In this workshop I will present how I strive to help my biology students see reality in terms of Aristotle’s four causes instead of modern sciences reduction of reality to only the material and efficient. Applying four causes to modern biology is actually more helpful than using only two e.g. species concept, ENCODE project. I will give an overview of how I structure my entire biology class to fit within our classical curriculum, but I will focus on reclaiming the categories of natural history and how it relates to natural philosophy along with the competing metaphysical positions of realism vs. nominalism. If you have no idea what the last two sentences mean, then this seminar is for you. My goal is to help give you, the classical science teacher, categories that can help build real bridges to your colleagues in the humanities as well as giving your students more conceptual tools for thinking about God’s good world.
Robbie Andreasen
Robbie Andreasen joined the Geneva faculty in 2007 and teaches Biology (ninth grade) and Anatomy & Physiology (twelfth grade). Robbie has a contagious passion to study the intersection of faith and science, and his students have come to expect a challenging, active classroom characterized by their teacher’s love and enthusiasm for learning. This is also true when he teaches Sunday School or gives a children’s homily at his church. He is also very excited to be partnering with Lisa Hines to lead and grow the house system​ by training the students to take on leadership roles and build community within the upper school.​Robbie received a BS in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami and an MA in Bioethics from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He was the upper school recipient of the 2013 Paideia Award for Teaching, an award that recognizes excellence in teaching. Robbie and his wife Janet (a math education professor at the University of Central Florida) have two children—both students at TGS. In his spare time, he enjoys challenging himself through activities such as jiu-jitsu and training for and participating in Tough Mudder.
