The Best Argument against God

DOI: 10.1057/9781137354143 Also by Graham Oppy

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS AND BELIEF IN GOD (1996) PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON INFINITY (2006) ARGUING ABOUT GODS (2006) THE HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (co-edited with Nick Trakakis, 2009) READING PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (with Michael Scott, 2010) A COMPANION TO PHILOSOPHY IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (co-edited with Nick Trakakis, 2010) THE ANTIPODEAN PHILOSOPHER VOLUME 1: Public Lectures on Philosophy in Australia and New Zealand (co-edited with Nick Trakakis, and with Lynda Burns, Steve Gardner and Fiona Leigh, 2011) THE ANTIPODEAN PHILOSOPHER VOLUME 2: Interviews with Australian and New Zealand Philosophers (co-edited with Nick Trakakis, and with Lynda Burns, Steve Gardner, Fiona Leigh and Michelle Irving, 2012)

DOI: 10.1057/9781137354143 The Best Argument against God

Graham Oppy Monash University, Australia

DOI: 10.1057/9781137354143 © Graham Oppy 2013 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 ISBN 978-1-137-35413-6 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2013 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries ISBN: –––– PDF ISBN: ––349–46988–8 doi: ./ This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. www.palgrave.com/pivot Contents

Preface vi

Introduction 1

1 Preliminary Matters 4

2 Some Big Ideas 11

3 Minimal Theism and Naturalism 18

4 Standard Theism and Naturalism 67

Conclusion 87

Index 91

DOI: 10.1057/9781137354143 v Preface

This book is intended to be an introduction to one of the central parts of philosophy of religion, namely, the discus- sion of arguments about the existence of God. Given its length, this book does not aim to provide a comprehensive introduction even to this part of philosophy of religion: rather, it assumes a particular conception of God, and develops a single argument in connection with that con- ception of God. The book was written during my employment at Monash University, while I was Head of the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies. I am grateful to the University, and more particularly to my colleagues in the Faculty of Arts, for support that enabled me to work on the book while carrying out my other institutional duties. As always, I could not have completed this book without the support of my immediate family: special thanks and love to Camille, Gilbert – who also provided detailed com- ments on my first draft – Calvin and Alfie.

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