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On God's Existence
Scholars Crossing SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations Summer 2001 On God's Existence W. David Beck Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Epistemology Commons, Esthetics Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, History of Philosophy Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Other Philosophy Commons, Other Religion Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Beck, W. David, "On God's Existence" (2001). SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations. 167. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs/167 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. W. DAVID BECK 49 compared to the energy involved in the entire act of, say, raising one's hand to vote. When an engineer throws a switch to release the water behind Hoover Dam, the vast amount of potential energy unleashed by the moving water is overwhelmingly greater than that involved in the engineer throwing the switch. It may be the same with libeliarian acts. Perhaps the energy released in the exercise of active power is miniscule compared to the poten tial energy released in the body as part of the relevant causal pathway. I just don't lmow. Second, even if one opts for this second option (the release of energy is virtually undetectable), it doesn't follow that the resulting gap would not be detectable, since the effects of a libertarian act could still be quite different in a "gappy" way from what would have followed in the absence of that act. -
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ON NUMBERS by LINDA ELIZABETH WETZEL B.A. City College of New York (1975) Submitted to the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY February 1984 @ Linda E. Wetzel The author hereby grants to M.I.T. permission to reproduce and to distribute copies of this thesis document in whole or in part, Signature of Author: Department of Linguistics and Philosophy January 13, 1984 Certified by : .-_ - Richard L, Cartwright Thesis Supervisor Accepted by: v Richard L. Cartwright Chairman, Departmental Graduate Committee ON NUMBERS Linda E, Wetzel Submitted to the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy of October 21, 1983 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ABSTRACT We talk as though there are numbers. The view I defend, the "popularn view, has it that there -are numbers. However, since they clearly are not physical objects, we reason that they must be abstract ones. This suggests a realm of non-spatial non-temporal objects standing in numerical relations; arithmetic knowledge is then knowledge of this realm. But how do spatio~temporal creatures like ourselves come to have knowledge of this realm? The problem ("Benacerrafls probleni") can be avoided by arguing that there are no numbers. In "What Numbers Could Not Bew Benacerraf himself took such a route. In chapter one, I discuss three of Benacerrafls arguments, showing that the first is circular, that the second involves a consideration that can be explained by less drastic means than supposing there are no numbers, and that the third would, if successful, show that neither sets nor expressions exist either. -
Intrinsic Explanation and Field's Dispensabilist Strategy Sydney-Tilburg Conference on Reduction and the Special Sciences Russ
Intrinsic Explanation and Field’s Dispensabilist Strategy Sydney-Tilburg Conference on Reduction and the Special Sciences Russell Marcus Department of Philosophy, Hamilton College 198 College Hill Road Clinton NY 13323 [email protected] (315) 859-4056 (office) (315) 381-3125 (home) September 2007 ~2880 words Abstract: Philosophy of mathematics for the last half-century has been dominated in one way or another by Quine’s indispensability argument. The argument alleges that our best scientific theory quantifies over, and thus commits us to, mathematical objects. In this paper, I present new considerations which undermine the most serious challenge to Quine’s argument, Hartry Field’s reformulation of Newtonian Gravitational Theory. Intrinsic Explanation, Page 1 §1: Introduction Quine argued that we are committed to the existence mathematical objects because of their indispensable uses in scientific theory. In this paper, I defend Quine’s argument against the most popular objection to it, that we can reformulate science without reference to mathematical objects. I interpret Quine’s argument as follows:1 (QIA) QIA.1: We should believe the theory which best accounts for our empirical experience. QIA.2: If we believe a theory, we must believe in its ontic commitments. QIA.3: The ontic commitments of any theory are the objects over which that theory first-order quantifies. QIA.4: The theory which best accounts for our empirical experience quantifies over mathematical objects. QIA.C: We should believe that mathematical objects exist. An instrumentalist may deny either QIA.1 or QIA.2, or both. Regarding QIA.1, there is some debate over whether we should believe our best theories. -
Morality and Meaning Without God: Another Failed Attempt
