Hacking the Cosmos: How Reverse Engineering Uncovers Organization, Ingenuity and the Care of a Maker
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2019
Pages: 190
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2019
Pages: 190
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What has Stuttgart to do with Jerusalem? How does the field of engineering interact with theology to inform the science and spirituality conversation? A reverse engineering approach to nature with a focus on layers of enabling relationships (nested affordances) draws from all pertinent areas of knowledge to illuminate the big questions about origins, meaning and purpose. Interwoven personal stories highlight the author's colorful journey to this perspective and demonstrate the applicability of such an approach. Could a relational view of nature help to make sense of some of the more challenging aspects of the human condition? Find inspiration through study of the intricate organization of our fascinating cosmos. It speaks of an ingenious plan, not only for our existence, but also to invite us into the ultimate relationship with the loving Mastermind who is engineering it all for our benefit.
Preface
PART I: Science, Engineering, and Christian Faith
CHAPTER ONE: Defusing the Explosive Issue of Human Origins
CHAPTER TWO: The Potential for Unity in Diversity
CHAPTER THREE: Engineering Brings Science and the Humanities Together
PART II: Affordances and Their Providential Structures
CHAPTER FOUR: Affordances: Relationships That Provide Capabilities
CHAPTER FIVE: Affordances at the Microscopic, Macroscopic, and Telescopic Levels
CHAPTER SIX: Abundance of Nested Affordances Point to Ingenuity and Purpose
PART III: Affordance-Based Reverse Engineering
CHAPTER SEVEN: Reverse Engineering of Natural Systems
CHAPTER EIGHT: The “Big Picture” of Design and Reverse Engineering
CHAPTER NINE: Examples of Affordance-Based Reverse Engineering
PART IV: Philosophical and Theological Implications
CHAPTER TEN: Challenges to the Idea of an Engineered World
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Wisdom and Love Expressed by Affordances That Invite Relationship
CHAPTER TWELVE: God as Father, Gardener, Shepherd, Refiner, or Process Engineer
Dominic Michael Halsmer is a Professor of Engineering at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His education includes Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA, and a Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Literature from ORU. He received the Scholar of the Year Award from ORU in 2000 and 2015, as well as outstanding teaching awards in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2017, and 2019. He served as a NASA Fellow at Goddard Space Flight Center in 1996 and 1997 through the ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. He served as Dean of the ORU College of Science and Engineering from 2007 to 2012. He also served as Director of the Center for Faith and Learning at ORU from 2013 to 2016.
His current research involves engineering education, reverse engineering, and contributions from the field of engineering to the science and faith conversation. He and his undergraduate student research team have produced many publications in all of these areas. He and his wife, Kate, have four children: Nicholas, Christina, Mary Kate, and Josie, and two grandchildren: Sydney and Zeke. Dominic and Kate reside in Jenks, Oklahoma, where he enjoys worshiping God through teaching, research, trail running, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, sand volleyball, cross-fit, basketball, gardening, salsa-making, chess, and reading up on science and faith issues.
What has Stuttgart to do with Jerusalem? How does the field of engineering interact with theology to inform the science and spirituality conversation? A reverse engineering approach to nature with a focus on layers of enabling relationships (nested affordances) draws from all pertinent areas of knowledge to illuminate the big questions about origins, meaning and purpose. Interwoven personal stories highlight the author's colorful journey to this perspective and demonstrate the applicability of such an approach. Could a relational view of nature help to make sense of some of the more challenging aspects of the human condition? Find inspiration through study of the intricate organization of our fascinating cosmos. It speaks of an ingenious plan, not only for our existence, but also to invite us into the ultimate relationship with the loving Mastermind who is engineering it all for our benefit.
Preface
PART I: Science, Engineering, and Christian Faith
CHAPTER ONE: Defusing the Explosive Issue of Human Origins
CHAPTER TWO: The Potential for Unity in Diversity
CHAPTER THREE: Engineering Brings Science and the Humanities Together
PART II: Affordances and Their Providential Structures
CHAPTER FOUR: Affordances: Relationships That Provide Capabilities
CHAPTER FIVE: Affordances at the Microscopic, Macroscopic, and Telescopic Levels
CHAPTER SIX: Abundance of Nested Affordances Point to Ingenuity and Purpose
PART III: Affordance-Based Reverse Engineering
CHAPTER SEVEN: Reverse Engineering of Natural Systems
CHAPTER EIGHT: The “Big Picture” of Design and Reverse Engineering
CHAPTER NINE: Examples of Affordance-Based Reverse Engineering
PART IV: Philosophical and Theological Implications
CHAPTER TEN: Challenges to the Idea of an Engineered World
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Wisdom and Love Expressed by Affordances That Invite Relationship
CHAPTER TWELVE: God as Father, Gardener, Shepherd, Refiner, or Process Engineer
Dominic Michael Halsmer is a Professor of Engineering at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His education includes Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA, and a Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Literature from ORU. He received the Scholar of the Year Award from ORU in 2000 and 2015, as well as outstanding teaching awards in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2017, and 2019. He served as a NASA Fellow at Goddard Space Flight Center in 1996 and 1997 through the ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. He served as Dean of the ORU College of Science and Engineering from 2007 to 2012. He also served as Director of the Center for Faith and Learning at ORU from 2013 to 2016.
His current research involves engineering education, reverse engineering, and contributions from the field of engineering to the science and faith conversation. He and his undergraduate student research team have produced many publications in all of these areas. He and his wife, Kate, have four children: Nicholas, Christina, Mary Kate, and Josie, and two grandchildren: Sydney and Zeke. Dominic and Kate reside in Jenks, Oklahoma, where he enjoys worshiping God through teaching, research, trail running, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, sand volleyball, cross-fit, basketball, gardening, salsa-making, chess, and reading up on science and faith issues.