Divine Action, Determinism, and the Laws of Nature

DIVINE ACTION, DETERMINISM, AND THE LAWS OF NATURE by Jeffrey Koperski. New York: Routledge, 2020. 168 pages. Hardcover; $160.00. ISBN: 9780367139001. Ebook; open access. *When it comes to talking about God's action in the world and laws of nature science classes I teach, my students sometimes wonder if God, violating very he created, is a problem. Koperski has written book for those you, too! You can see that teacher well experienced with explaining philosophical ideas majoring anything but philosophy (who form bulk our teaching). This makes his new accessible enjoyable read. Moreover, no matter your background, you are likely learn something reading this book, perhaps even favored approach divine world. *Koperski right point out science--particularly physics--is missing from most discussions. If enters at all, only cursory contributions. He also observe causal closure physical, or as whole, gets too little attention literature despite outsized role plays. ably shows why neither nor determinism genuine obstacles Philosophy allows clear lot dead brush ground literature. an important contribution helps us think more accurately (full disclosure: have talked these issues tread same ground). The assumption metaphor "governing" events been accepted largely unanalyzed Though rarely uses language, things does not stand up close analysis. endorses view functioning constraints enables clearly how God act without laws. describes model decretalist nonviolationist. scientists deal represent decrees--gifts order constraint creation. regularities creation genuinely exist act. captures biblical relationship creation; considers natural philosophers' critical thinking seventeenth century. *As nonviolationism, points laws--the nomic conditions features world--do make go (no metaphor). Rather, physicists recognized, forces move. What do provide on behavior (p. 134). His nonviolationist violated when acts nature; rather, there nonnomic changes, "the adapt change. was true we thought Newtonian, remains age quantum mechanics relativity" 135). Koperski's account consistent what physics reveals nature--they function typicality conditions: A law tells expect system typical represented law. But factors introduced, tell expect. shattered, Yet, distress physicists; know calculate happens additional original did cover. *Consider simple example: grandfather clock keeps time because lawlike involved its functioning. use finger keep minute hand moving forward, will cease keeping accurately. No violated; however, physical change taken place regarding clock's still there--the operative--but they presence effect force introduced into system. means "once distinguished result conditions, find vast space contingency which act" (p. 135). calls "neoclassical special action" 135) manipulating humans changes (e.g., rockets overcome gravity's pull), able to. question then becomes one contingent given *You may be possible objections action. discusses several recommend read say them. briefly discuss seem serious--that is, violations energy conservation. There many reasons conservation systems particular hold. For instance, out, according general relativity, apply expanding universe. In dynamic spacetime, motion objects conserve energy. More generally, any whose dynamics depend fail energy, lots such actual Physicists precise ways quantifying much violates describing resulting question. idea always embedded larger restoring just that--an nothing more. good supporting (though some defend maintain their reductionist intuitions). plenty opportunity never issue. *One could sweat details. example, rehearses arguments processes suppress chaos, thus undercutting amplification small macroworld effects (pp. 52-53). While friend argument along lines chaotic macroscopic being sensitive fluctuations; doesn't existence so-called chaos. stringent amplification, however; so, correct banking route hopeless cause. And am convinced pointing toward eventual rejection ontological randomness (pp. 60-63). Irreducible lawless chaos; offends deterministic intuitions philosophers. None stands falls quibbles. *I would like enriched doctrine creation, Understanding Scientific Theories Origins: Cosmology, Geology Biology Christian Perspective, Robert C. Bishop et al. (IVP Academic, 2018). discussion sec. 4.2 suggests seventeenth-century philosophers eventually ditched all forms divine-mediated direct unmediated embodied (the oversimplified, short book). amounts treating main mediators (back contrast, creation's emphasis multiple address working through nature, outside apart it. exactly needs questions entertains end leaves unanswered restrict concurrence Thomist models only). *Reviewed Bishop, Department Physics Engineering, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187.