Plantinga, as do we, assumes that god has knowledge of cfs. Knowledge of god blackwell great debates in philosophy. He is widely known for his work in epistemology and philosophy of religion, and is the author of warranted christian belief 2000. Articles 2016 law, cause, and occasionalism, in reason and faith. He is also editor with matthew davidson of essays in the metaphysics of modality 2003 michael tooley is distinguished college professor of philosophy at the. Alvin plantinga and michael tooley here debate the question. T his is a collection of philosophical papers by alvin plantinga.
Over the years alvin plantinga has undercut conventional prejudices and defended theistic beliefs. In particular, both have claimed that the existence of god is in some weighty sense a precondition of human knowledge. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic from 1963 to 1982, plantinga taught at calvin university before accepting an appointment as the john a. This leads to trouble with the previous explanation of goodness for an argument. Catherines college, oxford, one of the questions that. Supralapsarianism, or o felix culpa alvin plantinga. This book lays out the cores of his arguments and is much referenced, both by supports and those who attempt to refute his positions. As expected from two such distinguished philosophers, their discussion has the originality and intellectual weight to repay careful consideration, as much by. The first half of the book contains each philosophers explanation of his particular view.
Plantinga opens the batting with a seventypage laying out of his case we use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Warranted christian belief but is by no means a quick and easy read. You have free access to this content knowledge of god blackwell great debates in philosophy. Everyone interested in christian apologetics and how knowledge of god works should read plantinga, and this book is the best place to start. The philosophical quarterly 61 georgetown university. In this book plantinga presents the same ideas in a briefer, much more accessible fashion. Plantinga defends the argument against a formidable array of criticisms. Themes from richard swinburne, bergmann and brower, eds. Knowledge of god, by alvin plantinga and michael tooley.
In the context of religion, one can define faith as confidence or trust in a particular system of religious belief. Knowledge and christian belief by alvin plantinga a book. Knowledge of god by alvin plantinga overdrive rakuten. Jellema chair of philosophy at calvin college, and was. Alvin plantinga, knowledge and christian belief keith ward, 2016.
This is the third volume in alvin plantingas trilogy on the notion of warrant, which he defines as that which distinguishes knowledge from true belief. Plantinga argues that belief in god can, like perceptual or memory belief, be properly basic. Ontological arguments for the existence of god alvin plantinga. Recognized worldwide as a leading christian philosopher, plantinga probes what exactly is meant by the claim that religious and. Knowledge of godby alvin plantingaand michael tooley. Knowledge of god great debates in philosophy alvin. He is also editor with matthew davidson of essays in the metaphysics of modality 2003 michael tooley is distinguished college professor of philosophy at. Alvin plantinga, gods philosopher 3 he resolved to become a philosopher. Knowledge of god edition 1 by alvin plantinga, michael. Alvin plantinga and michael tooley here debate the question whether gods existence is known or, at least, justifiably believed. The god of the old testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all of fiction. His modal ontological argument for foundational religious necessity is seen as an almost.
Visiting fellow at balliol college, university of oxford. Alvin plantinga the idea that religious belief is some sort of illness or irrational stance, is not uncommon in western europe. Alvin carl plantinga born 1932 is an american analytic philosopher who works primarily in the fields of philosophy of religion, epistemology particularly on issues involving epistemic justification, and logic. Does god so to speak just find them constituted the way they are. If knowledge then god james anderson 2 necessity and historical success of natural theology. Knowledge, freedom and the problem of evil eleonore stump. Alvin plantingas knowledge and christian belief was written as a synopsis of his much larger work. Knowledge of god takes the form of a debate between alvin plantinga and michael tooley. Christian research journal tremendously insightful and enjoyable to read. The two christian philosophers alvin plantinga and cornelius van til have much in common in terms of their religious upbringing, their education, their approach to christian philosophy, and their work on the relationship between epistemology and metaphysics. But if god has such knowledge we can argue that god could have done better without eliminating free will. Alvin plantingas reformed epistemology dallas baptist university.
