Uniformity of Nature

The fundamental thought of modern science, at any rate until yesterday, was that there is a "universal reign of law" throughout nature. Nature is rational in the sense that it has everywhere a coherent pattern which we can progressively detect by the steady application of our own intelligence to the scrutiny of natural processes. Science has been built up all along on the basis of this principle of the "uniformity of nature," and the principle is one which science itself has no means of demonstrating. No one could possibly prove its truth to an opponent who seriously disputed it. For all attempts to produce the 'evidence' for the 'uniformity of nature' themselves presuppose the very principle they are intended to prove. (A.E. Taylor, Does God Exist, 2)

Let me see whether I can digest this on my own. Taylor is saying that in order to use science as a tool to prove the uniformity of nature we need to step outside of science, take a look at what science is, and to find that science is the conclusion of the study based on the uniformity of nature.

Well, let's say someone wants to prove that all water boils at 100 degree Celsius, he needs to get a glass of water, then heat it up until it boils, and then measure its temperature. But in the action of obtaining the glass of water he is already assuming that all H2O are identical. The uniformity of water. And he will have to prove that all water is identical, then he will have to prove all hydrogen and oxygen atoms are identical. But how will he prove "all" of them are identical? Will he have to collect all the sample of water in the entire universe to prove that all water is identical? So the scientist cannot prove the uniformity of water (or nature) by scientific methods.

Here is where Christian theism comes in. "The existence of the God of Christian theism and the conception of his counsel as controlling all things in the universe is the only presupposition that can account for the uniformity of nature that the scientist needs." Van Til.

The Providence of the Christian God is the only 'proof' we have of the uniformity of nature. And the 'proof' of such God's existence is in the fact that his existence is required for the uniformity of nature.