Book: A Meaningful World: How the Arts and Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature, 2006.
Author: Benjamin Wiker & Jonathan Witt
The authors are Benjamin Wiker and Jonathan Witt. Both of these men are senior fellows of Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington. Wiker earned his Ph.D. in Theological Ethics from Vanderbilt and is lecturer in theology and science at the Franciscan University, where he has taught courses in philosophy, history, the history and philosophy of science as well as several other topics. Witt earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and formerly taught at Lubbock Christian University, as well as co-authored the book Intelligent Design Uncensored: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to the Controversy, with William Dembski.
Book Summary:
The book offers a very interesting view of nature and its inherent genius recognized through an appreciation of the arts and sciences. The book covers topics ranging from literature to geometry, chemistry and biology, and the philosophy of science, namely as presented in materialism. The overall goal of the book is to show how nature reveals that there is an underlying meaning and therefore meaningfulness to the world ultimately originating in the supreme genius of God the creator who has endowed nature with undeniable meaning. The point is made that nature in fact has an intelligible sense of order that scientists not only recognize, but depend upon to analyze and interpret the data that they collect. If there is no meaning in the world, then so too there is no meaning in data, but in everyday life meaning is imminent and recognizable. The book argues that modern materialism fails to account for this appearance of meaning and order.
The book goes on to highlight how literature is analogous to information in DNA and how the relationship between form and function cannot by overlooked. Just as Shakespeare’s work cannot simply be reduced to letters and therefore be isolated from their function in conveying information, namely about characters in his works. The fact remains that the letters are the form that serve a function. Likewise, a person’s DNA is more than simply a means to reduce them to a chemical form, for to do so misses the point of function considering the many complex layers that provide the form (DNA or letters) the context in which and by which they demonstrate meaning.
The book also highlights the interesting fact that mathematics developed by humans is an example of an appreciation and desire to discover logical beauty. The book points out that while some mathematical ventures are theoretical, and some are quite practical, they all go beyond accidental occurrences in nature, but rather demonstrate logical beauty and provide a means of discovering truths and meaning in data, which without question has been essential in investigation using the scientific method.
Evaluation:
The book provides a powerful argument from nature that the world has meaning that can both be detected and understood. The point communicated and argued consistently throughout the book is that the world is meaningful, and evidence of this meaning is readily available. This argument is effective in responding to the claim that nature is chaotic, randomly ordered, and meaningless, therefore everything in nature by inclusion is also meaningless. The book’s wide survey of topics serves to drive home the point that the argument is not isolated to simply one category of human knowledge, but that form, function and meaning is interwoven throughout the most important categories of human knowledge. The appeal to topics such as literature, mathematics, chemistry, and biology, which collectively representatives of the arts and sciences is an effective method of communicating the point being made. In this way, the authors do a fine job of supporting their arguments with examples from both the arts and sciences fortifying their point with concepts that are easy to recognize and understand. As well, the authors do not squander their influence by maliciously attacking their opponents, but provide historical insight and a balanced representation of the issues while making their point.
Recommendation:
Those who would be interested in this book would likely be those with an interest in the relationship between science and religion. They would also be persons interested in theology, philosophy, history and general science. The target audience would be adults with a background in the natural sciences, theology or philosophy, who are generally informed on these topics. Without reservation, I would highly recommend this book. I see this book as both easy to read, and robust in its argumentation and explanation. It would be helpful for anyone looking to investigate the connection between the arts and sciences and our ability to understand the world as meaningful. The believer and skeptic alike can appreciate the balanced yet well-reasoned perspective that the authors present.
I would recommend this book to two types of people. The first would be those who are interested in learning about the relationship between science and religion from an apologetic perspective who also appreciate the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Those who are also interested in learning how to respond to popular claims that the natural world is without meaning, chaotic and randomly ordered. The second would be the person who may be of this persuasion yet open to hearing a balanced and informed argument against their current position. The skeptic who also appreciates the beauty and wonder of the natural world, but currently holds that it is the product of random unguided natural processes.
