Mathematical reasoning may be regarded rather schematically as the exercise of a combination of two facilities, which we may call intuition and ingenuity.
Alan TuringRead
I am not very impressed with theological arguments whatever they may be used to support. Such arguments have often been found unsatisfactory in the past. In the time of Galileo it was argued that the texts, 'And the sun stood still... and hasted not to go down about a whole day' (Joshua x. 13) and 'He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not move at any time' (Psalm cv. 5) were an adequate refutation of the Copernican theory.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the reliability of theological arguments in the face of scientific evidence.
Alan Turing expresses skepticism about theological arguments, suggesting that they have historically failed to provide satisfactory explanations or justifications in scientific debates. By referring to the historical conflict between religious texts and the Copernican theory, he highlights how reliance on scripture can impede the acceptance of scientific advancements, encouraging a more rational and evidence-based approach to understanding the universe.
Themes
TheologyScienceArgumentsEvidenceKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about faith and reason, this quote can illustrate the tension between religious beliefs and scientific understanding.
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