Physical Closure and Divine Action

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Philosophy, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Prof. of Tehran University

3 Associate Professor of Tehran University

Abstract

In this paper, first, the conflict between Scientific worldview and Divine action from the historical point of view is explained, and then, different approaches to solving this problem are introduced. In the next step, Physical Closure, as an important metaphysical basis of modern Science is illustrated and would show that the most severe obstacle in front of divine action in the world is that. After the explanation, Plantinga's approach to solving this conflict is explained. Then the proposal of new Theologians and Scientists, who intend to accommodate divine action and indeterministic laws of nature would be discussed and evaluated. By this evaluation, it would be shown that none of these approaches would be successful enough in criticizing the Physical closure. However, each of these approaches has salient points, and especially Plantinga's approach is well in his basic view. Finally, the Conscious and Free Will of human is introduced for showing the actual possibility of violating the closure of natural laws and physical world.

Keywords


 
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