In his widely praised warranted christian belief oxford, 2000 alvin plantinga discussed in great depth the question of the rationality, or sensibility, of christian belief. Obrien professor of philosophy at the university of notre dame. Thats the question at the heart of this volume in the great debates in philosophy series, with alvin plantinga and michael tooley each addressing this fundamental question with. Plantinga, who has delivered the prestigious gifford 1987 and wilde lectures 1988, and who has served as president of the american philosophical association and the society of christian philosophers, is best known for a variety of astonishing epistemic claims. Alvin plantinga is wellknown as one of the most important christian philosophers of our day. Alvin plantinga and michael tooley 2008 alvin plantinga and michael tooley. Reason and belief in god alvin plantinga belief in god is the heart and center of the christian religion as it is of judaism and islam. Alvin plantinga is regarded as one of the foremost religious philosophers of the contemporary era. Religious people often think of faith as confidence based on a perceived degree of warrant, while others who are more skeptical of religion tend to think of faith as simply. Plantinga does god have a nature pdf plantingas conclusions are straightforward.
Plantingas careful development of his arguments reveals the working of a firstclass philosophical mind. Of course christians may disagree, at least in emphasis, as to how to think of god. One of the things atheists tend to believe is that modern science is on their side, whereas theism is in conflict with science. In this volume, plantinga examines warrants role in theistic belief, tackling the questions of whether it is rational, reasonable, justifiable, and warranted to accept christian belief and whether there is something epistemically unacceptable. A philosopher defends religion by thomas nagel the new. Knowledge of god great debates in philosophy pdf free. American catholic philosophical quarterly, summer 2010alvin plantinga and michael tooley here debate the question whether gods existence is known. Both have argued that there is a profound connection between what and how we know and what there is, such that one cannot do good epistemology without delving deeply into ontology. Knowledge of god wiley online books wiley online library. Knowledge and christian belief alvin plantinga download. Knowledge of god great debates in philosophy alvin plantinga, michael tooley. The philosopher of religion, alvin plantinga, in his book warranted christian belief advances a detailed account of the rationality of. This book contains the major ideas of his philosophy of religion on god, faith, historical criticism, pluralism, and many other key topics. After dealing with objections to the ac model in ch.
Gottfried leibniz rated it it was amazing apr 02, fabrice correia philosophy and phenomenological research 84 3. Plantinga and the problem of evil iowa state university. As expected from two such distinguished philosophers, their discussion has the originality and intellectual weight to repay careful consideration, as much by philosophers of mind and epistemologists as by philosophers of religion. In his absorbing new book, where the conflict really lies, alvin plantinga, a distinguished analytic philosopher known for. Plantinga thinks it likely that if there is a god, he wants us to know him, and has given us a way of knowing him. Biola university center for christian thought presents guest speaker dr. Plantingas work turns more strongly to philosophical theology, philosophical articulation of the nature of god, and what comes to be known as reformed epistemology, the notion that religious belief can be rational without appeal to evidence or argument. Two dozen or so theistic arguments 205 exist have some but much less than maximal intuitive support. Alvin plantinga and michael tooley here debate the question whether gods existence is knownor, at least, justifiably believed. On that account as it stands, a good argument could take as premises propositions that have some but less than maximal intuitive support, and take as. While it is only 126 pages not including index, plantinga wrote about subjects that should cause the reader to slow down in order to think through much of what has been written. Alvin plantinga has revolutionized analytical philosophy by making belief in god a reasonable position again in that sphere. Contrary to stereotypes, this did not make young alvin a bookish nerd indeed, he was an enthusiastic participant in high school football, basketball and tennis. Plantinga does god have a nature pdf plantinga does god have a nature pdf download.
368 816 103 1599 515 196 584 1264 475 330 1252 457 338 1431 1515 3 1519 1330 1151 273 1391 488 1018 1599 1225 611 817 888 12 210 665 579