POLANYI ON TELEOLOGY: ARESPONSETO JOHN APCZYNSKI AND RICHARD GELWICK

Walter B. Gulick; Walter B. Gulick

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00089.x

Research Articles
POLANYI ON TELEOLOGY: ARESPONSETO JOHN APCZYNSKI AND RICHARD GELWICK

Abstract

Abstract. Michael Polanyi criticized the neo‐Darwinian synthesis on two grounds: that accidental hereditary changes bringing adaptive advantages cannot account for the rise of discontinuous new species, and that a Ideological ordering principle is needed to explain evolutionary advance. I commend the previous articles by John Apczynski and Richard Gelwick and also argue, more strongly than they, that Polanyi's critique of evolutionary theory is flawed. It relies on an inappropriate notion of progress and untenable analogies from the human process of scientific discovery and the fact that in physical systems minimal potential energy is most stable. Yet within a life of commitment to transcendent values humans can directly experience purpose and meaning, and in developing this notion Polanyi makes his greatest contribution to teleology.

Keywords

religious satisfactions, field theory, evolution, teleology, Michael Polanyi, organizing and ordering principles

How to Cite

Gulick, W., (2005) “POLANYI ON TELEOLOGY: ARESPONSETO JOHN APCZYNSKI AND RICHARD GELWICK”, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 40(1), 89–96. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00089.x

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References

Apczynski, John V.2005. “The Discovery of Meaning through Scientific and Religious Forms of Indwelling. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 40 (March): 77–88.

Gelwick, Richard.2005. “Michael Polanyi's Daring Epistemology and the Hunger for Teleology. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 40 (March): 63–76.

Goodenough, Ursula.1998. The Sacred Depths of Nature. Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press.

Grene, Marjorie.2002. “Reply to Phil Mullins .”In The Philosophy of Marjorie Grene , ed. Randall E.Auxier and LewisEdwin Hahn, 61–62. Library of Living Philosophers, vol. 29. Chicago: Open Court.

Polanyi, Michael. [1958] 1964. Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post‐Critical Philosophy. New York : Harper Torchbooks.

Polanyi, Michael, and HarryProsch. 1975. Meaning. Chicago : Univ. of Chicago Press.

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Walter B. Gulick (Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science)

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Volume 40 • Issue 1 • March 2005

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Pages	89–96
Published on	2005-03-02

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00089.x

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