CRS Quarterly Research Database

Historiography and Natural History

Reed, John K. (2000) Historiography and Natural History. Creation Research Society Quarterly, 37 (3): 3.

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Abstract

Natural history is commonly considered a science by virtue of the application of the scientific method. Although distinctions exist between human history and natural history, natural history is not a science because the study of unique past events is history. Since natural history is a class of history, it presupposes and requires a "natural historiography", just as history presupposes and requires historiography. This natural historiography cannot simply appeal to the scientific method; indeed, a focus on method alone is inadequate. A complete and explicit historiography of natural history remains to be developed and applied. Historiography provides a template for a natural historiography, despite differences between human history and natural history. Deriving a natural historiography is best done within an integrated worldview which can define its scope, value, and methods. The worldview of Naturalism cannot do this because of irreconcilable differences between its axioms, methods, and conclusions that pertain to natural history. These problems are not present within Biblical Christianity which can alone define and justify a natural historiography. Christianity validates natural history but modifies its scope, value, and method from that currently accepted and applied.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science (General) > Q175 Philosophy of Science
Q Science (General) > QH Natural History. Biology
Depositing User: Admin
Date Deposited: 18 Mar 2025 21:44
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2025 21:44
URI: https://crsq.creationresearch.org/id/eprint/908

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