się w świecie istoty zdolnej do nawiązania z nim świadomego kontaktu (zwanej w teologii Człowiekiem), to istota taka niekoniecznie musiała przyjąć postać przedstawiciela gatunku Homo sapiens. Na koniec wskazuje się na panenteizm jako na właściwą, prawdziwie chrześcijańską wizję świata, który jest „losem i przeznaczeniem” samego Boga (Karl Rahner). W tej perspektywie, detale ewolucyjnego rozwoju świata przestają być religijnie istotne, a sama religia uwalnia się ostatecznie-po części pod wpływem współczesnej nauki-„od błędu i przesądu” (Jan Paweł II).
EN
This paper presents sample results from a poll conducted among experts (scientists, philosophers and theologians) regarding the roots of the controversy between the evolutionary account of human origin and religious convictions about creation. It appears that the position one takes in this controversy is influenced much more by one’s opinions than professional background. The controversy is usually only seemingly ‘solved’ at the level of a priori assumptions, erroneous definitions of ‘evolutionism’ and ‘creationism’, semantic viewpoints, epistemological positions and pragmatic choices. The core issues in the controversy (e.g., the role and meaning of chance in random evolutionary factors versus divine providence, or problems stemming from a body-soul dualistic anthropology) are widely neglected and do not play a significant role in deciding one’s views on the matter.
EN
The paper presents the results of the research which was carried out as a part of the project: Current controversies about human origins. Between anthropology and the Bible, this project was focused on the supposed conflict between natural sciences and theology (or religious beliefs) with regard to the origin of man. The research was aimed at finding out whether such a conflict really exits. For we cannot exclude the possibility that these controversies have no factual ground and their significance is inflated by American popular literature. If, on the other hand, we assume that the conflict is real, it should be worthwhile examining its sources. Such an approach may prove helpful in systematize the highly emotional debates about the origin of man. One of the ways of tackling the issue was a questionnaire which was distributed among students, teachers and university professors. Our respondents represented three disciplines: theology, philosophy and natural sciences, t t e paper presents selected results of the questionnaire which was addressed to a group of students, they were asked to fill in the form consisting of eleven questions, these questions concerned the following issues: the existence of the conflict between evolutionism and creationism, the definitions of creation and evolution, the existence of the spiritual element in man, and the ways of interpreting the Bible (esp. the first chapters of the Book of Genesis).
EN
The paper presents the results of the research which was carried out as part of the project: Current controversies about human origins. Between anthropology and the Bible. This project focuses on the supposed conflict between natural sciences and some branches of the humanities (notably philosophy and theology) with regard to the origin of man. The research was aimed at finding out whether such a conflict really exits. For one thing, we cannot exclude the possibility that these would-be controversies have no factual ground and that their significance is inflated by American popular literature. If, on the other hand, we assume that the conflict is real, it should be worthwhile examining its sources. Such an approach may prove helpful in systematising the highly emotional debates about the origin of man. One of the ways of tackling the issue was the questionnaire which was distributed among students, teachers and university professors. Our respondents represented three disciplines: theology, philosophy and the natural sciences, the paper will present selected results of the questionnaire which was addressed to a group of school teachers, whereas the responses of the students are given less attention in order to emphasise the teachers’ point of view, the teachers of religion and the natural sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) and the students of theology, philosophy and the natural sciences (specialising in biology and environment protection) were asked to fill in the form consisting of eleven questions, these questions concerned the following issues: the existence of the conflict between evolutionism and creationism, the definitions of creation and evolution, the existence of the spiritual element in man, ways of interpreting the Bible (esp. the first chapters of the Book of Genesis). Out of 1000 questionnaires sent out, we received 449, which should be considered a satisfactory number, given the fact that it was the first time this type of research was carried out in Poland.
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