This chapter delves into the issue of evolutionary epistemology and its relevance for evaluating epistemological matters related to the position of the scholar, particularly in relation to (methodological) naturalism. An analysis of the state of the research in field of evolutionary epistemology will be offered. It will be shown how and why evolutionary theory is epistemologically inevitably ambiguous and how no specific philosophical position (naturalism included) can claim to be better supported by evolutionary research. This is followed by an analysis of religious knowledge from the perspective of evolutionary epistemology. Lastly, it will be shown how this epistemological ambiguity of the biological evolutionary paradigm makes it possible to present completely non-naturalistic alternatives to the currently prevalent naturalistic perspective as well—and such non-naturalistic alternatives are just as compatible with evolutionary research as is methodological naturalism.

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Evolution, Epistemology and Religiosity

  • Indrek Peedu

摘要

This chapter delves into the issue of evolutionary epistemology and its relevance for evaluating epistemological matters related to the position of the scholar, particularly in relation to (methodological) naturalism. An analysis of the state of the research in field of evolutionary epistemology will be offered. It will be shown how and why evolutionary theory is epistemologically inevitably ambiguous and how no specific philosophical position (naturalism included) can claim to be better supported by evolutionary research. This is followed by an analysis of religious knowledge from the perspective of evolutionary epistemology. Lastly, it will be shown how this epistemological ambiguity of the biological evolutionary paradigm makes it possible to present completely non-naturalistic alternatives to the currently prevalent naturalistic perspective as well—and such non-naturalistic alternatives are just as compatible with evolutionary research as is methodological naturalism.