Michael Foster (philosopher)
Encyclopedia
Michael Beresford Foster (1903–1959) was a tutor in philosophy of Oxford University's Christ Church
. For a period up until his death he was the chairman of the British Student Christian Movement. He was one of A.J. Ayer's tutors at Oxford, but their relationship is remembered more as a source of strained feelings than of scholarly fellowship. His disparate works on political science and various doctrines of Christianity (especially the doctrine of creation) have influenced philosophers such as George Grant
, who had, when writing his Ph.D. thesis, in fact visited with Foster in England.
. He then proceeded to St. John's College, Oxford, gaining a lifetime friend and colleague John Mabbott. In 1927–1928 he studied under Richard Kroner
in Dresden, Germany.
science. Mention of Foster's thesis can be found in the work of historian and theologian Alister E. McGrath, for example. Foster's thesis (published 1934–1936) differs greatly from the Merton thesis
(published 1938) and other harmony-type historical investigations (e.g., that of Reijer Hooykaas
) since rather than relying on historical contingencies to establish a relation, he abstractly asserts using analytical philosophy a logical necessity between an orthodox Christian view of creation and a modern view of science, i.e., Christianity is a necessary and sufficient condition for the development of modern science. Although when citing this thesis many scholars refer only to the three 1934–1936 Mind journal articles, an until-recently-sometimes-hard-to-locate conference paper given in Italy in 1933 by Foster actually forms a "natural unit" with the three Mind articles. This first paper—"The Opposition Between Hegel and the Philosophy of Empiricism"—argued that there is "one Christian truth incorporated in modern Empiricism which Hegel's Philosophy ignores. ... This truth is the truth contained in the Christian doctrine of Creation." Foster's creation-science thesis is actually a modern form of what historians and philosophers sometimes more technically label voluntarism, which is a worldview that tends to be held by empiricists: an historically opposing worldview was that of the "intellectualists" who tend to be rationalists.
's is therefore quite different from his view of unsolved puzzles and problems, which he, here following Marcel, holds only temporarily appear mysterious. This idea of irresolvable mystery is similar to ones also found in the works of Eric L. Mascall
and Norman Geisler
. Foster concludes this book by stating "[Faith] is directed upon mystery, as revelation springs from mystery, and as prayer seems properly to be directed upon mysterious objects." Mention of Foster's view of mystery can be found in the work of the philosopher Ann Hartle, for example.
include "The Christian Doctrine of Creation and the Rise of Modern Natural Science" (Mind
, Volume 43, 1934, p. 446–468), "Christian Theology and Modern Science of Nature." (Mind
, Volume 44, 1935, pp. 439–466 (part I) and Volume 45, 1936, pp. 1–27 (part II)).
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. For a period up until his death he was the chairman of the British Student Christian Movement. He was one of A.J. Ayer's tutors at Oxford, but their relationship is remembered more as a source of strained feelings than of scholarly fellowship. His disparate works on political science and various doctrines of Christianity (especially the doctrine of creation) have influenced philosophers such as George Grant
George Grant (philosopher)
George Parkin Grant, OC, FRSC was a Canadian philosopher, teacher and political commentator, whose popular appeal peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his nationalism, political conservatism, and his views on technology, pacifism, Christian faith, and abortion...
, who had, when writing his Ph.D. thesis, in fact visited with Foster in England.
Education
His elementary schooling took place at a Merchant Taylors' SchoolMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
. He then proceeded to St. John's College, Oxford, gaining a lifetime friend and colleague John Mabbott. In 1927–1928 he studied under Richard Kroner
Richard Kroner
Richard Kroner was a German neo-Hegelian philosopher, known for his Von Kant bis Hegel , a classic history of German idealism written from the neo-Hegelian point of view. He was a Christian, from a Jewish background...
in Dresden, Germany.
Foster's creation-science thesis
Foster is remembered for his thesis that the idea of Christian creation and its view of nature—especially in contrast to various Greek views of nature—deeply influenced the development of early modernEarly modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
science. Mention of Foster's thesis can be found in the work of historian and theologian Alister E. McGrath, for example. Foster's thesis (published 1934–1936) differs greatly from the Merton thesis
Merton Thesis
The Merton Thesis is an argument about the nature of early experimental science proposed by Robert K. Merton. Similar to Max Weber's famous claim on the link between Protestant ethic and the capitalist economy, Merton argued for a similar positive correlation between the rise of Protestant pietism...
(published 1938) and other harmony-type historical investigations (e.g., that of Reijer Hooykaas
Reijer Hooykaas
Reijer Hooykaas was a historian of science. He along with Eduard Jan Dijksterhuis were pioneers in professionalizing the history of science in the Netherlands. H...