1 Morality and Meaning Without God: Another Failed Attempt A Review Essay on Atheism, Morality, and Meaning Published in Philosophia Christi New Series 6/2 (2004): 295-304. Posted by permission. PAUL COPAN PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Utilizing new material and old, Michael Martin (professor emeritus at Boston University) has written a stimulating four-part book, Atheism, Morality, and Meaning.1 Martin covers a good deal of territory to make his case for an objective ethic rooted in naturalism and to undercut the theistic/religious basis for objective morality. In the first part of this essay, I set forth the salient features of Martin’s book, and in the second part I offer a response. I. Presenting Martin’s Case Part I seeks to develop and defend a nonreligious foundation of morality. After a brief introduction (chapter 1), Martin tackles objections to morality without religion (chapter 2). He looks at arguments from motivation, derivation, materialism and naturalism. In the first instance, he claims that atheists do have sufficient motivation for being moral or having high moral standards. (To buttress his point, he asks: If the US is so much more religious than Western Europe, why does the US have a higher crime rate?) The argument from derivation is that “theists might argue that objective morality can only be derived from belief in God” (34). In his argument from materialism and naturalism, he rejects that atheists are committed to materialism (he favors a supervenience model of moral properties: “morally wrong” is constituted by physical properties but is not reduced to them [42]): “Religious apologists give no well-articulated argument to support their view that materialism is incompatible with objective morality” (42). -
Amazing Faith Proclaiming Christ's Victory
Wilfredo De Jesús: Amazing Faith SUMMER 2013 Enriching and equipping Spirit-filled ministers The battle of ideas, concepts, and thoughts 66 Proclaiming Christ’s victory over sinful, personal desires 72 Demonization and the Christian life 86 CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL ej.ag.org/summer2013 Ad Ad InsideEnrichment Volume 18 / Number 3 Summer 2013 20 MAnAG i n G tH e MAyH e M o f M i n i stry Features sticks and stones 34 Hand to the plow and … Words can By CarA DAvis Hurt You His message and his humble spirit may be at By Cal leMOn the core of why Pastor Choco finds himself in How we handle and the media’s spotlight. respond to criticism can 16 38 Q&A for Ministry Wives be the worst and Hiring Family Members: High-Maintenance best indicator of our Risk Or reward? Boundaries spirituality. By cAl cARPEnTEr and WARREn D. BULLOcK To negotiate the prickly issue of nepotism By GabriElE riEnAs 22 STAyi n G C o n n e CTE D with wisdom and grace, here are some obser- The overly needy church vations to consider. woman is a difficulty Why You can’t many pastors’ wives face. Overlook social 42 improving Your interest rate: Media As a The irresistible power of a 18 LeAD Lo n G … LeAD str o n G Ministry Tool Great Question Wax On … Wax Off: By JusTin LathrOp By RoberT c. crOsby A Word to Young Social media is the primary Among the essential skills of effective pastors leaders Who Feel form of communication for and leaders is the ability to turn a good ques- They Are Being Held a generation who needs tion into a great one. -
Realism and Anti-Realism in Mathematics
REALISM AND ANTI-REALISM IN MATHEMATICS The purpose of this essay is (a) to survey and critically assess the various meta- physical views - Le., the various versions of realism and anti-realism - that people have held (or that one might hold) about mathematics; and (b) to argue for a particular view of the metaphysics of mathematics. Section 1 will provide a survey of the various versions of realism and anti-realism. In section 2, I will critically assess the various views, coming to the conclusion that there is exactly one version of realism that survives all objections (namely, a view that I have elsewhere called full-blooded platonism, or for short, FBP) and that there is ex- actly one version of anti-realism that survives all objections (namely, jictionalism). The arguments of section 2 will also motivate the thesis that we do not have any good reason for favoring either of these views (Le., fictionalism or FBP) over the other and, hence, that we do not have any good reason for believing or disbe- lieving in abstract (i.e., non-spatiotemporal) mathematical objects; I will call this the weak epistemic conclusion. Finally, in section 3, I will argue for two further claims, namely, (i) that we could never have any good reason for favoring either fictionalism or FBP over the other and, hence, could never have any good reason for believing or disbelieving in abstract mathematical objects; and (ii) that there is no fact of the matter as to whether fictionalism or FBP is correct and, more generally, no fact of the matter as to whether there exist any such things as ab- stract objects; I will call these two theses the strong epistemic conclusion and the metaphysical conclusion, respectively. -
Can Only One Religion Be True?
