The Scientific Character of Philip Hefner's “Created Co-Creator”

Philip Hefner's understanding of humans as “created co-creators” has played a key role in the science and religion field, particularly as scholars consider the implications of emerging technologies for the human future. Hefner articulates his “created co-creator” framework in the form of scient...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zygon
Main Author: Lorrimar, Victoria 1986- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [2017]
In: Zygon
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Hefner, Philip 1932- / Schöpferkraft Gottes / Creation / Cooperation / Human being / Creature / Natural sciences
RelBib Classification:CF Christianity and Science
NBC Doctrine of God
Further subjects:B Imre Lakatos
B Scientific Method
B Co-creation
B Philip Hefner
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Philip Hefner's understanding of humans as “created co-creators” has played a key role in the science and religion field, particularly as scholars consider the implications of emerging technologies for the human future. Hefner articulates his “created co-creator” framework in the form of scientifically testable hypotheses supporting his core understanding of human nature, adopting the structure of Imre Lakatos's scientific research programme. This article provides a brief exposition of Hefner's model, examines his hypotheses in order to assess their scientific character, and evaluates them against the relevant findings of contemporary science. While Hefner's model is largely commensurate with contemporary science, he at times makes claims that cannot be scientifically falsified or corroborated. Hefner's accomplishments in demonstrating the scientific compatibility of many theological notions is admirable; however, his overall position would be strengthened with a more tacit acknowledgment of the limitations of scientific knowledge. His anthropology draws also from extrascientific commitments and is all the richer for it.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/zygo.12362