Description
Book SynopsisDespite its name, naturalism as a world-view turns out to be rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values, intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency, and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic world-view, in which such features are very natural, common sensical, and quite at home in a theistic framework. The Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher's own perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters take a multifaceted approach in showing theism's naturalness and greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons for theism's ability to account for consciousness, intentionality, beauty, human dignity, free will, rational
Trade ReviewThese fourteen original, cutting-edge essays are an admirable contribution to one of the most important questions of our time: is theism or naturalism the more natural, fitting worldview? For anyone interested in that question, this book is a must-read. -- Stephen T. Davis, Claremont McKenna College
This fine new book on naturalism and theism offers new perspectives on this debate from a wide-ranging set of perspectives, ranging from morality to aesthetics to psychology and philosophy of mind. The essays are first-rate, and the arguments presented are powerful. This book ought to unsettle those who take a naturalistic worldview as somehow just a "common sense" view that is supported by science. Naturalism turns out to be a profoundly unnatural view of reality. -- C. Stephen Evans, Baylor University
This fresh collection of essays on the naturalness of theistic belief is a philosophical feast. Crafted by leading thinkers tackling a plethora of related topics, this book engages with the most recent arguments and evidences from philosophy, physics, cognitive science, psychology, and other disciplines. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in grappling with the fundamental issue of whether belief in God is natural and reasonable. -- Chad Meister, Bethel College
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: The Unnaturalness of Naturalism? 1. Naturalism and Naturalness: A Naturalist’s Perspective —Graham Oppy Part II: Foundational Considerations 2. Is Naturalism Natural? —Charles Taliaferro 3. The Contraction and Expansion of Naturalism and the Theistic Challenge —Charles Taliaferro 4. Taking Philosophical Naturalism Seriously —R. Scott Smith Part III: Theistic Belief, Science, and Naturalism 5. In What Sense Might Religion Be Natural? —Justin Barrett and Aku Visala 6. Science, Methodological Naturalism, and Question-Begging —Robert Larmer Part IV: Axiology and Naturalism 7. Alienating Humanity: How Evolutionary Ethics Undermines Human Rights —Angus Menuge 8. Divine Commands, Duties, and Euthyphro: Theism and Naturalist Misunderstandings —Matthew Flannagan 9. Beauty: A Troubling Reality for the Scientific Naturalist —R. Douglas Geivett and James Spiegel Part V: Naturalism and Existential Considerations 10. Existential Arguments for Theistic Belief —Clifford Williams 11. Psychological Factors Contributing to Atheism: Bad Father Relationships and Just Bad Relationships as in Autistic Spectrum Disorders —Paul C. Vitz 12. The Cultural Implications of Theism versus Naturalism —Paul Copan and Jeremiah J. Johnston Part VI: Naturalism, Freedom, and Immortality 13. Theism, Robust Naturalism, and Robust Libertarian Free Will —J.P. Moreland 14. Naturalism, Theism, and Afterlife Beliefs —Jonathan Loose
