Jeffrey Koperski - Böcker

A longstanding question at the intersection of science, philosophy, and theology is how God might act, or not, when governing the universe. Many believe that determinism would prevent God from acting at all, since to do so would require violating the laws of nature. However, when a robust view of these laws is coupled with the kind of determinism now used in dynamics, a new model of divine action emerges.This book presents a new approach to divine action beyond the current focus on quantum mechanics and esoteric gaps in the causal order. It bases this approach on two general points. First, that there are laws of nature is not merely a metaphor. Second, laws and physical determinism are now understood in mathematically precise ways that have important implications for metaphysics. The explication of these two claims shows not only that nonviolationist divine action is possible, but there is considerably more freedom available for God to act than current models allow.By bringing a philosophical perspective to an issue often dominated by theologians and scientists, this text redresses an imbalance in the discussion around divine action. It will, therefore, be of keen interest to scholars of Philosophy and Religion, the Philosophy of Science, and Theology.

A longstanding question at the intersection of science, philosophy, and theology is how God might act, or not, when governing the universe. Many believe that determinism would prevent God from acting at all, since to do so would require violating the laws of nature. However, when a robust view of these laws is coupled with the kind of determinism now used in dynamics, a new model of divine action emerges. This book presents a new approach to divine action beyond the current focus on quantum mechanics and esoteric gaps in the causal order. It bases this approach on two general points. First, that there are laws of nature is not merely a metaphor. Second, laws and physical determinism are now understood in mathematically precise ways that have important implications for metaphysics. The explication of these two claims shows not only that nonviolationist divine action is possible, but there is considerably more freedom available for God to act than current models allow. By bringing a philosophical perspective to an issue often dominated by theologians and scientists, this text redresses an imbalance in the discussion around divine action. It will, therefore, be of keen interest to scholars of Philosophy and Religion, the Philosophy of Science, and Theology.

Can libertarian free will survive our best physical theories? While prominent physicists argue that genuine agency contradicts science, this book demonstrates that contemporary physics actually provides robust foundations for human freedom.Physics and Free Will rigorously navigates the complex intersection of physical theory and the free will debate. Koperski begins by clarifying determinism’s scientific foundations before systematically addressing challenges from special relativity and refuting physics-based arguments against mind-body dualism. Drawing on insights from continuum mechanics and condensed matter physics, he reveals how multiscale systems exhibit the emergence of causally efficacious properties irreducible to their micro-constituents. Using these insights, Koperski develops a framework that preserves libertarian intuitions about genuine choice while remaining consistent with physical theory. Through meticulous examination of determinism, reductionism, and the causal closure of physics, this comprehensive work reveals how contemporary science’s recognition of emergent causation provides ample space for genuine human agency.This book will be essential for researchers and graduate students in metaphysics, philosophy of physics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind, and for anyone seeking to understand how contemporary science reshapes rather than eliminates the possibility of free will.

The Physics of Theism provides a timely, critical analysis of the ways in which physics intertwines with religion. Koperski brings clarity to a range of arguments including the fine-tuning argument, naturalism, the laws of nature, and the controversy over Intelligent Design. A single author text providing unprecedented scope and depth of analysis of key issues within the Philosophy of Religion and the Philosophy of ScienceCritically analyses the ways in which physics is brought into play in matters of religionSelf-contained chapters allow readers to directly access specific areas of interestThe area is one of considerable interest, and this book is a timely and well-conceived contribution to these debatesWritten by an accomplished scholar working in the philosophy of physics in a style that renders complex arguments accessible

The Physics of Theism provides a timely, critical analysis of the ways in which physics intertwines with religion. Koperski brings clarity to a range of arguments including the fine-tuning argument, naturalism, the laws of nature, and the controversy over Intelligent Design. A single author text providing unprecedented scope and depth of analysis of key issues within the Philosophy of Religion and the Philosophy of ScienceCritically analyses the ways in which physics is brought into play in matters of religionSelf-contained chapters allow readers to directly access specific areas of interestThe area is one of considerable interest, and this book is a timely and well-conceived contribution to these debatesWritten by an accomplished scholar working in the philosophy of physics in a style that renders complex arguments accessible

This open access book addresses the question of how God can providentially govern apparently ungovernable randomness. Medieval theologians confidently held that God is provident, that is, God is the ultimate cause of or is responsible for everything that happens.