Teaching
Philosophy of science (undergraduate level) taught every other year since 1987, History of Science since 2003.
Current Courses:
One Semester Courses
| His 341: | History of Science |
| Phil 342: | Philosophy of Science |
Independent Studies
| Phi 486: | S. Baarda. "On Knowledge" 1993. |
| Rel. 486: | R. Oosterhoff. “Luther, Calvin, and the Rise of Modern Science: Testing the Harrison Hypothesis.” 2005. |
| His 341: | N. Ellens; History of Science course by letter of permission from McMaster University. ‘06. |
Memberships
International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology
International Society for Hermeneutics and Science
History of Science Society
Awards
| 1996: | Howard Vollum Writing Award for 1996 of the Institute for Christian Leadership. Awarded for "The Struggle Between Christian Theism, Metaphysical Naturalism and Relativism: How to Proceed in Science?" Faculty Dialogue 26, 1996. |
Scholarly Publications
Books Authored or Edited:
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J. M., Mandelbrote, S. (Eds.) Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: To 1700. Leiden/Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. 2008. 2 vols. |
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J. M., Mandelbrote, S. (Eds.) Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic Religions: 1700-Present. Leiden/Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. 2008. 2 vols. |
| 2001: | Brooke, J.H., Osler, M.J. Van der Meer, J.M. (Eds.) Science in Theistic Contexts: Cognitive Dimensions. Osiris 16. University of Chicago Press. Chicago. 2001. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. Editor (1996) Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 1: Historiography and Modes of Interaction. The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. Lanham. 1996. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. Editor (1996) Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 2: The Role of Beliefs in Mathematics and the Natural Sciences: An Augustinian Perspective. The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. Lanham. 1996. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. Editor (1996) Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 3: The Role of Beliefs in the Natural Sciences. The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. Lanham. 1996. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. Editor (1996) Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 4: Interpreting God's Action in the World. The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. Lanham. 1996. |
Chapters:
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Georges Cuvier and the Use of Scripture in Geology,” in: Van der Meer, J.M., Mandelbrote, S. (Eds.) Nature and Scripture: History of a Dialogue. Vol. 2. Leiden / Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. 2008, pp. 115-144. |
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J. M., Oosterhoff, R. “God, Scripture, and the Rise of Modern Science (1200-1700): Notes in the Margin of Harrison’s Hypothesis,” in: Van der Meer, J.M., Mandelbrote, S. (Eds.) Nature and Scripture: History of a Dialogue. Vol. 1. Leiden / Boston: Brill Academic Publishers. 2008, pp. 363-396. |
| 2007: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Theodosius Dobzhansky: Nothing in Evolution Makes Sense Except in the Light of Religion.” In: Nicolaas Rupke (ed.), Eminent Lives in Twentieth-Century Science and Religion. Franfurt.Berlin.Brussels. New York.Oxford.Vienna: Peter Lang, 2007, pp. 79-101. |
| 2006: | Van der Meer, J. M. (2006) “Reading Nature in the Light of Scripture: the Case of Georges Cuvier (1769-1832)” In: The Book of Nature in Modern Times. pp. 183-195 (Eds. K. van Berkel, A. Vanderjagt). Peeters. Leuven, Belgium. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “De Biologie van Moreel Gedrag: Een Keuze Uit Feiten en Ficties,” In: (C. Dekker, R. W. J. Meester & R. van Woudenberg, eds.) Schitterend Ongeluk of Sporen van Ontwerp: Over Toeval en Doelgerichtheid in de Evolutie. Ten Have. Baarn, pp. 235-254. [“The Biological basis of Morality. A Selection of Facts and Fictions.” In: Splendid Accident or Traces of Design: On Randomness and Purposefulness in Evolution.] |
Encyclopedia Entries:
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Darwin.” In: Christelijke Encyclopedie. G. Harinck, W. Berkelaar, A. de Vos, L. Winkeler, eds. Kok. Kampen. 2005. Volume 1, pp. 404. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Darwinisme.” In: Christelijke Encyclopedie. G. Harinck, W. Berkelaar, A. de Vos, L. Winkeler, eds. Kok. Kampen. 2005. Volume 1, pp. 404-406. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Evolutieleer.” In: Christelijke Encyclopedie. G. Harinck, W. Berkelaar, A. de Vos, L. Winkeler, eds. Kok. Kampen. 2005. Volume 1, pp. 541-543. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Evolutietheorie.” In: Christelijke Encyclopedie. G. Harinck, W. Berkelaar, A. de Vos, L. Winkeler, eds. Kok. Kampen. 2005. Volume 1, pp. 543-546. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. “Jan Lever.” In: Christelijke Encyclopedie. G. Harinck, W. Berkelaar, A. de Vos, L. Winkeler, eds. Kok. Kampen. 2005. Volume 2, pp. 1103-1104. |
