In this important and original book, eminent scholar Barbara Herrnstein Smith describes, assesses and reflects upon a set of contemporary intellectual projects involving science, religion and human cognition. One of these initiatives, which Smith calls 'the New Naturalism', is the effort, primarily by anthropologists and psychologists, to explain religion on the basis of cognitive science and evolutionary biology. Another, which she refers to as 'the New Natural Theology', is the recent attempt by a number of scientifically knowledgeable theologians to reconcile the accounts of the world given in the natural sciences and traditional religious belief. These two projects, one a naturalizing of religion, the other a theologizing of natural science, can be seen as mirror images, or 'natural reflections', of each other. Smith offers a sophisticated approach, recognizing science and religion as complex and distinct domains of human practice that also possess significant historical connections and psychological-cognitive resemblances and continuities.
Natural Reflections (The Terry Lectures Series)
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About the Author
Barbara Herrnstein Smith is Braxton Craven Professor of Comparative Literature and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Science and Cultural Theory at Duke University and Distinguished Professor of English at Brown University. She is the author of 'Belief and Resistance: Dynamics of Contemporary Intellectual Controversy' and 'Scandalous Knowledge: Science, Truth and the Human'.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful, complex, challenging, and subtle.
3 Feb 2012
By Israel Ramirez
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Barbara Herrnstein Smith discusses and evaluates several recent biological/neuropsychological/evolutionary theories about religion. Maybe dissect is a better word for what she does than discuss. She summarizes each theory attempting to give the reader get a fair overview of each theory and then slices through the surface to reveal unstated assumptions, shaky arguments, and logical deficiencies. Although, as a former biological researcher, I am naturally drawn to biological explanations of human behavior, I had to agree with her that we don't presently have an entirely satisfactory biological account of religious belief and there is no reason for anyone to abandon their beliefs or practice.
This is an academic book, not really written for a general audience. Sentence structure, logical concepts, and vocabulary are all at an advanced level. She packs a lot of ideas into a short book and after reading it, I felt as if I had read a book four times as long.
This is an academic book, not really written for a general audience. Sentence structure, logical concepts, and vocabulary are all at an advanced level. She packs a lot of ideas into a short book and after reading it, I felt as if I had read a book four times as long.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cognitive Theory Splits the Difference
9 Mar 2011
By Kelly Cooper
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book results from Barbara Herrnstein Smith's 2006 contribution to the Dwight H. Terry Lectureship, which was established in 1905 so that "...the Christian spirit may be nurtured in the fullest light of the world's knowledge and that mankind may be helped to attain its highest possible welfare and happiness upon this earth." It seems fair to note upfront that the goal here is intellectual harmony as opposed to scholarly, albiet adversarial, argument. To her credit, Ms. Smith manages to admirably maintain her credibility in this odd milieu. She does this by skillfully picking her targets (notably Dan Dennett and Scott Atran) and exposing their weaknesses with meticulous yet respectful accuracy.
The principle manner in which Smith chooses to achieve concord is to illuminate the blind-spots in some of the most densely articulated scientific exegeses of the subject, and to point out the cognitive similarities on both sides the polemic divide. The result is a blast of cold water on the whole faith v. science debate. While the front lines may continue to rage (truth claims being what they are), Smith provides some relief for those who seek a calmer mind.
The principle manner in which Smith chooses to achieve concord is to illuminate the blind-spots in some of the most densely articulated scientific exegeses of the subject, and to point out the cognitive similarities on both sides the polemic divide. The result is a blast of cold water on the whole faith v. science debate. While the front lines may continue to rage (truth claims being what they are), Smith provides some relief for those who seek a calmer mind.
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