Refuting Howard's End: Addressing the Crisis of Postmodern Thought in Science and Religion

Abstract

George Howard addresses the crisis of existential and empirical knowledge facing scholars in the postmodern period. His work, however, is problematic in that Howard uses traditional intellectual categories of thought in his attempt to contend with the global problem of overpopulation, and he intermingles his personal angst with his scientific perspective as he struggles toward a rational solution to both problems. Howard's suggestion that the Roman Catholic Church take a rational position with respect to consideration of birth control as a viable solution to the crisis of overpopulation fails to take into account the experiences of women, as well as the political or theological implications of condoning birth control.