| 2003: | Van der Meer, J.M. “Order.” In: Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. Ed. J. Wentzel Vrede van Huyssteen. MacMillan. New York. Pp. 633-634. |
| 2003: | Van der Meer, J.M. “Metaphysics.” In: Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. Ed. J. Wentzel Vrede van Huyssteen. MacMillan. New York. Pp. 561-563. |
Book Reviews:
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J.M. “Science’s Blind Spot: The Unseen Religion of Scientific Naturalism” by Cornelius G. Hunter. Grand Rapids, MI. Brazos Press. 2007. Book review in: Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 60 (2): 135-6. |
| 2000: | Van der Meer, J.M. “Progress in Nature and Culture: How Biology Can Have the Best of Both Worlds.” Invited essay-review of Monad to Man by M. Ruse. Biology and Philosophy 15: 759-772. |
| 1999: | Van der Meer, J.M. “Monad to Man: The Concept of Progress in Evolutionary Biology.” by M. Ruse. J. Interdisciplinary Studies 11: 203-204 (1999). |
| 1989: | Van der Meer, J.M.: Metaphorical Process: The Creation of Scientific and Religious Understanding, by M. Gerhart and A. Russell. Texas Christian U. P. Fort Worth 1984. In: J. Psychol. and Christianity 8 (2) 81-82 (1989). |
| 1981: | Van der Meer, J.M.: Drie Studies over 'buitenwetenschappelijke' Invloeden in de Geschiedenis van Biologische en Astronomische Ideeen. In: Radix 7 (2), 80-100 (1981). |
| 1975: | Van der Meer, J.M.: Inleiding tot de Wijsbegeerte van de Biologie, by Dr. W.J. van der Steen. In: Radix 1 (2), 97-101 (1975). |
Refereed Articles:
| 2009: | Van der Meer, J.M. and Oosterhoff, Richard J. “The Bible, Protestantism and the Rise of Natural Science: a Response to Harrison’s Thesis” Science and Christian Belief 20-2 (2009). Accepted. |
| 2000: | Van der Meer, J.M. (2000) “The Engagement of Religion and Biology: A Case Study in the Mediating Role of Metaphor in the Sociobiology of Lumsden and Wilson.” Biology and Philosophy 15: 759-772. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J. M. (1996) "The Multi-Modal Hierarchy: Distinguishing Parts, Wholes, and Levels of Organization." In: Hall, M.L.H. (editor) Proceedings of the 40th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. Pages 507-518. Louisville, KY. |
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. (1996) "Religious Belief in Sociobiology: How a Physical Analogy Introduces Materialism in Human Sociobiology". In: Facets of Faith and Science. Volume 2: 271-286 (ed. J.M. van der Meer). The Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science / University Press of America. Lanham. |
Non-Refereed Articles:
| 1996: | Van der Meer, J.M. (1996) "The Struggle Between Christian Theism, Metaphysical Naturalism and Relativism: How to Proceed in Science?" < http://www.redeemer.on.ca/academicprograms/faculty/Jitse M. van der Meer/unpublished manuscripts > |
| 1981: | Van der Meer, J.M.: Drie Studies over 'buitenwetenschappelijke' Invloeden in de Geschiedenis van Biologische en Astronomische Ideeen. Radix 7(2), 80-100 (1981). |
Papers Presented:
| 2008: | Van der Meer, J. M., Oosterhoff, R. (2008) “Interpreting Nature & Scripture: The Shift from Reader to Author and the Transformation of the Literal Meaning (1100-1700).” Presented at The Sixth Three Societies Conference: Connecting Disciplines. University of Oxford, UK, 4-6 July 2008. |
| 2006: | Van der Meer, J. M. (2006) “Georges Cuvier and the Use of Scripture in Geology.” Presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the History of Science Society, Vancouver, November 2-5. |
| 2005: | Van der Meer, J. M. (2005) “Georges Cuvier and the Use of Scripture in Geology.” Presented at the Third International Pascal Centre Conference, RUC, July 18-23, 2005 entitled: “Interpreting Nature and Scripture: History of a Dialogue.” |
| 2003: | “Religious Interpretations of Nature in the Population Genetics of Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900-1975).” Presented at the Conference of the International Society for Hermeneutics and Science. Tihany, Hungary. June 7-11. |
| 2002: | “Reading Nature in Light of Scripture: The Case of Georges Cuvier (1769-1832).” Presented at an international conference: The Book of Nature: Continuity and Change in European and American Attitudes towards the Natural World. State University of Groningen, NL. May 22-25. |
| 1998: | Opening Address. Second International Pascal Centre Conference: Science in Theistic Contexts. July 21-25, 1998. Redeemer College. Ancaster. On. Canada. Conference Chair and Organizer. |
| 1996: | "The Multi-Modal Hierarchy. Distinguishing Parts, Wholes and Levels of Organization." Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. Louisville, KY. USA. July 14-19, 1996. |
| 1996: | "Encapsis". A discussion paper for the International Conference of the Dooyeweerd Centre, Ancaster, June 3-6, 1996. |
| 1995: | "Beliefs in Science: The Illusion of Detached Materialism"; invited paper for the Philosophy of Biology Seminar, University of Guelph, October 6, 1995. |
| 1989: | "Hierarchy Theory". Natural Sciences Colloquium, Redeemer College, 1989. |
| 1988/87: | The Merits of Hierarchical Thinking for Biological Theorizing. Presented for the 1987/88 faculty discussion series organized by the CSACA at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. |
