Methodological Naturalism

If science really is permanently committed to methodological naturalism – the philosophical position that restricts all explanations in science to naturalistic explanations -  it follows that the aim of science is not generating true theories. Instead, the aim of science would be something like: generating the best theories that can be formulated subject to the restriction that the theories are naturalistic. More and more evidence could come in suggesting that a supernatural being exists, but scientific theories wouldn’t be allowed to acknowledge that possibility.
- Bradley Monton, author of Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design (quote found here)

I'm more inclined to think that the reason scientific theories don't acknowledge God's existence is that God is not part of the natural world.  Science studies the creation; theology studies the Creator.  I'm discovering that I lean more and more towards an instrumentalist (not sure if I'm quite a social constructivist) view of science.  The purpose of science is to understand and explain the world in particular kinds of terms - "natural" ones - so that we can do our best to control nature, or at least to improve our experience in this world.  I do still believe in truth - ultimately, there is one true understanding/explanation of nature - I just doubt humanity's ability to find it, and to know that we've found it.

NZ, Part 5: Oreti Beach

We were privileged to experience the hospitality of many members of Matt's family in New Zealand: home cooked dinners, accommodation, and great company.  We stayed with Matt's uncle and aunt on their farm near Invercargill, enjoying a dinner of home grown lamb, vegetables and salad; home made blackcurrant syrup with home made soda water; home made meringues and lemon curd for dessert.  After dinner, they drove us onto Oreti Beach - not just to the beach, but on to the sand.  We went for a walk despite the cold, watching a kite surfer and taking photos of the sunset and other random things, like seaweed, driftwood and Millie's paw prints.

Sunset from Matt's iPhone

Sunset from my camera

Fascinating seaweed

NZ, Part 4: Slope Point

After leaving Dunedin, we headed down to Invercargill, taking a scenic route through the Catlins.  Unfortunately the weather was not great, and we were trying to avoid taking the rental car on gravel roads, but we did take a detour to Slope Point, the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand.  The path to the lookout runs through a sheep paddock (closed during lambing) and it was a very windy and very cold walk.

 

NZ, Part 3: Around Dunedin

Our time in Dunedin was quite busy.  I was at the conference and a subsequent workshop for 6 days in total, and we had a lot of family to see.  On my one completely free day (except for a family dinner), we toured the Cadbury factory, had an early lunch, and then I wandered off to occupy myself for the afternoon with things that Matt wasn't particular interested in.

Firstly I went to the Otago Museum to see butterflies in the rainforest exhibit:

Then I wandered towards Baldwin Street, reputedly the steepest street in the world.

The oldest Anglican church in Dunedin

And I walked all the way to the top of Baldwin Street - some beautiful views!

At the top of Baldwin Street

NZ, Part 2: University of Otago

This was the second conference I had attended at the University of Otago in Dunedin.  A very pretty campus, and very different from universities in Sydney - no real boundary between the campus and the rest of the city.  Here are a couple of photos I took in December 2005, and a couple of the same place in February 2011.

2005

2011

2005

2011

NZ, Part 1: Larnach Castle

Matt and I recently returned from a holiday in New Zealand.  The initial impetus for the trip was a conference I wanted to attend at the University of Otago in Dunedin, but it was also a good opportunity to see some of Matt's family and to do some sight-seeing together.

As part of the conference, we had the option to participate in an excursion to Larnarch Castle (or "the camp", as it was known by its original owner.)  It was almost worth it just for the bus trip up to the castle - some really lovely views of Dunedin and entertaining commentary from the bus driver.  The tour of the castle was fascinating, though a little sad - the story of the family who originally built the castle was rather tragic.  The castle was purchased in 1967 by a couple called the Barkers.  It was in a state of complete disrepair, but Margaret Barker lovingly and painstakingly restored the house and the grounds.

After a tour of the house and climbing the tower, we had tea, scones and shortbread in the ballroom, and then wandered through the beautiful gardens.

View from the tower - a hazy shade of Dunedin

"The Camp"

Thistle

Warning!

The next few posts on my blog will be full of photos - highlights from our recent trip to New Zealand!

P.S. Apparently this is my 600th post!