William S. Hatcher

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William S. Hatcher (1935-2005) was a mathematician, philosopher, and educator and a member of the Baha'i Faith. He held a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. A specialist in the philosophical interpenetration of science and religion, he for over thirty years held university positions in North America, Europe, and Russia.

Although he has made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, and philosophy he is perhaps best known for creating, what is considered by some to be one of the strongest proofs of God and for his work towards a transcultural system of ethics.

Hatcher's proof of God is strong insofar as it addresses many criticisms of past proofs. It does not prove the existence of a God associated with any particular religion, but it does support the existence of a God that Hatcher defines as a unique, universal, uncaused cause. Written in first order logic (the most commonly used and well understood form of logic), Hatcher's proof is based on 3 empirically grounded axioms and an extralogical assumption that "something exists." Unlike many proofs of God, Hatcher's use of logic means that his assumptions are made explicit. Moreover unlike many proofs of God (beginning with the proof advanced by Aristotle) Hatcher's proof does not appeal to the absurdity of an infinite regression of causes. Because his proof is based on 3 empirically grounded axioms; one is required to prove that at least one of Hatcher's axioms is false, if one wishes to invalidate his proof if one accepts logic.

In Love, Power and Justice, Hatcher outlines a system of ethics based on the principle that there is a universal human nature. As evidence, he outlines how all new born children will respond positively to love, and negatively to cruelty and hate. Hatcher also speaks of intrinsic and extrinsic value. Extrinsic value is socially conferred value; for example, the value given by society to money, which Hatcher points out "is nothing more than a mass of coloured fibers." Intrinsic value on the other hand stands inseparable from the object itself. Whereas extrinsic value can be determined by observation, intrinsic value is discovered upon reflection. Hatcher believes that human beings have intrinsic value (similar to the Kantian notion of our humanity). He points out that unless we discover our own intrinsic value, we will seek it elsewhere.

Hatcher was the author of over fifty monographs, books, and articles in the mathematical sciences, logic and philosophy. Among the publications of which he is author or coauthor are:

The Foundations of Mathematics (1968)
Absolute Algebra (1978)
The Science of Religion (1980)*The Logical Foundations of Mathematics (1982)
The Ethics of Authenticity (1997)
Love, Power, and Justice (1998)
Minimalism: A Bridge between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation (2002)

Professor Hatcher is one of eight Platonist philosophers listed for the second half of the twentieth century in the Encyclopedie Philosophique Universelle.

[edit] References

Pokorny, Brad (2003-06-26). Creating a new school of thought. Bahá'í International Community. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
Bahá'í World News Service (2005-12-27). Prolific author hailed for his penetrating insights. Bahá'í International Community. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.