Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty: How the Personal Perspective Discovers Creation (Routledge Science and Religion Series)

"When scientists describe their results or insights as 'beautiful', are they using the term differently from when they use it of a landscape, music or another person? Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty re-examines the way in which seeing beauty in the world plays the key role in scientific advances, and argues that the reliance on such a personal point of view is ultimately justified by belief that we are made in the 'image of God', as Christian and Jewish believers assert. It brings a fresh voice to the ongoing debate about faith and science, and suggests that scientists have as much explaining to do as believers when it comes to the ways they reach their conclusions."--Provided by publisher Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty- Front Cover 1 Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 Preface and acknowledgements 8 Chapter 1: Introduction: In the eye of the beholder 10 Chapter 2: Two different ways of knowing? 25 How scientists see their work 25 An account of modern science 27 An end to hypotheses? 30 The realism of scientific insight 32 Scientific method versus religious method? 35 Chapter 3: Beauty everywhere 40 Classification and statistical analysis 42 Symmetry 45 Mathematical equations 47 Molecular structure 53 The interior of the living cell 58 Physiology 61 The behaviour of animals 63 Chapter 4: Playful beauty 69 The young fox and the fallow deer 69 Scientists are like children at play 71 Playing by the rules 75 Imaginary worlds: Hypotheses and ideas 76 Playing games: Experimental process 77 Toys: Equipment and infrastructure 79 The fascination of children 80 Chapter 5: Worldly, natural and real beauty 84 Common points of view: Cosmology, geology and evolution 84 Evolutionary accounts of the capacity to perceive beauty 87 Talking about beauty 90 Faking it: Couldn’t I be tricked into thinking something beautiful? 93 But isn’t my perception of beauty something I get from my culture? 95 Beauty and science: Leaping from subjectivity to objectivity 96 Sharing our understanding of beauty in a shared world 97 Chapter 6: Where does the beauty come from? 100 Why is there anything rather than nothing? 100 Scientific language and the precision of our knowledge 105 Chapter 7: Understanding beauty 121 Beautiful, moral lives 121 Why does what we say to each other mean anything at all? 127 Beauty: Creation and science at a glance 134 Chapter 8: Loving beauty 142 Appreciating the beauty of something involves being moved by it 142 Understanding truths about the world requires us to value it for itself 144 Science requires a relationship to what we study 145 When we do science we love the world 147 Chapter 9: Conclusion: Truthful beauty 152 Loving knowledge of the world requires a personal point of view 152 The personal point of view is irreducible 153 Can we make sense of this? 155 The beauty of the world and the image of God 157 Bibliography 167 Index 172 Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty -- Routledge Science and Religion Series -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction: In the Eye of the Beholder -- 2 Two Different Ways of Knowing? -- How Scientists See Their Work -- An Account of Modern Science -- An End to Hypotheses? -- The Realism of Scientific Insight -- Scientific Method Versus Religious Method? -- 3 Beauty Everywhere -- Classification and Statistical Analysis -- Symmetry -- Mathematical Equations -- Molecular Structure -- The Interior of the Living Cell -- Physiology -- The Behaviour of Animals -- 4 Playful Beauty -- The Young Fox and The Fallow Deer -- Scientists are Like Children at Play -- Playing by the Rules -- Imaginary Worlds: Hypotheses and Ideas -- Playing Games: Experimental Process -- Toys: Equipment and Infrastructure -- The Fascination of Children -- 5 Worldly, Natural and Real Beauty -- Common Points of View: Cosmology, Geology and Evolution -- Evolutionary Accounts of the Capacity to Perceive Beauty -- Talking about Beauty -- Faking It: Couldn't I Be Tricked into Thinking Something Beautiful? -- But Isn't My Perception of Beauty Something I Get From my Culture? -- Beauty and Science: Leaping from Subjectivity to Objectivity -- Sharing Our Understanding of Beauty in a Shared World -- 6 Where does the Beauty Come From? -- Why is There Anything Rather Than Nothing? -- Scientific Language and the Precision of Our Knowledge -- 7 Understanding Beauty -- Beautiful, Moral Lives -- Why does What We Say to Each Other Mean Anything at All? -- Beauty: Creation and science at a Glance -- 8 Loving Beauty -- Appreciating the Beauty of Something Involves Being Moved by it -- Understanding Truths about the World Requires us to Value it for Itself -- Science Requires a Relationship to What We Study -- When We do Science We Love the World This book re-examines the way in which seeing beauty in the world plays the key role in scientific advances, and argues that the reliance on such a personal point of view is ultimately justified by belief that we are made in the "image of God", as Christian and Jewish believers assert.