Open AccessSpecial Divine Action and Natural Science
Author(s) -
Thomas F. Tracy
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal for philosophy of religion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 1689-8311
DOI - 10.24204/ejpr.v7i3.108
Subject(s) - metaphysics , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , action (physics) , philosophy , natural law , natural science , natural kind , existence of god , aesthetics , theism , physics , history , archaeology , quantum mechanics , identity (music)
A number of modern theologians have concluded that the rise of natural science makes it necessary to give up the idea that God acts in particular ways to affect the course of events in the world. I reply to this claim, taking up the challenge to explain what might be meant by a ‘special’ act of God. There are several ways to conceive of such acts, including the possibility that God might determine what is left determinable in the structures of nature, e.g., at the quantum level. I address objections to this view, and consider metaphysical puzzles that it presents.