The Existence of God: A Philosophical Introduction

by Yujin Nagasawa

Publisher:

Routledge

, 2011

Overview

Does God exist? What are the various arguments that seek to prove the existence of God? Can atheists refute these arguments? The Existence of God: A Philosophical Introduction assesses classical and contemporary arguments concerning the existence of God

• the ontological argument, introducing the nature of existence, possible worlds, parody objections, and the evolutionary origin of the concept of God
• the cosmological argument, discussing metaphysical paradoxes of infinity, scientific models of the universe, and philosophers’ discussions about ultimate reality and the meaning of life
• the design argument, addressing Aquinas’s Fifth Way, Darwin’s theory of evolution, the concept of irreducible complexity, and the current controversy over intelligent design and school education.

Bringing the subject fully up to date, Yujin Nagasawa explains these arguments in relation to recent research in cognitive science, the mathematics of infinity, big bang cosmology, and debates about ethics and morality in light of contemporary political and social events.

The book also includes fascinating insights into the passions, beliefs and struggles of the philosophers and scientists who have tackled the challenge of proving the existence of God, including Thomas Aquinas, and Kurt Gödel—who at the end of his career as a famous mathematician worked on a secret project to prove the existence of God.

The Existence of God: A Philosophical Introduction is an ideal gateway to the philosophy of religion and an excellent starting point for anyone interested in arguments about the existence of God.

Key Features

• Assesses classical and contemporary arguments concerning the existence of God
• Includes fascinating insights into the passions, beliefs and struggles of the philosophers and scientists who have tackled the challenge of proving the existence of God
• Provides an ideal gateway to the philosophy of religion and an excellent starting point for anyone interested in arguments about the existence of God

Contents

• Part 1: An Armchair Proof of the Existence of God
• Part 2: ‘Follow the Evidence Wherever it Leads’: Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
• Part 3: The Big Bang, Infinity, and the Meaning of Life

Praise for the Print Edition

Exceptionally well written, clear, and informed. The material is engaging and approachable, with technicalities skilfully explained. It will be a valuable text for undergraduates taking courses in philosophy of religion.

—Keith Parsons, University of Houston, Clear Lake, USA

Nagasawa gives interesting and historically-nuanced perspectives on some of the great arguments in the Philosophy of Religion, writing in a clear and accessible way about some of the most opaque and inaccessible issues to which the human mind may direct itself.

—T. J. Mawson, University of Oxford, UK

Yujin Nagasawa’s clear and accessible writing style and mastery of the subject matter make this an engaging read. Those looking for an introductory survey of the arguments for the existence of God will find reading it to be a rewarding experience.

—Andrei Buckareff, Marist College, USA

Product Details

• Title: The Existence of God: A Philosophical Introduction
• Author: Yujin Nagasawa
• Publisher: Routledge
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Pages: 189
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subject: God › Proof
• ISBNs: 9780415465885, 9780415465892, 9780203818626, 0415465885, 0415465893, 0203818628
• Resource ID: LLS:XSTNCGDPNTRDCTN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-11T20:51:53Z

About Yujin Nagasawa

Yujin Nagasawa is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, UK. He is author of God and Phenomenal Consciousness (2008), and editor/co-editor of There’s Something About Mary: Essays on Phenomenal Consciousness and Frank Jackson’s Knowledge Argument (2004), New Waves in Philosophy of Religion (2008) and Scientific Approaches to the Philosophy of Religion (2012).