Swinburne’s Cosmological and Teleological Arguments – Part 3
I am exploring a concern about, or potential objection to, Swinburne’s inductive cosmological and teleological arguments for the existence of God. The objection I have in mind is something like this, for the cosmological argument: Although the one factual premise of Swinburne’s cosmological argument is supposed to be the ONLY contingent factual claim or assumption … Swinburne’s Cosmological and Teleological Arguments – Part 3
New Paper on the Secular Web by Clifford Greenblatt: David Chalmers’ Principle of Organizational Invariance and the Personal Soul
Abstract: David Chalmers argues that conscious experience is a real but nonphysical feature of nature. However, he also believes that all particular facts about any conscious experience supervene (naturally, but not logically) on physical facts, such that physical facts fully determine any conscious experience. His principle of organizational invariance goes even further to claim that … New Paper on the Secular Web by Clifford Greenblatt: David Chalmers’ Principle of Organizational Invariance and the Personal Soul
The Argument from Silence, Part 7: Victor Stenger on the Absence of Scientific Evidence for God
In this post, I want to revisit an argument from silence used by Victor Stenger against the existence of God based on the absence of scientific evidence for God. In his 2010 debate with William Lane Craig, Stenger argued that “the absence of evidence for God is evidence of absence” of God. In his words, … The Argument from Silence, Part 7: Victor Stenger on the Absence of Scientific Evidence for God
Reply to Prof. Feser’s Response, (Part IV)
Ed, I am going to take the liberty of first replying to your response to my answer to your fourth question. I am going to do this because I think that this is where we most significantly clash, that is, where our fundamental disagreements are most apparent. I want to address these points right away, … Reply to Prof. Feser’s Response, (Part IV)
Erik Wielenberg’s argument re sceptical theism defended and developed – forthcoming in Religious Studies
(revised 9 April 2014) Sceptical theism and a lying God – Wielenberg’s argument defended and developed Stephen Law Department of Philosophy, Heythrop College, University of London, Kensington Square, London W5 8HX UK s.law@heythrop.ac.uk Abstract: Sceptical theists attempt to block the evidential argument from evil by arguing that a key premise of that … Erik Wielenberg’s argument re sceptical theism defended and developed – forthcoming in Religious Studies
New Paper by Taner Edis: “Beyond Physics”
From Taner Edis: I have been working, on and off, on a paper with Maarten Boudry concerning physicalism and the prospects of detecting nonphysical agents. Well, it’s been published, and I thought others on the list might want to take a look, since it concerns supernatural agency and design arguments but approaches these questions from … New Paper by Taner Edis: “Beyond Physics”
Sean Carroll’s 11 Lines of Evidence for Naturalism over Theism
This is my attempt to summarize the slides from Sean Carroll’s recent debate with WLC where he very quickly skimmed through eleven (11) lines of evidence which favor naturalism over theism. I don’t claim this is perfectly accurate; any corrections would be welcome and, in fact, appreciated! Facet Theism (Theistic Prediction) Naturalism (Naturalistic Prediction) Lowder’s … Sean Carroll’s 11 Lines of Evidence for Naturalism over Theism
Swinburne’s Cosmological and Teleological Arguments – Part 2
Like many other liberals, I’m delighted and mesmerized by Bridgegate and various other Chris Christie scandals from the fine state of New Jersey. I cannot wait for my daily dose of Rachel Maddow dishing the latest dirt on Christie and his idiotic crowd of corrupt New Jersey hooligans. What does this have to do with … Swinburne’s Cosmological and Teleological Arguments – Part 2
Worst Atheist Debate Performances (revised 22-May-15)
In the past, I posted a list of the “Worst Atheist Debaters.” I now think that title was a mistake, since it’s possible that a single debate performance may not be representative of a person’s overall skill in debate. So I am republishing that list now as a list of the “Worst Atheist Debate Performances.” … Worst Atheist Debate Performances (revised 22-May-15)