After the nineteenth-century “turn from idealism,” when idealist philosophies were largely abandoned for materialist ones, many analytic philosophers have adhered to scientific naturalism as the new orthodoxy, largely due to the success of scientific advancements. The New Atheists, such as Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins, claim it is Darwin who deserves much of the credit for repudiating the traditional Mind-first world view. In The Implications of Evolution for Metaphysics: Theism, Idealism, and Naturalism, David H. Gordon explores questions such as: Is it true that evolution is incompatible with theism and necessarily results in naturalism? Is it possible, as naturalism maintains, that everything can be reduced to physical processes? Or are there too many recalcitrant phenomena that defy reduction? Can the epistemological conditions for metaphysical knowledge be met? If the underdetermination of theory allows for multiple metaphysical theories to cover the same phenomena, with each offering an epistemically adequate explanation, then neither naturalism nor theism can be asserted to be objectively true. Nevertheless, it is possible to favor one over the other based on overall coherence and explanatory power.

Les mer

It is a central claim of the New Atheists that evolutionary theory disproves theism and demonstrates the truth of metaphysical naturalism. This book examines this claim and explores the implications of evolutionary theory for metaphysics.

Les mer

Introduction: Mapping the Possible Implications of Evolutionary Theory

Chapter 1. The Problem: Reconciling Seemingly Incompatibles—Theism and Evolution

Chapter 2. A Contemporary Solution to The Problem: Naturalism

Chapter 3. Evolutionary Theory: Darwinism and The Modern Evolutionary Synthesis

Chapter 4. Theism: To Be a Theist Is to Be Committed to What?

Chapter 5. Justifying Naturalism: Distinguishing Metaphysical from Methodological Naturalism

Chapter 6. The Logical Relationships Between Evolution, Naturalism, and Theism

Chapter 7. Epistemological Concerns: Justified True Belief, Skepticism, and the Limits of Knowledge

Chapter 8. Underdetermination of Theory and Its Consequences for Metaphysics

Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781666923728
Publisert
2023-08-22
Utgiver
Vendor
Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
Vekt
667 gr
Høyde
236 mm
Bredde
160 mm
Dybde
26 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
364

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

David H. Gordon is assistant teaching professor at Loyola University Maryland.