On Wed, 20 Feb 2002, D. F. Siemens, Jr. wrote:
> There is confusion here between methodological and metaphysical
> naturalisms. Metaphysical naturalism must deny the existence of a deity,
> for it claims that there is nothing except physical nature.
> ...
> In contrast, methodological naturalism is
> a choice of technique within the sciences.
I substantially agree with the point you are making.
Yes, we want to distinguish the worldview of Naturalism from the
scientific method. I simply propose that, when we talk about the methods
which scientists use to study nature, we go back to calling it "scientific
methods." The term "methodological naturalism" is misleading, for reasons
I outlined earlier.
(If you were a life-long committed member of the Democratic party, would
you be happy if people started calling Patriotism "methodological
conservatism"? If you were a life-long committed member of the Republican
party, would you be happy if people started calling Universal Access to
Education "methodological liberalism"?)
Loren Haarsma
Calvin College
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