ABSTRACT
Within the above categories, a theory of generation may embrace either intrinsic or extrinsic regulation of the process. The question of natural as distinct from supra-or supernatural governance, respectively, then becomes a significant component of the theory. That context interjects into the postulates fundamental beliefs about the presence or absence of divine guidance in the natural world. Such theories tend also to reflect the social, technical, and philosophical terrain of any given period, and, while framed by mutually accessible facts, competing theories may derive mutually exclusive conclusions.
