Abstract
The central metaphor of nature as a watch has colored the debate about natural theology since Paley and Darwin. However, a chemical interpretation of natural history will differ because chemical systems do not work like watches. Here, a natural history of chemical constraints proposed by R. J. P. Williams is interpreted through Joseph Earley's two modes of "chemical becoming" with classical realism and the philosophy of emergence. This interpretation shifts attention from a system's irreducible complexity to its irreducible novelty, focusing on its novel existence and its transcendental truth, goodness, and beauty. A view of natural history in which irreducible novelty evolves through chemistry has several advantages: it accommodates continuous change (giving direction to a gradual mechanism of evolution) and irreversible change (providing an important yet limited role for chance rather than denying its existence or overemphasizing its power). A chemical perspective perceives the inherent "makeability" and manifest order of the universe.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
