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Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison
Emeritus Professor

Peter Harrison

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Overview

Background

Peter Harrison was educated at the University of Queensland and Yale University. In 2011 he moved to Queensland from the University of Oxford where he was the Idreos Professor of Science and Religion. At Oxford he was a member of the Faculties of Theology and History, a Fellow of Harris Manchester College, and Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre. He is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Universityof Notre Dame, Australia, and a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford's Ian Ramsey Centre. He has published extensively on the philosophical, scientific and religious thought of the early modern period, and is interested in secularization theory and historical and contemporary relations between science and religion. He has been a Visiting Fellow at Oxford, Yale, Princeton, and the University of Chicago, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion, and a corresponding member of the International Academy for the History of Science. In 2003, he recieved a Centenary Medal for 'service to Australian Society and the Humanities in the Study of Philosophy and Religion’. In 2011 he delivered the Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh. He was awarded a DLitt by the University of Oxford in 2013, and delivered the Bampton Lectures at Oxford in 2019. From 2015-20 has was an Australian Laureate Fellow.

His twelve books include, most recently, Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular Age (Cambridge, 2024), After Science and Religion (Cambridge, 2022), co-edited with John Milbank, and The Territories of Science and Religion (Chicago, 2015), winner of the Aldersgate Prize.

Availability

Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), Yale University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Doctoral Diploma, University of Oxford
  • Australian Academy of the Humanities, Australian Academy of the Humanities

Research interests

  • Intellectual History, Historical Relations between Science and Religion, History of Science, Religious History, History of Philosophy

Works

Search Professor Peter Harrison’s works on UQ eSpace

127 works between 1986 and 2024

61 - 80 of 127 works

2010

Book Chapter

The cultural authority of natural history in early modern Europe

Harrison, Peter (2010). The cultural authority of natural history in early modern Europe. Biology and ideology: From Descartes to Dawkins. (pp. 11-35) edited by Denis R. Alexander and Ronald L. Numbers. Chicago, ILL, U.S.A.; London, U.K.: University of Chicago Press.

The cultural authority of natural history in early modern Europe

2010

Book Chapter

‘Science’ and ‘religion’: Constructing the boundaries

Harrison, Peter (2010). ‘Science’ and ‘religion’: Constructing the boundaries. Science and Religion: New Historical Perspectives. (pp. 23-49) Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511676345.003

‘Science’ and ‘religion’: Constructing the boundaries

2010

Book Chapter

Theology and matter theory in the early modern period

Harrison, Peter (2010). Theology and matter theory in the early modern period. Matter and meaning: Is matter sacred or profane?. (pp. 39-56) edited by Michael Fuller. Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.: Cambridge Scholars.

Theology and matter theory in the early modern period

2010

Book

The Cambridge companion to science and religion

Peter Harrison ed. (2010). The Cambridge companion to science and religion. Cambridge Companions to Religion, Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CCOL9780521885386

The Cambridge companion to science and religion

2010

Journal Article

Introduction

Harrison, Peter (2010). Introduction. The Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion, 1-18. doi: 10.1017/CCOL9780521885386.001

Introduction

2009

Journal Article

Linnaeus as a second Adam? Taxonomy and the religious vocation

Harrison, Peter (2009). Linnaeus as a second Adam? Taxonomy and the religious vocation. Zygon, 44 (4), 879-893. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2009.01039.x

Linnaeus as a second Adam? Taxonomy and the religious vocation

2009

Journal Article

The Bible and the rise of science: A rejoinder

Harrison, Peter (2009). The Bible and the rise of science: A rejoinder. Science and Christain Belief, 21 (2), 155-162.

The Bible and the rise of science: A rejoinder

2009

Book Chapter

Herbert Butterfield and the scientific revolution : Reassessing the Butterfield thesis

Harrison, Peter (2009). Herbert Butterfield and the scientific revolution : Reassessing the Butterfield thesis. Recent Themes in the History of Science and Religion. (pp. 65-72) edited by Donald A. Yerxa. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press.

Herbert Butterfield and the scientific revolution : Reassessing the Butterfield thesis

2009

Book Chapter

That Rene Descartes originated mind-body distinction

Harrison, Peter (2009). That Rene Descartes originated mind-body distinction. Galileo goes to jail : And other myths about science and religion. (pp. 107-114) edited by Ronald L. Numbers. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.

