E. J. Coffman and Cervantez Jeff
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199603718
- eISBN:
- 9780191729287
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199603718.003.0007
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion
In important recent work in religious epistemology, Paul Moser develops a multifaceted reply to a prominent attack on belief in God—the so called Hiddenness Argument. This chapter raises a number of ...
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In important recent work in religious epistemology, Paul Moser develops a multifaceted reply to a prominent attack on belief in God—the so called Hiddenness Argument. This chapter raises a number of worries about Moser’s novel treatment of the Hiddenness Argument. After laying out the version of that argument Moser most explicitly engages, the chapter explains the four main elements of Moser’s reply and argues that his reply stands or falls with two pieces in particular—the Purposively Available Evidence Argument and the Cognitive Idolatry Argument. It is shown that the Cognitive Idolatry Argument fails, leaving the Purposively Available Evidence Argument as Moser’s only potentially viable objection to the Hiddenness Argument. The chapter concludes that Moser’s treatment of the Hiddenness Argument depends crucially on controversial epistemological claims about certain of our moral beliefs, and is thus considerably more vulnerable than many have recognized.Less
In important recent work in religious epistemology, Paul Moser develops a multifaceted reply to a prominent attack on belief in God—the so called Hiddenness Argument. This chapter raises a number of worries about Moser’s novel treatment of the Hiddenness Argument. After laying out the version of that argument Moser most explicitly engages, the chapter explains the four main elements of Moser’s reply and argues that his reply stands or falls with two pieces in particular—the Purposively Available Evidence Argument and the Cognitive Idolatry Argument. It is shown that the Cognitive Idolatry Argument fails, leaving the Purposively Available Evidence Argument as Moser’s only potentially viable objection to the Hiddenness Argument. The chapter concludes that Moser’s treatment of the Hiddenness Argument depends crucially on controversial epistemological claims about certain of our moral beliefs, and is thus considerably more vulnerable than many have recognized.
C. Stephen Evans
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199217168
- eISBN:
- 9780191712401
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199217168.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter explicates the concept of a natural sign. The original Reidian concept of a natural sign is either a sensation or a perception that is causally linked “upstream” to what the sign ...
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This chapter explicates the concept of a natural sign. The original Reidian concept of a natural sign is either a sensation or a perception that is causally linked “upstream” to what the sign signifies and “downstream” to the generation of a characteristic judgment. The author extends Reid's work to consider the idea of a “theistic natural sign.” A theistic natural sign ought to be something that is connected both to God and to a human disposition to believe in God. He argues that both widespread belief in God and current cognitive science are consistent with the claim that theistic signs exist. Finally, he argues that theistic natural signs might be understood as either (a) non‐propositional grounds on which belief in God is warranted, or (b) non‐propositional (or, perhaps, even propositional) evidence for the fact of God's existence. He remains neutral between these competing views.Less
This chapter explicates the concept of a natural sign. The original Reidian concept of a natural sign is either a sensation or a perception that is causally linked “upstream” to what the sign signifies and “downstream” to the generation of a characteristic judgment. The author extends Reid's work to consider the idea of a “theistic natural sign.” A theistic natural sign ought to be something that is connected both to God and to a human disposition to believe in God. He argues that both widespread belief in God and current cognitive science are consistent with the claim that theistic signs exist. Finally, he argues that theistic natural signs might be understood as either (a) non‐propositional grounds on which belief in God is warranted, or (b) non‐propositional (or, perhaps, even propositional) evidence for the fact of God's existence. He remains neutral between these competing views.
Paul K. Moser (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195130058
- eISBN:
- 9780199833481
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195130057.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology
This book includes 19 essays on the theory of knowledge by leading philosophers in the field. Its essays cover all the key areas in the field while making original contributions. Written in a manner ...
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This book includes 19 essays on the theory of knowledge by leading philosophers in the field. Its essays cover all the key areas in the field while making original contributions. Written in a manner accessible to advanced undergraduates as well as graduate students and professionals in philosophy, the book explains the main ideas and problems of contemporary epistemology while avoiding technical detail. Contributing to contemporary debates over the analysis, sources, and limits of human knowledge, the book represents such central topics as the nature of epistemic justification, the Gettier problem, skepticism, epistemic rationality, the internalism‐externalism debate, scientific knowledge, a priori knowledge, virtues in epistemology, epistemological duties, epistemology and ethics, mind and knowledge, the role of explanation in knowledge, epistemology in the philosophy of religion, and formal problems about knowledge. The various discussions share a concern for conceptual clarity and argumentative rigor in epistemology. The book ends with substantial bibliography on epistemology.Less
This book includes 19 essays on the theory of knowledge by leading philosophers in the field. Its essays cover all the key areas in the field while making original contributions. Written in a manner accessible to advanced undergraduates as well as graduate students and professionals in philosophy, the book explains the main ideas and problems of contemporary epistemology while avoiding technical detail. Contributing to contemporary debates over the analysis, sources, and limits of human knowledge, the book represents such central topics as the nature of epistemic justification, the Gettier problem, skepticism, epistemic rationality, the internalism‐externalism debate, scientific knowledge, a priori knowledge, virtues in epistemology, epistemological duties, epistemology and ethics, mind and knowledge, the role of explanation in knowledge, epistemology in the philosophy of religion, and formal problems about knowledge. The various discussions share a concern for conceptual clarity and argumentative rigor in epistemology. The book ends with substantial bibliography on epistemology.
William Hasker
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780198834106
- eISBN:
- 9780191872297
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198834106.003.0018
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
In this chapter, William Hasker responds to the challenges to Christian philosophy offered by the other chapters in this section. Graham Oppy argues that the widely acclaimed surge in Christian ...
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In this chapter, William Hasker responds to the challenges to Christian philosophy offered by the other chapters in this section. Graham Oppy argues that the widely acclaimed surge in Christian philosophy is more a myth than a reality. Paul Moser thinks that, insofar as there has been something of a surge, the philosophy produced falls short of being properly Christian. John Schellenberg’s view is even more ominous: the result of the surge is something that is not really philosophy at all. Aaron Simmons accepts that a surge has occurred: he worries that it may lead to both exclusivism and triumphalism among the philosophers involved in it. It is argued here that, while the criticisms have some merit, the project of Christian philosophy can be vindicated against them and remains a viable and promising enterprise.Less
In this chapter, William Hasker responds to the challenges to Christian philosophy offered by the other chapters in this section. Graham Oppy argues that the widely acclaimed surge in Christian philosophy is more a myth than a reality. Paul Moser thinks that, insofar as there has been something of a surge, the philosophy produced falls short of being properly Christian. John Schellenberg’s view is even more ominous: the result of the surge is something that is not really philosophy at all. Aaron Simmons accepts that a surge has occurred: he worries that it may lead to both exclusivism and triumphalism among the philosophers involved in it. It is argued here that, while the criticisms have some merit, the project of Christian philosophy can be vindicated against them and remains a viable and promising enterprise.