) since rather than relying on historical contingencies to establish a relation, he abstractly asserts using analytical philosophy a logical necessity between an orthodox Christian view of creation and a modern view of science, i.e., Christianity is a necessary and sufficient condition for the development of modern science. Although when citing this thesis many scholars refer only to the three 1934–1936 Mind journal articles, an until-recently-sometimes-hard-to-locate conference paper given in Italy in 1933 by Foster actually forms a "natural unit" with the three Mind articles. This first paper—"The Opposition Between Hegel and the Philosophy of Empiricism"—argued that there is "one Christian truth incorporated in modern Empiricism which Hegel's Philosophy ignores. ... This truth is the truth contained in the Christian doctrine of Creation." Foster's creation-science thesis is actually a modern form of what historians and philosophers sometimes more technically label voluntarism, which is a worldview that tends to be held by empiricists: an historically opposing worldview was that of the "intellectualists" who tend to be rationalists.
Mystery and philosophy
In his book Mystery and Philosophy (SCM Press, 1957), Foster seeks to explore the existence of mystery in various secular and religious disciplines in order to discover whether it serves a legitimate function in theology and philosophy when possibly applied to scientific and political realities. Foster asserts that realities exist (i.e., those found in revelation and appealed to in prayer) that are mysterious and will remain so; Foster's view of mystery like that of Gabriel MarcelGabriel Marcel
Gabriel Honoré Marcel was a French philosopher, a leading Christian existentialist, and author of about 30 plays.He focused on the modern individual's struggle in a technologically dehumanizing society...
's is therefore quite different from his view of unsolved puzzles and problems, which he, here following Marcel, holds only temporarily appear mysterious. This idea of irresolvable mystery is similar to ones also found in the works of Eric L. Mascall
Eric Lionel Mascall
Eric Lionel Mascall OGS was a leading theologian and priest in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England. He was a philosophical exponent of the Thomist tradition and was Professor of Historical Theology at King's College London . His name was styled as E.L...
and Norman Geisler
Norman Geisler
Norman L. Geisler is a Christian apologist and the co-founder of Southern Evangelical Seminary outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where he formerly taught. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Jesuit Loyola University...
. Foster concludes this book by stating "[Faith] is directed upon mystery, as revelation springs from mystery, and as prayer seems properly to be directed upon mysterious objects." Mention of Foster's view of mystery can be found in the work of the philosopher Ann Hartle, for example.
Works
Works of his that remain important to the history of scienceHistory of science
The history of science is the study of the historical development of human understandings of the natural world and the domains of the social sciences....
include "The Christian Doctrine of Creation and the Rise of Modern Natural Science" (Mind
Mind (journal)
Mind is a British journal, currently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Mind Association, which deals with philosophy in the analytic tradition...
, Volume 43, 1934, p. 446–468), "Christian Theology and Modern Science of Nature." (Mind
Mind (journal)
Mind is a British journal, currently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Mind Association, which deals with philosophy in the analytic tradition...
, Volume 44, 1935, pp. 439–466 (part I) and Volume 45, 1936, pp. 1–27 (part II)).
- Mystery and Philosophy, Michael Beresford Foster, SCM PressSCM PressSCM Press is a UK-based academic publisher of theology, established more than a century ago. It was purchased by Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. in 1997. In 1989 the Los Angeles Times described SCM Press as "Britain's leading theological publisher"....
, 1957, pages 96 - "Man's Idea of Nature", The Christian Scholar, Volume 41, Number 3, September 1958, pages 361–366
- The Political Philosophies of Plato and Hegel, Michael Beresford Foster, Major Bronson Foster, Russell & Russell, 1965 (originally published 1935), 207 pages
- Michael B. Foster. Ed. Edward McChesney Sait. Masters of Political Thought (Volume 1): Plato to Machiavelli. Houghton Mifflin, 1941. (a 1974 edition has ISBN 0-518-10154-1)
- "The Christian Doctrine of Creation and the Rise of Modern Natural Science" in "Daniel O'connor and Francis Christopher OakleyFrancis Christopher OakleyFrancis Christopher Oakley, L.H.D., Litt.D., LL.D., is a scholar and professor of medieval history, who additionally served as president of Williams College from 1985-1993. Born in Liverpool, England in October, 1931 to Irish immigrants, he remained in Liverpool during the German bomb raids of...
(eds.), Creation: The Impact of an Idea, 1969, Charles Scribner's SonsCharles Scribner's SonsCharles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
set of 36 contemporary book citations
Further reading
- Edward B. DavisEdward B. DavisEdward Bertrand Davis .Davis was a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It should also be noted he served in the US Army from 1953 - 1955. He was in private practice in Miami, Florida from 1961 until 1979, when he was first appointed a Judgeship...
. "Christianity and Early Modern Science: The Foster thesis Reconsidered" (Chapter 3, pp. 75–95). Evangelicals and Science in Historical Perspective. Edited by David N. LivingstoneDavid N. LivingstoneDavid N. Livingstone , OBE, MRIA, FBA, AcSS, MAE, is Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, at Queen's University Belfast.- Personal background :...
, D. G. HartD. G. HartDarryl G. Hart is a religious and social historian. Hart is an Adjunct Professor of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He served as dean of academic affairs from 2000-2003...
, and Mark A. Noll. Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1999. - Peter HarrisonPeter Harrison (historian)Peter Harrison is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre, and a Fellow of Harris Manchester College at Oxford University.-Career:...
. "Voluntarism and Early Modern Science". History of Science. Vol.40, no.1, 2002. pp. 63–89.