Alone In The World?: Human Uniqueness In Science And Theology

Book Summary

In "Alone in the World?" -- first given as the 2004 Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh -- J. Wentzel van Huyssteen develops the interdisciplinary dialogue that he set out in "The Shaping of Rationality" (1999), applying this methodology to the uncharted waters between theological anthropology and paleoanthropology. Among other things, van Huyssteen argues that scientific notions of human uniqueness help us to ground theological notions of human distinctiveness in flesh-and-blood, embodied experiences and protect us from overly complex theological abstractions regarding the "image of God." Focusing on the interdisciplinary problem of human origins and distinctiveness, van Huyssteen accesses the origins of the embodied human mind through the spectacular prehistoric cave paintings of Western Europe, fifteen of which are reproduced in color in this volume. Boldly connecting Christian theology and paleoanthropology -- two widely separated fields -- through careful interdisciplinary reflection, "Alone in the World?" will encourage sustained investigation into the question of human uniqueness. In "Alone in the World?" J. Wentzel van Huyssteen develops further his earlier proposal for interdisciplinary dialogue set out in "The Shaping of Rationality," and applies this methodology to the uncharted waters between theological anthropology and paleoanthropology. First delivered as the 2004 Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh van Huyssteen here argues that scientific notions of human uniqueness may actually help us to ground theological notions of human distinctiveness in flesh-and-blood, real-life, embodied experiences and protect theological reflection from abstractions when trying to rethink the image of God. Van Huyssteen focuses on the interdisciplinary problem of human origins and human distinctiveness and finds a unique access point to the origin of the remarkable human mind in the spectacular prehistoric cave paintings of Western Europe. Fifteen of the most important paintings are reproduced in this book, and van Huyssteen explores the theological relevance and deeper religious meaning of a number of them. Connecting two widely separated fields through careful interdisciplinary reflection, "Alone in the World?" will encourage sustained investigation into the question of human uniqueness.

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