Gaan na die mier, kyk na sy weë en word wys: Metafoor of paradigma?
Author(s)
Johan BuitendagKeywords
Understanding of realitypanentheism
epistemology
ontology
constructive empiricism
creation theology
The Bible
BS1-2970
Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
B
DOAJ:The Bible
DOAJ:Religion
DOAJ:Philosophy and Religion
Practical Theology
BV1-5099
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Go to the ant, consider her ways, and be wise. Metaphor or paradigm? This article takes as its point of departure two citations. The one is from Marshall and Zohar’s contention that the wave-particle dualism is more than a metaphor and the other is from Clayton claiming that indeterminacy was not merely a temporary epistemic problem, but reflected an inherent indeterminacy of the physical world itself. What does it mean if it is not a mere way of speaking? The author of this article departs from the premise that the task of systematic theology is the endeavour to understand reality and that this is a collective enterprise together with other sciences as well. A constructive empiricism could indeed lead to an understanding of reality where reality is more than merely idealistically conceived. Truth is therefore to be replaced with a pragmatic, but value-laden concept of understanding or comprehension. This has the effect that both epistemology and ontology have to be revisited and subsequently panentheism too. The argument finds its niche in Old Testament wisdom literature and Proverbs 6:6 forms the lens of reference. The late South African ethologist Eugène Marais’s epic work, The Soul of the Ant, is applied to illustrate such a proposed epistemic community.Date
2013-07-01Type
ArticleIdentifier
oai:doaj.org/article:da4de425946a4de999218157c971ed8210.4102/hts.v69i1.1976
0259-9422
2072-8050
https://doaj.org/article/da4de425946a4de999218157c971ed82