Contributors Paul Copan (Ph.D., Marquette University) is the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the author of several books, including Loving Wisdom: (Chalice, 2007) and “ Christian Philosophy of Religion True for You, but Not for ” (Bethany House, 2007), and he is coauthor of Me Creation out of Nothing: A (Baker Academic, 2004). He has Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration coedited a number of books, including (Routledge, The Rationality of Theism 2003), (Routledge, 2012), The Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Religion and (Blackwell, 2007). Philosophy of Religion: Classic and Contemporary Issues In addition, he has written many articles in professional philosophical and theological journals. He has served as president of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, and he lives with his wife, Jacqueline, and their six children in West Palm Beach. Paul Rhodes Eddy (Ph.D., Marquette University) is Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Teaching Pastor at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul. He has authored, coauthored and coedited several books, including John Hick’s Pluralist Philosophy (Ashgate, 2002), of World Religions The Jesus Legend: A Case for the Historical (Baker, 2007), Reliability of the Synoptic Jesus Tradition The Historical Jesus: (InterVarsity, 2009), Five Views Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in (Baker, 2009), and (InterVarsity, Evangelical Theology Justification: Five Views 2011). He has also authored a number of articles and essays related to the theology of religions and the historical study of Jesus. Millard J. Erickson (Ph.D., Northwestern University) has taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Western Seminary (Portland and San Jose), and Truett Seminary, Baylor University. -
7 Ethics Needs
“Ethics Needs God.” Paul Copan In Debating Christian Theism. Edited by J.P. Moreland, Chad V. Meister, and Khaldoun Sweis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. Pages 85-100. A MORAL ARGUMENT 7 Ethics Needs God Paul Copan Let me briefly clarify what I do and do not defend in this chapter. My argument will not advance the following points: Objective moral values exist. Both sides here represented assume this.1 Belief in God is required for recognizing moral truths. Properly functioning naturalists, Buddhists, Confucians, and theists know the right thing to do. Atheists/nontheists cannot live decently or be kind to others. Indeed, some may exhibit greater moral virtue than some professing theists. Atheists/nontheists cannot formulate ethical systems that overlap or mesh with theologically oriented ones. Certain Old Testament practices, actions, or regulations are historically and contextually confined and should not be taken as normative and universal. Frequently critiques of theism include inferior moral practices, laws, and actions in the Old Testament—and fall prey to many misunderstandings and misrepresentations. I thoroughly address this topic elsewhere.2 What I am arguing is this: Theism offers a far more likely context than naturalism/nontheism for affirming objective moral values and duties. Naturalism does not lead us to expect the emergence of human rights and universal benevolence—a point equally applicable to other nontheistic worldviews. Many naturalists themselves observe that naturalism’s context simply cannot lead us to human rights/dignity and moral duties. Theism offers a more plausible context than atheism/nontheism for affirming a cluster of features related to human dignity and moral duties. -
Jared Warren
JARED WARREN Curriculum Vitae B [email protected] T 904.866.8439 www.jaredwarren.org Education 2015 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PhD in Philosophy COMMITTEE: David Chalmers, Hartry Field (chair), Crispin Wright Areas of Specialization Mind and Language, Metaphysics and Epistemology, Mathematics and Logic Areas of Competence History of Analytic Philosophy, Metaethics, Philosophy of Science Publications (1) “The Possibility of Truth by Convention”(2015) The Philosophical Quarterly 65(258): 84-93. (2) “Quantifier Variance and the Collapse Argument” (2015) The Philosophical Quarterly 65(259): 241-253. (3) “Conventionalism, Consistency, and Consistency Sentences” (2015) Synthese 192(5): 1351-1371. (4) “Talking with Tonkers” (2015) Philosophers’ Imprint 15(24): 1-24. (5) “Trapping the Metasemantic Metaphilosophical Deflationist?” (2016) Metaphilosophy 47(1): 108-121. (6) “Sider on the Epistemology of Structure” (2016) Philosophical Studies 173(9): 2417-2435. (7) “Epistemology vs Non-Causal Realism” (2017) Synthese 194(5): 1643-1662. (8) “Revisiting Quine on Truth by Convention” (2017) The Journal of Philosophical Logic 46(2): 119-139. 1 (9) “Internal and External Questions Revisited” (2016) The Journal of Philosophy 113(4): 177-209. (10) “Change of Logic, Change of Meaning” (forthcoming) Philosophy & Phenomenological Research. (11) “Quantifier Variance and Indefinite Extensibility” (2017) The Philosophical Review 126(1): 81-122. (12) “A Metasemantic Challenge for Mathematical Determinacy” (forthcoming) Synthese. (with Daniel Waxman) (13) “Quantifier Variance -
Is Yahweh a Moral Monster? the New Atheists and Old Testament Ethics
