Papers by Simon Appolloni
Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 2012
Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 2012
Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, 2012
Taking the threatening anthropogenic global environmental destruction—the anthropocene—as a start... more Taking the threatening anthropogenic global environmental destruction—the anthropocene—as a starting point, this paper examines the Catholic tradition, which has remained relatively indifferent to this looming crisis, asking what might help it to change its focus from a decided human ecology to one that counts the human as an integral part of the larger natural ecology. Thomas Berry, whose teachings underlie this work, suggests that since the tradition has grown out of a cosmological perspective that places the human being at the center of ethical deliberations and separate from the natural world, it needs to rely on other Earth-centered and ecological expressions to help Catholics to discover more harmonious avenues of being on Earth, which he describes as a fourfold wisdom—the wisdoms of indigenous peoples, classical traditions, women, and science. Through a critical weaving of these wisdoms into a conversation with the Catholic tradition, this article examines the efficacy of the fourfold wisdom to transform the tradition into a more Earth-honoring expression. While this work concludes that the fourfold wisdom is effecting change where engaged, it also reflects on the challenges and opportunities this engagement faces in light of current realities within the Catholic tradition.
This paper investigates how the different epistemic attitudes held by scientists George Lemaître ... more This paper investigates how the different epistemic attitudes held by scientists George Lemaître and Sir Arthur Eddington decidedly influenced how they approached their research on cosmology. It demonstrates the degree to which epistemic attitudes matter in scientific research. Though both were Christian, a belief in God or in biblically inspired narratives does not explain satisfactorily why these two Christians remained at such opposite ends of thinking with regard to the idea of a beginning of a universe, especially considering Lemaître and Eddington each put forth his case in a scientific manner. This paper suggests that had both entered into a dialogue on each other’s epistemic attitude, a more constructive dialogue might have ensued perhaps initiating a greater amount of cooperation. And while these findings might seem academic, today a growing number of academics, social and environmental ethicists, and activists are embracing the big-bang theory as “a new story of the cosmos” as a means to gaining a new sense of purpose and understanding of the place of the human species in the world. This suggests that the scientists who convey the story to us today are especially beholden to be sensitive to their own epistemic attitudes which may influence their scientific conclusions.
Chapter in Books by Simon Appolloni
Conference Presentations by Simon Appolloni
Book Reviews by Simon Appolloni
Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology 16 (2012).
Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, Jan 1, 2010
Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology 16, no. 1 (2012).
Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture 6, no. 1 (2012).
Talks by Simon Appolloni
Teaching Documents by Simon Appolloni
Notwithstanding the clear benefits and joys associated with tourism, this industry is responsible... more Notwithstanding the clear benefits and joys associated with tourism, this industry is responsible throughout the globe for many unethical practices: the displacement of local and indigenous people, unfair labour practices, corruption or disrespect of cultures, human rights abuses, and tremendous environmental degradation. Such practices become more pressing when we consider that tourism has experienced continued growth and diversification as an industry and it remains today one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world.
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Papers by Simon Appolloni
Chapter in Books by Simon Appolloni
Conference Presentations by Simon Appolloni
Book Reviews by Simon Appolloni
Talks by Simon Appolloni
Teaching Documents by Simon Appolloni