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Title: Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education by Phillip E. Johnson ISBN: 0-8308-1929-0 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: May, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.09 (22 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Your reactions are showing...
Comment: The very nature of the negative reviews on this book prove Johnson's point: people committed to a system are unwilling to examine that system. This book's detractors have--in this review space--called Johnson a multitude of names (ad hominem), called his credentials into question by saying he's not worthy to question their god, science (poisoning the well), and pathetically parodied him to make his arguments appear backward (straw man).
Once and for all: Johnson is not attacking science. He is attacking the assumption that, when it comes to explaining our origins, only philosophical naturalism and materialism are available to explain it. It is not testable, falsifiable, or observable that only materialist means created (or developed) the universe, and therefore defining evlution as the only valid scientific theory is outside of the realm of science (indeed, origins are in some sense outside the realm of science). If scientists and their supporters really wanted to be as objective as they love to claim, there would be no hesitation in admitting this. The fact that they don't is, once again, proof of Johnson's theories. The evolutionists have an agenda: explain our origins without God. They cannot give this up. They can say, "well, God created the universe and then it evolved." But yet they have no proof for evolution that cannot be explained in other ways (namely, I.D./creationist theory). And many things are explained BETTER by I.D. theory; so why push evolution if there's not a prior committment to materialism? The creationists are being the real scientists...
Rating: 4
Summary: The Debate Continues.
Comment: REASON IN THE BALANCE is one of Phillip Johnson's follow up works to his book DARWIN ON TRIAL. REASON originated in the discussions and debates that Johnson partook while promoting DARWIN ON TRIAL and some of his experiences in the evolution versus creative design debate.
The book illustrates the far reaching affects of naturalism in everything from education to the law. Naturalists place their trust in reason, yet, as Johnson also points out they often arrive at conclusions and take place in discussions in a very unreasonable manner. The book examines how naturalism has eroded away the ethical and moral foundation on which much of our society was based and how decisions based upon a naturalistic world view are often far from reasonable and very unlogical.
The book is not light reading and mixes terms from law, philosophy, and science. A person who hasn't had much reading experience may find the book difficult to get through. However, if one reads the book with and open mind and heart, it is worth the while.
Rating: 4
Summary: Well written but missing a full argument...
Comment: This book is sometimes overtly and sometimes subtly a polemic regarding the potential consequences we face as individuals and as a society if we reject, out of hand, Christian theism and just allow ourselves to be swayed by naturalism. I think Johnson makes a lot of good points about how terms are often used to exclude other areas of research by the very definition of the term. However, I often think Johnson takes this too far. What it all really boils down to is quite simple: those who make positive claims (whether in "science" or "religion") have the onus of proof on them. What Johnson tries to do is skirt this issue by refuting some the overall concept of evolution without saying the whole thing is wrong. While he often says the alternative is Christian theism (or divine creation), he very rarely makes positive assertions for that (which would put the onus on him). What if often boils down to is: if a supernatural Creator exists, this Creator might have chosen to do some creating. This Creator may have designed things. Yes, *if* that supernatural Creator exists, these are, I suppose, possibilities. But what is the methodology for determining that? Obviously Johnson says it cannot be "methodological naturalism". Fine. So how should one determine the viability of the hypothesis? On that point Johnson is quite silent. And that is a pity because it would go some way towards making his case.
As in Darwin on Trial, Johnson often states that he is not advocating an alternative claim necessarily but rather just showing how the current theory of origins is lacking; however, Johnson is certainly touting the idea of a Creator within the context of Christian theism. So he actually *is* proposing an alternative. Johnson says of himself (on page 49): "I am convinced that God is objectively real, not merely a concept or fantasy in my own mind." That is fine and usually the backbone on which alternatives to "naturalism" are based. Johnson argues that, to a certain extent, his statement "God is a fact" is like the statement "evolution is a fact". But that seems a little disingenuous. After all, many people point out that evolution, in sum total, is not a completely factual account because there is some evidence that the theory does not account for. But Johnson does not provide *any* evidence at all for "God is a fact". He says *some* of evolution is demonstrably true but the overall concept is lacking. But not even *some* of God being a fact has been objectively demonstrable, much less *all* of it, at least that I have seen in Johnson's writings. So by that logic even if some of evolution is not true, it does not automatically suggest divine creation. What we need for things to have an objective reality (and Johnson notes this) is an empirical basis, presentation of hypotheses, making falsfiable predictions relative to those hypotheses, and suggesting some sort of research or experimentative agenda. I would be happy to hear Johnson's view of all this regarding his statement of God being an objective fact, whether in contrast to evolution or not.
Johnson might also want to ask why *if* evolution is wrong, the alternative would necessarily be Christian theism. Why not some form of polytheism? Or why not another naturalistic theory? Or why not aliens seeding the planet? In other words, is Christian theism (or divine creation) a fait accompli if evolution has gaps? Can the evidence of biology potentially support a creationist viewpoint? If so, how? That would go a long way towards making it seem a viable alternative in some sense which is what Johnson's aim appears to be. Is the notion of divine creation falsifiable in some sense? If so, how? That would go some way towards utilizing some of the elements of science that Johnson claims he does not want to dismiss.
Rather than worry about terms like "atheist materialists", "agnostic naturalists", or "theistic evolutionists" as he does, I think Johnson is on much surer ground when he talks about the metaphysical assumptions or predispositions of science and the issue of allowing various elements of creationism to have a fair hearing. There is a lot of logic in what he says regarding these issues because it is true that heuristic assumptions in science can become fact by fiat rather than by empirical corroboration. It is also certainly true that the treatment of religious topics in schools and other areas has been contradictory in various legal cases. I definitely recommend this book (and I speak as an atheist) because Johnson does present his points well and he is a good writer. But I think one should also be careful to look for the shortcomings in Johnson's own arguments (or lack thereof). He is very good with words and, as such, it allows him a certain dexterity in skipping over a few points here and there that really should be addressed if he truly wants to convince his readers.
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Title: Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson ISBN: 0830813241 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: November, 1993 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds by Phillip E. Johnson ISBN: 0830813608 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: August, 1997 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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Title: The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism by Phillip E. Johnson ISBN: 0830822674 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: August, 2000 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: The Right Questions: Truth, Meaning & Public Debate by Phillip E. Johnson, Nancy Pearcey ISBN: 0830822941 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science & Theology by William A. Dembski, Michael J. Behe ISBN: 0830815813 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: November, 1999 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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