Jun
1
Recommended modern writing on Epistemology and Existence of God?
Posted by admin
These are just a couple random topics that intrigue me. I'm an undergraduate pursuing a philosophy minor. I thought some of Plantinga's arguments about theism were especially interesting. With atheism, I'm just looking for something more philosophical than the simple religion-bashing you see in Dawkins etc. On epistemology, I'm just looking to know what the current state of it is...how good are the current available responses to knowledge skepticism? What (if any) kinds of foundationalism or coherentism are still defensible?
3 Responses to “Recommended modern writing on Epistemology and Existence of God?”
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March 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
You are trying to cross issues in epistemology with a theological issue- the existence and role of God. That is a tall order and very broad. I’ll think about it and get back to you.
If you focus the Q a little more, it might help me help you. In philosophy the existence of God is primarily a metaphysical issue and this is dealt by sources examining the different proofs for God’s existence. If you approach the issue from a theological POV, then the issues regarding epistemology depend on defining what evidence you are willing to accept eg revealed truths & miracles vs empirical truths. Hume addressed the topic in one of his books.
see—> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogues_concerning_Natural_Religion
March 15th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
The best refutation of skepticism is the book below.
March 15th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
If you are looking for more in depth philosophical works pertaining to atheism, don’t look to the recent rash of books that have become popular such as Dawkins’ “The God Delusion”, Dennett’s “Breaking the Spell”, Harris’ “The End of Faith”, and Hitchens’ “God Is Not Great”. Granted all of these books are fantastic when it comes to providing the neophyte with source material justifying the lack of belief in God, but judging by what you just said, you might require something with a bit more intellectual muscle.
If you are looking for something that is a bit more sophisticated and elaborates on epistemological issues, I would recommend George H. Smith’s “Atheism: The Case Against God”. He doesn’t spend that much time addressing the traditional arguments about God, as much as showing the epistemological difficulties of believing in God. He covers Ayn Rand’s objectivism at length. Granted Smith’s writing style is also geared towards a lay audience, but he has an uncanny ability to infuse his easily assessable rhetoric with enough substance as to satisfy even a very seasoned academic.
For an even more complex treatment of atheism, read Michael Martin’s tour de force work “Atheism: A Philosophical Justification”. This book really is the first and last word on the subject. Dr. Martin is a Harvard educated professor teaching philosophy at Boston University, and his book is not for the novice who is just interested in a cursory examination of theism. “Atheism: A Philosophical Justification” is so elaborate in argumentation, that I have yet to see a book, covering atheism, that has the quantity or quality of substance contained in this book. You will not be disappointed.