Let me see if I interpreted this discussion correctly: Robert seems to be implying that man could not have created the vast and complex technology that currently exists without some direct (name removed by moderator)ut from God; those taking a contrary view seem to imply that technology is the result of man’s application of the intellect using science and mathematics. IMO both sides are partially correct. Before I give my view of the creation of technology let me present my credentials:
I have a B.S. and an M.S. in Solid State Physics and worked 35 years as a Semiconductor Engineer with Western Electric, the manufacturing arm of the Bell System, a job that put me in close contact with the scientists at Bell Laboratories. I was involved at one time or another in the entire sequence of a semiconductor manufacturing from the design of devices such as transistors and integrated circuits to the procurement and installation of the manufacturing facilities to the prove-in and improvement of the mfg. process. Needless to say the success of any manufacturing process requires an (name removed by moderator)ut of many engineers and for any given product the interrelationship of engineers and designers is too complex to discuss here. Those that argue for the corporate engineering approach to the advance of technology are also partially correct. On the other hand, There are far too many examples of “eureka moments” in the history of technolgy to neglect those individual creative moments when technolgy took a quantum leap. It is precisely those examples creativity that speak for the involvment of God.
However, this is a philosophy forum, so let me give you my philosophical view of the creation of technology.
The mind is the interface (or the combination of you like) of matter (neurons in the brain) and a spiritual component (nous) that is manifested as consciousness. The mind communicates with the external reality in two modes: (1) with tangential insight and (2) with radial insight. Tangential insight is the activity the mind employs ingathering knowledge from other minds and the product of other minds. Radial insight is the activity the mind employs in creating new knowledge. The activity that incites tangential insight is study; the activity that incites radial insight is wonder. Study of the body of knowledge pertaining to a particular technology is essential to its advance. Study of technology is the product of desire, aptitude, and opportunity. Wonder is a gift from God in the form of sanctifying grace — sometimes called habitual grace. Wonder is an essential component of creativity and creativity is an essential part of all technologies as well as the ancillary knowledge of science and math. It is through the mind’s acquiescence to sanctifying grace that revelations of new ideas, those eureka moments, are gifts from God. It is in this subtle way that our theistic God is involved in human reality. Those of you that may experience such a eureka moment, however inconsequential, will know through the feeling of awe.
Technology advances in small steps on the backs of legions of engineers and other technologists until God provides some individual wonderer with a eureka moment and technology takes a quantum jump. I could name a multitude of examples.
Yppop