Re: methodological naturalism - origin of the term?

From: John W Burgeson (jwburgeson@juno.com)
Date: Thu Aug 28 2003 - 13:47:56 EDT

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    Steve asked: "Does anyone know when the term "methodological naturalism"
    was first used?"

    Otto Strunk, in his book "The Choice Called Atheism", Abington Press,
    1968, used a similar term on page 50.

    In chapter 2, he has a section titled "The Impact of Modern Science." On
    page 50, he writes:

            "Just a brief excursion into the history and nature of science will give
            some indication of how the contemporary view of science was born.
    Several
            hundred years before Christ the Epicureans taught that science must
    accept
            two fundamental principles. First, it should take account of all the
    evidence
            available, and second , it should not explain perplexing phenomena by
            referring to the possible intervention of the gods. In a very real sense
    this
            Greek philosophy of science was the beginning of what might be called
            methodological atheism."

    Burgy

    www.burgy.50megs.com

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