That Rene Descartes originated mind-body distinction

2009

Book Chapter

Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers

Harrison, Peter (2009). Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers. Nature and Scripture in the Abrahamic religions: Up to 1700. (pp. 341-362) edited by Jitse M. van der Meer, Scott Mandelbrote and Wim Janse. Leiden, Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill. doi: 10.1163/ej.9789004171916.i-782.74

Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers

2009

Journal Article

Voluntarism and the origins of modern science: A reply to John Henry

Harrison, Peter (2009). Voluntarism and the origins of modern science: A reply to John Henry. History of Science, 47 (2), 223-231.

Voluntarism and the origins of modern science: A reply to John Henry

2008

Book Chapter

Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers

Harrison, Peter (2008). Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers. Brill's Series in Church History. (pp. 341-362) Brill Academic Publishers.

Hermeneutics and natural knowledge in the reformers

2008

Book Chapter

The development of the concept of the laws of nature

Harrison. Peter (2008). The development of the concept of the laws of nature. Creation: Law and probability. (pp. 13-36) edited by Fraser Watts. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. doi: 10.4324/9780429463525-2

The development of the concept of the laws of nature

2008

Journal Article

Religion, the Royal Society, and the rise of science

Harrison, Peter (2008). Religion, the Royal Society, and the rise of science. Theology and Science, 6 (3), 255-271. doi: 10.1080/14746700802206925

Religion, the Royal Society, and the rise of science

2007

Journal Article

Was there a scientific revolution?

Harrison, Peter (2007). Was there a scientific revolution?. European Review, 15 (4), 445-457. doi: 10.1017/S1062798707000440

Was there a scientific revolution?

2007

Journal Article

Historia’s History

Harrison, Peter (2007). Historia’s History. Metascience, 16 (2), 321-325. doi: 10.1007/s11016-007-9112-y

Historia’s History

2007

Book Chapter

Philosophy and the crisis of religion

Harrison, Peter (2007). Philosophy and the crisis of religion. The Cambridge companion to Renaissance philosophy. (pp. 234-249) edited by James Hankins. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CCOL052184648X.012

Philosophy and the crisis of religion

2007

Book

The Fall of man and the foundations of science

Harrison, Peter (2007). The Fall of man and the foundations of science. paper back edition 2009 ed. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/cbo9780511487750

The Fall of man and the foundations of science

2007

Book Chapter

Natural theology, deism, and early modern science

Harrison, Peter (2007). Natural theology, deism, and early modern science. Science, religion, and society : An encyclopedia of history, culture, and controversy. (pp. 426-440) edited by Arri Eisen and Gary Laderman. New York , NY, U.S.A.: M E Sharpe.

Natural theology, deism, and early modern science

2007

Book Chapter

"The fashioned image of poetry or the regular instruction of philosophy?": Truth, utility, and the natural sciences in early modern England

Harrison, Peter (2007). "The fashioned image of poetry or the regular instruction of philosophy?": Truth, utility, and the natural sciences in early modern England. Science, literature, and rhetoric in early modern England. (pp. 15-36) edited by Juliet Cummins and David Burchell. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.

"The fashioned image of poetry or the regular instruction of philosophy?": Truth, utility, and the natural sciences in early modern England

Funding

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    Science and Religion Exploring the Spectrum: A Global Perspective (Templeton Religious Trust Grant led by the University of Birmingham)
    University of Birmingham
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    After Science and Religion: Rethinking the Foundations of Science-Religion Discourse
    Templeton World Charity Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    After Science and Religion: Involving Theology in Science-Religion Discussions
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Science and Orthodoxy around the World (Templeton Grant administered by the Institute of Historical Research Greece)
    National Hellenic Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    Science and Secularization
    ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Evolution, Atheism, and Mass Persuasion: The Uses and Abuses of Biology in New Atheist Propaganda
    The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Religion, History and the Secular
    The Historical Society's Religion and Innovation in Human Affairs (RIHA) Grants Program
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Religion, Naturalism, and Scientific Progress
    The Historical Society's Religion and Innovation in Human Affairs (RIHA) Grants Program
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Science, Progress and History
    Templeton World Charity Foundation
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    An Investigation into the socio-cultural and/or religious influences on Young Earth Creationism in Queensland in the 1970s and early 1980s

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ryan Williams, Associate Professor Tom Aechtner

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Eternality of the Soul. Philosophical and Religious debates 1500-1800

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Philip Almond

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison directly for media enquiries about:

  • Early modern intellectual history
  • History of science
  • Philosophy and religion
  • Religion and philosophy
  • Religion and science
  • Science and religion

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au