Frequently Asked Questions

We are interested in projects in theology and philosophy of religion that intersect with questions about laws, regularities, natural kinds and social dynamics. We hope that potential participants will, in their project description, explain why they think a deeper understanding of scientific practice will enhance their project. Some examples of potential questions are:

• What scientific kinds are theologically relevant? 
• Are traditional understandings of “natural law” in tension with scientific pluralism? 
• Do humans play a role in constructing observed regularities? What is that role and how might it affect the philosophical or theological task? 
• How do classifications in science (e.g. categories of mental disorder) interact with the way we frame questions in philosophy of religion or theology? How do they shape our understanding of being human? 
• How do theological categories and scientific categories interact?
• How do social dynamics and social classifications affect religious communities?

This school will also be useful for theologians and philosophers of religion who desire to engage with concrete scientific findings in their research. We welcome projects that seek a better understanding of scientific practice to enhance their engagement with scientific literature. Some examples of this approach are:

• Projects engaging with specific characterizations of psychological kinds or biological kinds
• Projects that engage theological interpretations of particular scientific theories and the metaphysical implications of empirical laws, regularities and natural kinds
• Projects seeking to understand the use of formal tools to understand regularities in human and social sciences