[Coyoteman]

On the other hand, I find it hard to conceive of any development of modern science except that the belief of scientists in intelligent design, by which I mean what Whitehead said about the matter.

I don't understand this reference. Please explain in a bit more detail. Thanks.

[RobbyS]

Whitehead began with the observation that science arose against a background of belief in a Creator God—the Judeo-Christian God—and Greek rationalism. Unlike Greek scientists, like Aristotle, the Europeans believed in a linear progression of events. Unlike the Muslims, who became weighted down by fundamentalism, they believed that God —and his creation—could be known by reason. By extension one may look at the view of the Positivists which was that theology was superceded by science, each confident that truth could be know by the application of reason, although science focuses on what is near at hand rather than metaphysical truth or knowledge of God.