PHILOSOPHIA CHRISTI VOL. 10, NO. 1 © 2008 Is Yahweh a Moral Monster? The New Atheists and Old Testament Ethics PAUL COPAN Philosophy and Ethics Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach, Florida The New Atheists and the Old Testament: A Brief Overview Today’s “new atheists” are not at all impressed with the moral creden- tials of the Old Testament (OT) God. Oxonian Richard Dawkins thinks that Yahweh is truly a moral monster: “What makes my jaw drop is that people today should base their lives on such an appalling role model as Yahweh— and even worse, that they should bossily try to force the same evil monster (whether fact or fiction) on the rest of us.” Dawkins deems God’s commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to be “disgraceful” and tantamount to “child abuse and bullying.” Moreover, this God breaks into a “monumental rage whenever his chosen people flirted with a rival god,” resembling “nothing so much as sexual jealousy of the worst kind.” Add to this the killing of the Canaanites—an “ethnic cleansing” in which “bloodthirsty massacres” were carried out with “xenophobic relish.” Joshua’s destruction of Jericho is “morally indistinguishable from Hitler’s invasion of Poland, or Saddam Hussein’s massacres of the Kurds and the Marsh Arabs.” ABSTRACT: The new atheists (Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Hitchens) level arguments against Old Testament morality as primitive and barbaric, presumably undercutting belief in the biblical God (Yahweh). Yet the Old Testament presents creational moral ideals in Genesis –. Because of Israel’s embeddedness in the ancient Near East’s harsh, morally-problematic social milieu, Old Testament legislation is in places still morally inferior, though offering dramatic, incre- mental improvements upon such conditions. -
Robert Byron Stewart Addresses
ROBERT BYRON STEWART ADDRESSES: Office: 3939 Gentilly Blvd. Home: 4325 Seminary Place New Orleans, LA 70126 New Orleans, LA 70126 (504) 816-8100 X3245 (504) 491-7213 (Cell) [email protected] Current Position New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70126 Professor of Philosophy and Theology, March 2011-present Chair: Greer-Heard Chair of Faith and Culture, March 2004-present Director: Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum in Faith and Culture, March 2004- present Director: Institute for Christian Apologetics (NOBTS), March 2008-present Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology, June 2005-March 2011 Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Theology, June 2000-June 2005 Instructor in Philosophy and Theology, June 1998-June 2000 (elected to faculty June 1998) New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Courses Taught: PhD Seminars: The Historical Jesus; The Doctrine of God; Theology of Religions; Contemporary Issues in Theology: Atheism and Relativism; Philosophical Hermeneutics; The Person of Christ; Christology in the Early Church PhD Reading Colloquia: Philosophical Theology, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, MDIV Courses: Introduction to Philosophy of Religion; Christian Apologetics; Systematic Theology I; Systematic Theology II; Theology of Cults; The Problem of Evil; Philosophical Theology; Epistemology; Contemporary Philosophical Hermeneutics; The Historical Jesus; Theology of C.S. Lewis; Advanced Christian Apologetics: History and Method; Logic; Reformation and Modern Theology: Atheism -
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1 WITH REFERENCE TO TRUTH: STI~IES IN REFERENTIAL SEMANTICS by DOUGLAS FILLMORE CANNON A.B., Harvard University 1973 SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS AND PHILOSOPHY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in PHILOSOPHY at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY June 1982 <e> Douglas Fillmore Cannon 1982 The author hereby grants to M.I.T. permission to reproduce and to dis tribute publicly copies of this thesis document in ~hole or in part. Signature of Author__________~-.;~~~---•. ~....;;;""",,---.::l----- Certified by------------------__._1r--------- I < George Boolas Thesis Supervisor Accepted by aL~ «) ~"0 ~ilijarvis Thomson MA5~HUS~~fl~I~~~artment Graduate Committee OF TEtHNOlOSY Archives JUL 8 1982 2 WITH REFERENCE TO TRUTH: STUDIES IN REFERENTIAL SEMANTICS by DOUGLAS FILLMORE CANNON Submitted to the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy on April 8, 1982, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy ABSTRACT In the first parts of my thesis I explore two philosophical programs in the area of referential semantics, namely, rigid designation accounts of proper names and naturalistic theories of truth. I conclude with an inquiry into the theory of truth for mathematics and its relationship to mathematical Platonism. In Part One, I confront Kripke's well-known views with Quine's pro posal that proper names correspond to a kind of predicate. I argue that the belief that proper names are rigid designators is unjustified and that many questions about the reference of terms in various possible worlds have no determinate answer. I take issue with Kripke's emphasis on the question, "How is the reference of names determined?", and suggest that it reflects dubious philosophical presuppositions.